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Homebuyers: Look Out for these Five Basement Problems

Posted On Wednesday, 01 June 2022 19:22
Homebuyers: Look Out for these Five Basement Problems

If you’re on the hunt for a new home, it can be an exciting but also anxious experience. After all, you’re looking for the right place, but you also want to be on the lookout for any problems that could lead to costly repairs. But while you’re inspecting the bedrooms, the bathroom, and even the layout of the kitchen to see if it fits your new appliances, you might always want to check on the home’s basement.

Whether you have plans to furnish your basement and turn it into a finished basement project, or you just intend to store some boxes of stuff down there, there are some factors that you’ll want to keep in mind as you inspect your potential home’s basement. Let’s look at the five things you should check for in a basement when buying real estate… 

1. Foundation Cracks in the Basement

Cracks in the basement floor or concrete walls can happen for a variety of reasons, but should you spot cracks in the basement, it’s wise to have the foundation inspected to see if it’s because of external forces. Whenever it rains, water will soak into the soil and eventually come to sit against the foundation. As the water table rises and more water builds up, it can generate a lot of pressure on the foundation. This immense pressure can eventually cause cracks, which will need repairing if you don’t want water coming through them.

2. Moisture in the Basement

Moisture can come in different forms, either visible water on the walls or floor, or in the form of a dampness in the air. Due to concrete being porous, moisture can infiltrate the basement as moisture vapor. This airborne moisture can bring a variety of other problems such as mold and wood rot.  Here’s some of the different ways that moisture can be infiltrating the basement through the foundation…

  • The corner of the basement where the wall meets the floor slab
  • Cracks in the basement wall or floor
  • Moisture vapor flowing through the foundation’s concrete

 

Should you notice an elevated level of humidity in the basement, a dehumidifier may be the remedy you need. But should you also notice any visible water in the basement, it is highly recommended that the basement and foundation be inspected in case repairs and waterproofing are required.

3. Groundwater Intrusion in the Basement

When foundation cracks form, or when the hydrostatic pressure is enough to push water through the spaces between your basement wall and floor slab, groundwater can also intrude into your basement and wreak havoc with what’s inside. Like moisture vapor, invading groundwater can cause all kinds of problems. Here are some of the problems that groundwater intrusion can bring to your basement…

  • Flooding and water damage
  • Mold and wood rot
  • Attraction of pests

 

If groundwater is infiltrating your basement, it is important that the foundation be repaired, and waterproofing measures be implemented to protect the foundation and basement.

4. Mold and Wood Rot

If the basement you’re looking at has been exposed to long periods of elevated moisture levels, there’s a good chance that mold has had enough time to grow. Mold can be found on the walls, the floor, or the ceiling—mold spores require a certain level of moisture (plus organic food sources such as wood, paper, many paints, most carpeting… in other words most things your home is made of) before they start to grow and colonize.

Wood rot refers to a group of fungal species that like to grow and digest parts of wooden structures. To wood rot, the wooden support structures that may be in a basement are no different than a fallen log in the middle of a forest. All it takes is enough available moisture to let it grow.

5. The Presence of Pests

Moisture and invasive groundwater don’t just encourage mold growth and cause damage to the wooden structures of a basement. It can also become a lure for various pest species from ants and termites to dust mites and rats. Each of these pests can bring their own share of problems ranging from property damage to an increase of allergens in someone’s home environment.

Shield Your New Real Estate with Basement Waterproofing

Whether the basement of your new real estate has moisture-related problems or looks fine, it’s important to make sure that your future basement is prepared against invasive moisture and groundwater so that none of these problems can arise again. Even if the home has basement waterproofing in place, it is recommended to consult an experienced basement waterproofing company to check and see if it needs replacing, and to determine if the foundation requires repairs. For a company that has decades of experience in foundation repair and basement waterproofing, and offers a leading lifetime warranty, consider giving ’58 Foundations a call!

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