Your Home Doctor

Ready to Finish Off That Finished Basement? Not So Fast!

Congrats! Your newly remodeled basement is finally done. You’ve painted the new walls (or paneled them), laid the carpeting (or hardwood floors), and you’ve installed the home theater (or new gaming system). It’s all done, and now it’s finally time to start enjoying it.

But wait. Don’t crack open that new DVD yet. Don’t start popping that popcorn. Before you start enjoying your newly finished basement, you’ll need to make sure it’ll be safe from the kinds of moisture-related problems endemic to basements. The last thing you want is to run downstairs with a new game for your Wii and find a soggy carpet or flooded floor.

In point of fact, many of the suggestions listed here should be taken to heard before you even begin remodeling your new basement. If you’ve already begin, it may not be too late to enlist the services of a professional basement waterproofing firm.

So before you start, you’ll need to make sure your basement is healthy enough to handle such a project. Of course, you’re not planning on throwing up some plywood walls and tossing down a carpet. But a substantial part of planning your remodeled basement is making sure it’s free of leaks, condensation and potential leaks. Failing to do this is inviting trouble in the future.

If your basement project is DIY — that is, do-it-yourself — you may still want to procure the opinion of a professional basement waterproofing contractor. That contractor will be able to spot any hidden or potential leaks, find hidden black mold, and recommend ways to draw water away from your foundation if that’s a potential problems. Remember: Leaks don’t go away if you can’t see them.

Leaks can come from an extensive variety of places. If you have poorly-installed window wells or clogged rain gutters, water can pool outside your foundation. This causes a phenomenon called hydrostatic pressure, which can create cracks or make existing ones bigger. Leaks can also prosper if your property has improper drainage — for instance, if it sits at the bottom of a hill where water can collect. And water vapor can condense on the inside of your basement’s walls, making it easy for black mold to thrive and eat away at your porous surfaces. If there’s any chance any of these problems are present, you’ll need to address them before remodeling.

When the project is finished, it’s just as important to keep any eye on the basement. Making sure there are no leaks in your basement walls is an ongoing task.

-article by D. Michael Kirby, EzineArticles.com

If you would like to speak to a basement remodeling and home theater installation specialist please contact Select Basement Waterproofing and Better Homes and Basements toll free at 877-548-3889 at your convenience.

Basement Floor Covering – Commercial Carpet Tiles Are the Answer

Basement floor covering is one of the last things you think about when finishing a basement. People tend to focus more on the structural designs first (for good reasons!) and then when the project is wrapping up, the items such as basement floor covering, paint and finishing touches are handled. That is normal and fine of course. The structural issues in a basement are a big deal obviously. However, when it comes to picking a floor covering for basements, your decision can be a wise or costly one. Moisture and mildew can ruin most floor coverings. Even worse, a flooded basement can bring a lot of headaches. If you use the right basement floor covering up front you can avoid some issues and even save money on your budget with the right deal. Commercial carpet squares and tiles have many advantages that make them a perfect choice for basement floor covering. There are 5 reasons why commercial carpet tile works great for basement flooring.

1. Most commercial carpet tiles have a hard, rubber like backing. This backing along with the yarn is not harmed by moisture, mold or mildew. In fact, most carpet tile backing systems have mold and mildew inhibitors built into the backing itself. This built in resistance to moisture, mold and mildew make commercial carpet tiles perfect for basement floor covering. Also, if your basement floods, the carpet tiles can be pulled up and put outside to dry. Once the commercial carpet squares are dry and the basement is dry, you can reinstall the tiles. One tip is to make sure you use the commercial carpet tiles with the hard, stiff backing. Some carpeting tiles come with integral cushion padding. When installing in a basement, this cushion backing can absorb moisture and is not a good option.

2. Commercial carpet tiles are very easy to install. You can use adhesive to glue them down, however the loose lay method is best in a basement. You usually can install the tiles tight enough to where an adhesive is not needed. If you don’t have to glue them down, pulling them up later if the basements floods will be much easier. This also makes tile replacement later very easy. In fact, if you don’t glue the commercial carpet squares and tiles down, you can pull them up and pressure wash them off if they ever become very soiled or stained.

3. Basement floor covering can see a lot of foot traffic if the garage is adjacent to the finished area. Commercial carpet squares are built to handle heavy traffic. These are the same commercial carpet squares that are installed in airports, hotels, restaurants, etc.

4. Commercial grade carpet tiles can be used to create unique looks on a room or area. Basement floor covering doesn’t have to be bland to be functional. A very popular option when using commercial carpet tiles is to use 2 or 3 colors to make checkerboard or contemporary designs. Not only does the use of several colors (contrasting colors do great) give the basement a designer look, but it hides the seams where the carpet tiles come together.

