A leak in the basement can have several causes, but some common ones include improperly treating the soil before the concrete is poured and poor drainage around the building. Fixing the first issue may be difficult because it requires access to the soil itself. However, eliminating the drainage issue is the first step in controlling Basement Leaks in Baltimore. Locating the cause of drainage problems can be a bit more difficult than one might think, but one area that causes a lot of trouble is the roof. A roof that does not shed properly can allow water to saturate the soil around the base of the walls. Correct installation of gutters and downspouts will offer some drainage control, but the excess moisture will still need to be routed away from home.
The next step in reducing the damage from basement leaks is indoor drainage control. Water enters the basement through cracks in the walls, around basement windows or through the floor. The latter is a common problem when the home is built on the area with a high water table. The most frequently recommended solution is commonly known as a French drain. This drain uses trenches placed around each of the basement’s exterior walls. The trenches are placed on a gradient so that the water will flow into a sump. The sump is simply a holding tank and the water gets removed by pumping it outdoors. Sump pumps cannot be connected to the drain lines because a flooded basement could overload municipal sewer systems.
The elimination of Basement Leaks in Baltimore may also require the repair of any damaged walls or floors. Water will always find its way into a basement, usually be seeping in around floor edges or through cracks. The best ways of protecting the home and its contents is with a well-designed drain and the installation of a sub-floor pressure relief system. Combine that with wall protection and the space should remain dry. A sub-floor pressure system forces any moisture that seeps past the concrete into the drainage areas. Fitting each portion of the French drain with a vinyl cove allows small amounts of moisture to return to the soil, so the sump does not overflow. Learn more about basement leak control from the professionals at Armoredbasement.com.
