How To Fix A Damp Basement
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: Damp Basement.

Statistics show that close to 70% of basements in the United States alone suffer from dampness. There are many reasons for this, ranging from faulty plumbing systems to soil quality surrounding the house to weather conditions to roof stability and the likes. But the most important things to consider are the dangers that a damp basement poses for the members of the household. These are:

* In the long run, dampness in the basement can weaken the foundations of the house.

* Wet floors can become a breeding ground for unwanted pests that can threaten the health of the family.

* Dampness can also cause foul stench to emanate from the basement into the different parts of the house.

* Dampness can lead to degradation of walls, floors and furniture, which can easily become unsightly pretty fast.

Most definitely, a damp basement is undesirable. Something must be done to rid your house of the same at the soonest possible time. The question is: how are you supposed to do this? Try out any of these solutions:

* Waterproof the walls and the floor. Post-construction waterproofing, which is the solution most appropriate for existing homes, can be accomplishes either through roll-on or spray-on options. Roll-on options include the layering of the surfaces with membrane. Such membrane is often made of tar polyethylene sheets. Spray-on solutions, on the other hand, involves the application of the same membrane, only, in liquid form that solidifies into a formidable water-resistant layering.

* Construct an efficient drainage system. A damp basement is often caused by poor drainage, hence, the water accumulates in the surroundings. Hence, the proper preventive solution would be the construction of a drainage system that will prevent the accumulation of water. This is essential, especially for houses in territories that experience heavy rains or snow.

* Apply vapor retarders to concrete walls or floorings. Concrete may be hard, but inside, it has many pores. These pores foster the accumulation of vapor which over time will cause a damp basement. The accumulation of vapor should be minimized, if not eliminated altogether. This can be done by applying vapor retarders to the concrete surfaces. Vapor retarders, ideally, should be placed between the gravel bed and the concrete mixture during the construction of the concrete surfaces. Post-construction, you can try sealing solutions to decrease the porosity of concrete.

Your basement does not have to suffer from wetness forever. There are many things you can do about it, and you owe it to yourself and to your family to provide for them a clean, healthy and beautiful home, the basement of which is free from dampness.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, Amazon, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.