5. Carpeted, commercial grade tiles can be a very cheap basement floor covering if you hunt the deals down. Normally, carpet squares and tiles can be expensive, but you can find some wholesalers that sell carpet squares for $.89 per square foot or less. If you have a 10 ft by 200 ft finished area, that’s only $89 for the entire basement floor covering. By doing the installation yourself, you will save additional money over other flooring options as well.

-article by Eric M Dyer, EzineArticles.com

If you would like to speak to a basement remodeling and home theater installation specialist please contact Select Basement Waterproofing and Better Homes and Basements toll free at 877-548-3889 at your convenience.

Basement Wall Sealer – Saving You Money on Future Repairs

If you’ve noticed a white powdery substance on your basement walls, it may be time to check for water damage. The white powder is actually a discharge that if left unchecked, can easily spread and grow across weakened concrete over time. This is caused by water seepage; water reacts with the alkalinity of concrete and results in weakening, cracks, and crumbling apart from the inside. Any amount water can have this effect on your basement walls and depending on where you live, it’s a good practice to learn more about basement wall sealers.

What other effects does water have on basement walls? When water seeps through foundations and into a basement, it creates a humid and moist environment. Many homeowners try to combat this with dehumidifiers and air conditioners in an attempt to prevent the basement smells and vapors from making it into other areas of their house. A dehumidifier is only a temporary solution, although without one mold, mildew, and other substances can make their way into your home.

Most water that you encounter in your basement will likely be due to rainfall or snow melting. If your gutters become clogged with leaves or other debris, the water may fall from your roof and pool around the foundations of your home, easily seeping into your basement. Despite it’s solidity, concrete is porous to come extent, and becomes more so as it ages. Aging concrete allows more water to seep through, and the situation gradually worsens.

Basement wall sealers are particularly effective in preventing the seepage and dampness associated with water, and can serve as an effective preventative measure. This process both hardens and strengthens the concrete walls, reducing moisture and the possibility of cracking as well. Some can prevent mold growth on masonry block, pre-cast and poured interior concrete structures and crawl spaces, reducing contamination of fungi, eliminating odors, and minimizing allergies.



A basement wall sealer is effective in combating the dampness, rust, stains, musty odors, condensation, as well as slow water seepage and structural damage. Here are a few other tips to avoid a water-logged basement:

• Clean out your rain gutters regularly from leaves, debris, and snow.
• Grow grass instead of flowers and shrubs around your foundations to soak up moisture.
• Consider getting a sump pump to relieve water pressure.

• The most effective thing you can do to prevent basement moisture and problems is to invest in a basement wall sealer, as that’ll protect your home for a long time and save you money on possible basement repairs you’d encounter in the future.

-article by E. Ronchetti, EzineArticles.com

If you would like to speak to a basement remodeling and home theater installation specialist please contact Select Basement Waterproofing and Better Homes and Basements toll free at 877-548-3889 at your convenience.

Ideas for Fixing Leaking Basement
It’s common to see cracks in basement walls for any house that is older than two year due to drying shrinkage, thermal movement, and other causes. Other causes usually are minor and result in few problems. But over time, even minor cracks can grow larger and cause big headaches, such as loss of structural integrity or, more commonly, water leakage. Poured concrete foundations often crack simply because of settling. If the crack grows or the foundation wall is deflected, the advice of a structural engineer may be required.

Common areas for a shrinkage concrete crack to develop are under a basement window, in the middle of a long wall or where the foundation steps down. Once the concrete cracks it is possible for water to leak into a basement through the crack.
Several suggested methods are:

• The most effective is to perform an injection of polyurethane foam into the basement crack. Polyurethane foams are injected into the basement crack in a liquid form. This allows a gentle and slow filling process of the basement crack that will completely fill the crack. After a few minutes the polyurethane will begin to react with the water in the crack to begin foaming.

• In most cases homeowners can now have these cracks fixed permanently without the need for costly, disruptive excavation using low-pressure injection of epoxy or polyurethane foam repair materials. Even if a crack is not leaking now, eventually water will find it, said by a manufacturer of epoxies and polyurethane foams for all types of foundation crack repair. In the Midwest, crack injection has been an accepted way of tackling these repairs for many years, and more and more foundation repair contractors around the country are adopting the technique because it is cost-effective, reliable, and permanent.

• Another very good method to fix your basement leaking program is DryTrak, which is designed to remove seepage from the floor-wall joint. Epoxy seals DryTrak to the top of the basement floor. In a baseboard system, weep holes are drilled into the floor-wall joint or directly into the wall if it is a block wall. A system of hollow, durable vinyl baseboard is then epoxied to the floor. Please note that DryTrak is not recommended for basements that may have leaking floor cracks, unleveled floors, or severely cracked floors.

