Waterproof Your Toronto Basement

One of the many dilemmas faced by many Toronto homeowners is how they can secure their basement through waterproofing. Aside from the idea that they really need to have their basement waterproofed, they are also bombarded by the question of how they should go about the whole task. Hiring a Toronto plumbing and drain professional might prove to be costly, but without any knowledge about the project, doing it yourself may be difficult. If you are planning to waterproof your basement on your own or with the help of family and friends, you should eventually learn about the basic and important basement waterproof information. Since waterproofing a basement can be considered as more demanding and different than when you waterproof other parts of your house, it is a must that you know about everything about it.

Why do you need to waterproof your basement?

Basically, if water seeps through the cracks in the walls and floor of your basement, it can cause significant damage, not only to the basement, but also with the whole infrastructure itself. You see, the basement plays as the main support and foundation of your Toronto home or establishment. It can ruin the whole property, as well as its interior furnishings. Furthermore, repairing the damage brought on by leaks is difficult and very costly. Thus, it is best to prevent the problem even before it hits you and your property. Moreover, since the basement is normally not hit by direct sunlight, it makes for an ideal breeding ground for mold and mildew, especially if there is enough moisture for them to breed. Aside from foul odors, fungus can also cause allergies and other health problems in your Toronto household.

It would be best to have your basement waterproofed at the same time while it is being built. If you fail to do so, you can always waterproof your basement anytime, especially if your house is detected to have faulty plumbing system and a significant humidity level, among others.

The different types of basement waterproofing systems

Depending on various factors such as structural condition, seepage and environmental specifics, you may choose a particular waterproofing system from the ones stated below:

· Cavity drainage system. This waterproofing system involves the use of honeycomb coating on the basement’s floors, ceiling and walls. The sloping or ridged surface will then help in the re-routing of seepage onto a drainage system, disallowing moisture to stand too long. A cavity drainage system makes use of electric pumps, making it not so popular a choice because power interruption and electrical problems can make for future issues.

· Tanking. In this process, a water-resistant coating is applied in the exterior walls of the basement. However, this system should be done during the first construction phases of the basement. Since it is applied in the outer walls, it is supposed to work well for most types of seepage in general.

· Exterior foundation drain. This is a customized drainage system that is installed in the outer basement walls. It is supposed to re-direct the ground water away from the basement walls.