One of the most common conditions that is overlooked in homes is a moist or damp basement. Aside from calling a plumber because there are puddles of water underfoot, most people allow the condition to persist. Then, one day the entire house fills with a musty odor, and closing the basement door is no longer effective. Residual water in a basement can lead to health issues due to mold, and if left unattended over a long period of time, can result in foundation damage, or worse.
The problem is not nature's fault, since most places, with the possible exception of arid deserts, have moisture in the upper layers of the sub-surface soil. Moisture will eventually find its way into almost any area that's left unprotected. When it shows up in a basement, this usually means the foundation hasn't been adequately waterproofed. For anyone that notices water in a basement, the first call should be to the contractor that built the building. This will disclose some essential information that might lead to the source of the moisture intrusion.
Construction codes specify that new buildings must have engineered waterproofing systems on the exterior walls of basements and underground garages. Waterproofing contractors will accomplish this by applying an approved emulsion that extends from the bottom of a basement footing, to several inches above the natural grade.
This emulsion is then covered with a layer of polymer sheeting that resists moisture penetration. The system is very effective, save one drawback. Water will follow the path of least resistance, find its way under the concrete footing, and eventually could begin to seep into a basement.
A practical approach to this type of problem would be to look for an obvious source of the water. In most cases, a plumbing problem can be corrected in a relatively short time, and then the basement can be dried out. However, if the problem is moisture intrusion, this must be identified and dealt with as soon as possible.
Where the intrusion has remained unchecked over time, the basement should be tested for the presence of mold. In the event the basement does test positive, a certified remediation contractor must be enlisted to provide containment and remediate the mold. Once the basement has been dried out and tested free of mold, the moisture intrusion can be addressed.
In some instances the intrusion may be seasonal, and the basement remains dry at other times of the year. In this case, where there is no great likelihood of foundation damage, the water intrusion can be corrected by applying waterproofing on the interior walls and floor of the basement. However, if the problem is ongoing, a licensed waterproofing contractor must perform a complete evaluation, and a method for correcting the problem must be implemented.
This type of correction may be confined to coring small holes and injecting waterproofing below the basement floor, or it could extend to excavating the perimeter of the basement in order to waterproof the exterior walls. Resolving the problem of excessive moisture intrusion will ensure that the foundation remains intact, and this translates to saving costs that would otherwise be needed to finance a major renovation of the building.