-article by Andrew Leung

If you would like to speak to a basement remodeling and home theater installation specialist please contact Select Basement Waterproofing and Better Homes and Basements toll free at 877-548-3889 at your convenience.

How to Fix a Leaky Basement Floor

Unfortunately for homeowners across the country, it is estimated that over 60 percent of homes have a part of their basement that has leaking issues making a wet basement one of the most frequent complains by homeowners. If you are not one of the lucky people in the 40th percentile, there is something you can do about it.

When you have a damp basement, smell musty odors, or see white powder (efflorescence) and minor water leakage, it is recommended that you fix it now before the problem gets worse and more expensive to fix. If you think a part of your house may be at risk to mold or mildew and would like to speak to a mold remediation specialist like Select Waterproofing USA please visit them online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

It is estimated that once a basement starts leaking you can face up to $14,000 in exterior basement waterproofing or $6,000 for interior basement waterproofing, which will generally include the installation of both a French drain and sump pump.

Below is a checklist of common problems along with solutions:
• Cracks in poured concrete walls- Fill the cracks permanently with Foundation Crack Repair Kit. Seal the walls with Concrete Sealer.
• Cracks in block walls- Repair the cracks permanently with Epoxy Crack Filler Kit mixed with sand. Seal the block walls with Concrete Sealer.
• Leaking floor to wall joint- Route out 1/2″ deep with a grinder and fill with Epoxy Crack Filler. Or inject with Foundation Crack Repair Kit.
Seal the wall with Concrete Sealer.
• Wide gap between the floor and walls- Stuff with foam backer rod. Fill with Epoxy Crack Filler, which is flexible.
• Leaking cracks in concrete floor- Fill the cracks with Floor Repair Kit.
Seal the floor with Concrete Sealer.
• Leaking expansion control joints- Fill with Epoxy Crack Filler, which is flexible.
• Water seeping through concrete or block walls- Waterproof the concrete with Concrete Sealer.
• Water seeping through clay brick walls- Waterproof the brick walls with Concrete & Brick Sealer.
• Water seeping through basement floor- Waterproof the concrete with Concrete Sealer and/or Masonry Color Sealer.
• Leaks around pipes or penetrations- Fill the opening with PipeTite Gap Filler Kit.
• Seeping wire ties in concrete walls- Inject with PipeTite Gap Filler Kit.
• Sump pump or power failure- Install our water- or battery-powered backup sump pump.

For additional information regarding mold removal and mold remediation please contact Select Waterproofing USA with any questions. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

cracks in foundation walls

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Keep Rainwater Away from your Foundation! Part 1

If you think the tremendous amount of rainwater and melting snow has left your basement or crawlspace at a risk for water leakage there are basic rainwater diversion measures that can protect your foundation and prevent leaks. If you think a part of your house may be at risk to mold or mildew and would like to speak to a mold remediation specialist like Select Waterproofing USA please visit them online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Rain Gutters
Homeowners should maintain gutters at least twice a year, which includes repairing damages from snow loads and cleaning out leaves and debris. You can also add extensions to the downspouts so rainwater is diverted further away from your foundation.

Grading
The soil closest to your homes foundation should slope away from the house on all sides of the perimeter at least one inch per foot for a minimum of four feet. This may require a truckload of soil to re-grade the settled ground.

Window Wells
If your window wells drain poorly you should look into installing window well covers, or digging out and installing drain pipes down to your footing drains.

Asphalt Driveway
If there are visual cracks in your driveway you should patch each crack using a cold-mix asphalt patching compound

Concrete Sidewalks, Patios, and Driveways
Is it quite common for concrete structures to crack or split with age. You should waterproof the concrete using a concrete sealer or masonry color sealer. You can repair cracks with a concrete floor repair kit. If you have to replace anything make sure the new concrete slopes away from your foundation.

For additional information regarding keeping rainwater away from the foundation of your home, please contact Select Basement USA with any questions. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Install Window Wells

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Keep Rainwater Away from your Foundation! Part 2

If you think the tremendous amount of rainwater and melting snow has left your basement or crawlspace at a risk for water leakage there are basic rainwater diversion measures that can protect your foundation and prevent leaks. If you think a part of your house may be at risk to mold or mildew and would like to speak to a mold remediation specialist like Select Waterproofing USA please visit them online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Grass
If your basement still continues to leak you can remove flower beds, vegetable gardens, bushes and trees from around the foundation perimeter and replace with grass.

