When it comes to protection against heavy rains and snowfall, your house is as safe as your basement. Your cellar is the foundation of your house and needs to be safe from flooding to ensure an inundation free home.
Also, basements in most homes are unused spaces. But by waterproofing your cellar, you can convert that free space into a useful storage area or an alternative workspace. Here are a few ways by which you can turn your basement into a dry and clean space:
Check the Perimeter
To fix the leak, you need to find the source. Waterproofing your basement is ineffective if water keeps seeping through the footing each time rain falls. Inspect the perimeter of your house to ensure the ground next to your foundation slopes away from your house. If the ground is sloped towards yours house, rainwater flows directly into your weeping tiles, causing the basement to flood. Elevate the ground next to your foundation by adding dirt to the area and change the direction of the slope.
Also make sure, all your garden shrubs are planted keeping at least a 12 inch distance from the foundation to avoid damage to your drainage system by plant roots.
Improve your Drainage
Optimize your drainage system to suit the climatic conditions of the region. A well-equipped discharge system directs water away from your house, preventing damage to your basement. If your downspout discharges rainwater very close to your foundation, it floods directly to the weeping tiles overloading your drainage system. Extend the length of your eavestrough and downspout, so that it releases water at least 6 feet away from your house.
Apply Waterproof Coating
There are many water-resistant solutions that can help you waterproof your basement from the inside. These waterproofing solutions are in 4 different categories:
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Concrete based coatings
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Silicate based coatings
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Acrylic based coatings
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Plastic sheets and panes
Depending on the size, location and humidity levels of your basement, you can choose the ones that suits your home perfectly.
Install a Sump Pump
Most homes in Calgary are installed with a sump pump. Being a region that faces heavy rainfall, sump pumps are required to keep your house dry and avoid water damage. A sump pump is installed at the lower most point in your basement. As the water levels rise in the sump pit, a floating switch is triggered that drives the water out to a drain or a local water body.
You can also consider installing a French drainage system to upgrade to a more sophisticated solution to flooding. A French system consists of a structure of pipes that run along the perimeter of your basement and drain excess water into the sump pump. The sump pump then drives the water out to a secure location.
These are some simple tips that go a long way in waterproofing your basement. You can also consult an expert plumbing service to devise drainage solutions that are optimally suited to your home and neighborhood.
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