Basement Waterproofing & Your Home’s Equity

Waterproofed Basements = Home Equity | Basement Waterproofing Milwaukee

When it is time to sell a home, a waterproofed basement is a major factor in maximizing your home equity. Fixing minor problems are easy. But fixing major flaws becomes very important since it is both time-consuming and expensive. Although basements are not used as much as kitchens, many sellers overlook the importance of a dry basement. In today’s buyers market, a clean dry basement is a must. Most statistics say well over 90% of home buyers won’t even look at a house when there are foundation issues. With a basement comes its many problems like leakage and flooding during rainy months. Waterproofing basements is a good solution that can make the sale of the home easy.

While new home buyers sometimes look at basements as an added bonus, they are very cautious of buying homes with unkempt basements. Maintaining basements through the year is difficult, but with the right kind of waterproofing, it can be easily done. When hiring a basement waterproofing contractor, make sure they offer a lifetime transferable warranty. When home shoppers see the foundation is under warranty, this is a great indicator that you have kept up the maintenance on your foundation and home.

A minor fracture found in the mortar joints of concrete block walls may not just be a simple “settling crack”. That may actually be the movement of the wall inward due to pressure from the earth’s clay on the exterior. These cracks on the interior are just the tip of the iceberg as far as damage is concerned. Popular Science tells there can be 3 to 4 times as many cracks to be found on the exterior wall when one is found on the inside. These cracks on the exterior lead to water seepage into the hollows of the block. That moisture, hidden and unseen in the hollows may take a while to leak presentable water on the interior.

But what about that white powder crystalizing on the interior walls? So often brushed off or ignored, that efflorescence is actually the chemical reaction of water passing through concrete leaving a lime substance behind. That deterioration of the cement over years can result in a costly need for replacement of a portion of the wall.

Mold found on a bathroom wall is met with a quick cleansing. After all, who wants to see, or worse yet, ingest mold spores? Often dismissed in the basement, those same mold spores pass through the home and spread the mold causing real health issues. That mold also doubles as a sign that water or moisture is locked in the wall, feeding its growth. In today’s health conscience world, home buyers are looking for any signs of a problem.

These are just a few of the indicators of a much more significant issue. Professional inspections can prevent much of the more significant damage caused from this moisture. An ounce of prevention can save a pound of cure. Basement inspections may not solve the problem, but their diagnosis is the first step in attaining a dry, safe environment. If you would like a professional consultation on your foundation, please call us at 226-650-1006