Swales and Berms
You can go one step further on the grass step above by digging inconspicuous shallow swales or building low berms to lead rainwater away from your house.

Curtain Drains
You can go another step further by excavating a trench along the perimeter of your home and filling in with gravel to stop surface water from penetrating the foundation walls. Adding a French drain with a perforate PVC pipe wrapped with filter fabric is an optional add on.

Dry Wells for Rainwater
A dry well may also be installed. This is a 3 or 4 foot deep hole wrapped with landscape fabric and filled with gravel that sits at least ten feet from your house. 4 inch underground pvc pipes lead runoff rainwater from the downspouts to the dry well.

For additional information regarding keeping rainwater away from the foundation of your home, please contact Select Basement USA with any questions. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Drywells for Rainwater Runoff

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Keep Rainwater Away from your Foundation! Part 3

If you think the tremendous amount of rainwater and melting snow has left your basement or crawlspace at a risk for water leakage there are basic rainwater diversion measures that can protect your foundation and prevent leaks. If you think a part of your house may be at risk to mold or mildew and would like to speak to a mold remediation specialist like Select Waterproofing USA please visit them online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Clean the Footer Drains
Footer drains, which are crucial to relieving the water pressure on your foundation, may get clogged by silt or tree roots. Hire a drain cleaning contractor to clean them with an auger snake or by high-pressure water jetting.

Interior Gutters
While not the most prevalent method you can install a plastic channel system (hollow baseboards) by gluing around the perimeter of the floor to collect water seeping through the basement walls and route it to a sump pump. As opposed to keeping water out of your home, it collects immediately after it penetrates your foundation walls.

Floor Perimeter Drainage Gap
A floating slab design leaves about a one inch wide gap around the floor to drain any seepage through the walls. This is only recommended along with certain other waterproofing measures that are taken.

Sump Pump
Perhaps the most common method of basement waterproofing, a sump pump relieve excess water pressure by draining the gravel bed underneath your basement floor slab. You should install a batter backup in case your power goes out.

For additional information regarding keeping rainwater away from the foundation of your home, please contact Select Basement USA with any questions. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Footer Drains Installed

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How to Install a Thermal Vapor Barrier

If you are unsure why you should or should not install a thermal vapor barrier in your basement you should know that it saves on energy bills, eliminates rot and decay, and is tax deductible. The Thermal Armor Vapor Barrier matrix provides you and your home with two vital components.

First, as a non-delaminate insulator you will never have to worry about deterioration from thermal bypass as it has an R/Factor of 14.1. As compared to standard fiberglass insulation is breathing in the airborne filaments due to thermal moisture migration through your basement walls. Second, Thermal armor offers an engineered path into the drainage system to manage wall condensation.

To reason for installing a moisture vapor barrier is to control and contain the natural cause of condensation and to redirect where that temperature difference and vapor will occur. If you live anywhere in the NortEast United States, which includes Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, you experience both hot and cold seasons. If you cannot insulate the inside of your masonry walls with rigid foam board insulation, a thermal vapor barrier may be the next best thing.

Most basement remodeling professionals like Select Basement USA offer free estimates and tips on how to pursue your project. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.

Thermal Barrier

How to Apply an EPA Mold Coating

Because basements are prone for leaking due to its location below ground more and more basement waterproofing professionals are using an EPA rated mold coating on basement wall foundations. These antimicrobial coatings are made to kill residual mold remaining after pre-cleaning contaminated services. Some also inhibit the future growth of mold and mildew on interior surface wall surfaces such as plaster, wallboard, drywall, concrete, masonry, block, wood, primed metal and galvanized metal.

EPA Mold Coating products often form a dehydration matrix that prevents moisture penetration and growth and often eliminates any existing odors. These mold coatings should be applied when air and surface temperatures are above fifty degrees with a brush, roller or spray. The advantages of many EPA Mold Coating products include the obvious mold resistant protection, its durability, its easy application on porous and non-porous surfaces, and its water resistance.

So why is this fairly new product important to your home? Mold has certainly made its way into people’s homes as well as the headlines recently.  Many people still don’t fully understand the health hazards of fungal exposure.  The term toxic mold is somewhat misleading as it exudes an idea that certain molds are toxic, when actually certain types of molds produce secondary metabolites that produce toxins.  The correct term is mycotoxins. Airborne mycotoxins can definitely destroy one’s health and home.  Sometimes, people are unaware that they are breathing mold spores and mycotoxins until they are very sick.

Most basement remodeling professionals like Select Basement USA offer free estimates and tips on how to pursue your project. If you are located in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Delaware areas and would like a free estimate please visit Select Waterproofing USA online or contact them toll free at 877-548-3889.