How to combat basement moisture
Basement moisture leads to mold problems. Basement moisture leads to ruined items. Basement moisture really only has cons, so how can you combat it? No one wants to have their basement flood, or even just have a small leak that adds up and ruins things that are stored in the basement. You can do the following control basement moisture:
Use a seal: To combat basement moisture, it is very effective to seal masonry walls and floors. You want to do this in the early stages of finishing your basement because the best results come if you let it dry for three months. So what kind of seal should you use? Try a latex or oil-based paints or something specifically designed as a sealant. When you use a paint, be sure to pick one that has mold and mildew inhibiting chemicals designed specifically for damp spaces such as basements.
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If you are not finishing your basement yourself or if your house is already existing, then do the following to combat basement moisture:
clean the walls and floors with a one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts water solution.
Let dry.
Fill any pores or holes with grout or resing
Apply a latex or oil based paint or sealant with a mildew inhibitors.
Use insulation: This is another thing you can do to combat moisture is insulate. Condensation forms when warm, moist air comes in contact with a cooler surface. So, the best way to prevent moisture is to install storm windows, and insulate walls as well. Insulating walls helps with the temperature differential which helps prevent moisture. You may also want to use rigid foam insulation boards.
To install insulationg right, do the following:
Make sure walls are dry before you install insulation.
Wrap pipes with insulation to avoid heat loss during the winter and "sweating" in the summer.
Do what you can to insulate the floor, walls, etc.
Repair and leaks: If you want to combat basement moisture, you have to make sure that you repair any problems there are. So how do you do this? After a heavy rain, check the walls and floor for leaking water. If there are cracks, fill them with hydraulic cement, use it to plug leaks.
If you want to combat moisture in your basement you have to take the necessary steps. Taking necessary steps means doing all that is listed above, and make sure that you check for moisture regularly, especially pipes, and especially where there are seams as these tend to leak, and gaskets go bad, and so you can get small leak, just a drip, but if it goes unnoticed you will have a big problem. There are a lot of things that you can do that will help you combat moisture but if you notice it is a big problem then be sure to call in an expert.
If you already have moisture in your basement, use a professional to help clean it out, then do the above steps so that you can start fresh and make sure you do not get mold, and too much moisture in your basement. You have to make sure that you take care of the problem as quickly as possible. If you let it slide or do not take care of it quickly you will regret it as the problem will grow (sometimes literally as mold can grow) and this means lots of headache, clean up, expense, etc.
