Seal the Basement Before You Remodel Your Northern VA Home

Before finishing (or re-finishing) your Northern VA basement, protect your remodeling investment and prevent future costly repairs by sealing your basement. Moisture-related problems are the most common complaint of homeowners, and elevated radon levels effect one out of five homes. As concrete ages, it becomes more porous, resulting in water seepage, condensation, sweating walls, molds and mildew, and musty odors. Finishing your Northern VA basement without sealing it first, covers up the walls and floors, trapping the moisture in. Dehumidifiers increase the migration of moisture through the concrete, speeding up its deterioration. Once the basement is finished, there is usually little alternative to costly exterior repairs to the foundations and concrete.

You can prevent or solve moisture and radon problems by sealing your Northern VA basement. It provides basement waterproofing, damp proofing, radon mitigation, and concrete preservation.

Even if you have never had problems with moisture, these problems often develop after remodeling. The concrete may be new or the basement may appear dry, but moisture is getting in. Concrete is very porous and lets in soil gas and moisture from the ground. In addition, the pores draw in water from the ground by capillary action like a wick. The average basement absorbs 18 gallons of water each day! It normally evaporates due to good ventilation, higher temperatures, and lower pressure. Water carries chemicals or minerals from inside the concrete and the ground, as well as dissolved radon. The continuous water flow leaches out the concrete and makes it more porous, which increases the intake of moisture.

When you cover the floor and walls, the moisture naturally migrating through the concrete gets trapped. Increased humidity promotes molds, mildew, dust mites, and biological air contaminants, which cause allergies, asthma, or other health problems. A musty smell may develop. Molds thrive in carpeting, upholstered furniture, drywall, and wood. The furnishings have to be discarded and the source of moisture removed.

For more information about sealing your Northern VA basement, contact the basement waterproofing experts at BWN or call 1-(888) 430-6587.