How is Water Getting in the Basement?

Waterproofing a Basement in Grand Rapids

I was asked a couple of questions recently as I was finishing up work for a basement waterproofing client in Grand Rapids. We were called on a Tuesday and Im pleased to say in less than a week our B-Dry team was at the customer's home taking care of a very wet basement. (see photo)

As we were finishing up, the customer asked me what effect their wet basement might have had on the resale value of their home had they not given us a call.

I've been asked this question many times in the past and although there is no specific formula, I can tell you it is generally accepted that between 5% and 10% of the resale value of a house can be deducted if there is a wet basement.

Of course, the reciprocal question is - "Okay, can I recoup the cost of waterproofing my basement when I sell my home?"

Fair question - and that actually has two answers!  While there are no guarantees, generally calling in basement waterproofing experts to ensure your basement is dry will indeed make your home more likely to sell.  Furthermore, if you can expect a loss of 5% to 10% in resale value of your home, a house costing $100,000 would lose between $5,000 and $10,000 in market value. So, if you do the math - you'll see there's a very good chance of recouping the cost of your B-Dry waterproofing project.

Clogged French Drain

Dealing with a clogged French drain can be frustrating. Fortunately, many of the problems associated with this issue can be avoided.   Let's take a closer look.

The most frequent cause relates to sediment issues. What happens is that water seeps inside the hollow voids of the masonry creating damp walls that dissolve water soluble elements like calcium, lime, and other minerals from your cement.

A change in temperature can quickly compound this problem. When this happens, expansion and contraction in your masonry structure becomes a concern. Water can have the opportunity to enter through various points of entry. First place to look? The seam, where your masonry meets your concrete floor.

Because your blocked french drains are no longer draining properly, water is building up below ground level and it’s pushing – pushing – pushing! Eventually, water will seep up through cracks and seams in the floor. Next sign of trouble? Pools of water forming at low points in your floor.

Imagine heavy wet soil now exert many pounds of force against your vulnerable basement walls. Not a pretty site! Your wet basement walls may crack or buckle. Like so many other home improvement issues, the cost of foundation repair from buckling or cracks is avoidable if proper steps are taken.