How to Know Whether you need Interior Basement Waterproofing or Exterior Basement Waterproofing

Brickworks Property Restoration can help you determine which solution is best for you to keep your basement dry and protected from the elements. We offer complete basement waterproofing for homes in the Detroit Metro area, including both interior and exterior basement waterproofing. You can count on our team to give you an honest appraisal of what your house needs.

Signs you Might Have a Water Problem In your Basement

If your basement walls are wet higher up on the walls, leaving a dirt line as a signal of water encroachment, the problem could be that the original seal on your foundation has worn off. The result could be that water is seeping into your basement walls from the outside. Most basement walls have an original basement damp-proofing system composed of a thin coat of concrete over the blocks with a coating of tar or similar sealant applied on top. But tar will break down over time. When the tar dissolves in the damp soil on the exterior side, there is only a thin coating of concrete left on the wall. The coating eventually cracks and allows water to enter your basement walls. That is when you inevitably see the results of encroaching moisture inside your basement.

Other signs of this phenomenon include persistent paint failure on your basement walls. You may see bubbling, fading or discoloration of the paint, or worse—you can find mold growing in the paint. Each sign indicates that your foundation wall is holding moisture and gets underneath the layer of paint. That is usually the cause of persistent paint failure. Exterior basement waterproofing may solve this problem for your home. The best solution for wet basement walls is to fully excavate the foundation walls, repair every crack, coat the walls properly, and install a waterproofing membrane. New exterior footer drains are to be installed and discharged away from the foundation to keep your basement walls dry once and for all.

By contrast, interior basement waterproofing systems are effective if your issues are related to groundwater. If you have dry basement walls but see water seeping through the base of the wall, this can be a sign that groundwater is building up. This can happen as a result of heavy rains or melting snow. Such conditions can cause groundwater to accumulate under your basement. Without proper drainage you may see water in your basement. Cessation of rain does not necessarily mean that the condition will end immediately because it can take some time for the groundwater to work its way to the lowest level.

Waterproofing your Basement

If you are uncertain about whether your basement needs interior or exterior waterproofing, Brickworks Property Restoration is here to help you find the best solution. Give us a call at 586-868-3234 and we will help you keep water away from your basement.