Wet Basement

Why Do Basements Leak?

Why is a Wet Basement a Problem?

Signs of a Problem

Why Should I Fix it?

WHY DO BASEMENTS LEAK?

• The building is built in an area with high water content
• As the season changes, spring run-off brings large amounts of water at once
• The extreme temperature variations cause the concrete to contract and expand while creating cracks
• Concrete inevitably cracks at some point and your basement walls and floor will eventually do so as well
• Holes may have been drilled into your basement walls and foundation for plumbing and electrical connections or support rods.
• Water also enters through the joints between your basement walls and floor due to a failed or clogged weeping tile and drainage system
• Walls may not be visibly leaking but will still allow water vapour and cold outside air to pass through
• The home is located in an area with poor soil drainage
• Water can enter through the window or door wells
• The eaves troughs and down spouts may be clogged and are draining water too close to the foundation wall
• Sump Pump failure
• Sewer system back-up
• The drainage setup might be functional but wrongly set up
• Weak Bearing Soil
• Poor Soil Compaction
• Maturing Vegetation - Trees should be planted no closer than their ultimate height. Their root systems will encroach on the foundation and could accelerate the deterioration
• Hydrostatic pressure

There are two types of pressures that are exerted by water on your foundation: hydrostatic pressure and lateral pressure. Hydrostatic Pressure is caused by groundwater rising upward and exerting force onto the bottom of your foundation and often creating cracks in the basement floor. Lateral Pressure causes water to penetrate the basement walls.

Homes in Ottawa are particularly susceptible to basement leakage because many are older foundations and we are in a climate where temperatures drop below freezing. Our rainy seasons cause a large amount of water build-up around your foundation walls and this water eventually expands when it freezes and can do substantive damage to your foundation. Conversely, the summer's warm air will penetrate the basement and create condensation on the cold walls and floor. The earth around the foundation may dry out so much that it does not put consistent and year-round pressure on the walls causing them to shift. Ottawa is a beautiful city with many areas sitting on soil is like "kryptonite" to foundations and most homes that are affected are cluttered in those areas. There are also every-day tasks that your family does like laundry that will increase the amount of humidity in your basement.

In many cases there is just a minor leak with very little water and many homeowners will not bother repairing it. The truth is that a minor leak can become a large problem and will eventually lead to decreased property value, bad odours, mould and mildew, and many other health hazards. Leaky basements will not fix themselves and nor will the problem just remain minor to a point where you can deal with it daily. The problem will continue to get worse at an increasing rate and, the sooner the problem is fixed, the less it will cost to repair.

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WHY IS A WET BASEMENT A PROBLEM?

You are not the only homeowner experiencing these problems as they are very common in the Ottawa area:

Loss in Property Value - potential home buyers do not want to pay for a foundation problem. It is very hard to sell a home that has a leaky basement or structural deficiencies. The home inspector is trained to spot foundation issues before anything and it will not go unnoticed.

Health Hazard to you and your family - Times have changed and there is no more sharing peanut butter sandwiches and glasses of water with your friends and everyone around you is chronically sick and developing allergies at an alarming rate. Don't let your family join this scary pattern. The first step is protecting your basement.

Mould and Mildew - Mould grows in places where there is moisture and organic material for it to live on. The organism grows exponentially over time so it will quickly become a bigger problem. A wet basement is the perfect place for mould to grow. Any organic material, like wood, dead skin flakes or hair, is something that mould can feed off of and these can all be found in your basement. To better understand how mould can affect your health, read what Health Canada has to say:  http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fniah-spnia/promotion/public-publique/home-maison/mould-moisissure-eng.php. For tips on preventing mould build-up, read our blog post: http://ottawafc.blogspot.com/2011/06/how-to-prevent-and-control-mould.html. Ottawa Foundation Contractors has the capacity to test for mould and remove it from the environment before we do work on your space.

Bad Odours - A basement should smell just as fresh as the rest of your home. The musty smell in many basements is caused by bacteria that thrive in damp conditions and is an indicator that your basement has a moisture problem.

Damage to Building Materials and Structure- Ongoing water leaks can make cracks and holes larger and require masonry repair. Also, moisture can cause your wood studs and joists to rot and your problem has now been drastically increased. Ongoing wet basement issues can result in structural damage to your home and that small crack in your wall could be the first sign of a serious foundation problem.

Less Usable Space in your home - With a moisture problem, you are unable to finish your basement or even safely store your belongings.

Furniture and Equipment Damage - Basement moisture can damage carpets and furniture and cause metal equipment like your furnace to rust. Damage can include rotted wood, soaked insulation, deteriorated carpets and ruined appliances

Electrical Wiring Concerns - Moisture and water inside your walls and insulation are perfect conductors of electrical currents. Moist electrical outlets and plugs will cause electrical shocks.

High Humidity - Your HVAC system will use more energy if the space is humid, which will in turn increase your bill. Doors will jam because the material is swelling and there will be more condensation in your home and on your windows.

Peeling Paint - Excess humidity will cause paint to peel on walls

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SIGNS OF A PROBLEM

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WHY SHOULD I FIX IT?

-          Canadians spend 90% of their time indoors so the quality of indoor air is very important

-          People will do anything to live in optimal health and this is a great start! If you are healthy and want to keep it that way or if you are constantly sick, developing allergies, irritated, or developing any form of health discomfort that you did not have before, there is a very good chance that your basement or crawlspace has something to do with it. Fixing it will go a long way towards achieving your health goals!

-          You can finish your basement and transform it into a bright, warm, liveable space for your family. Your living space will be increased by 33%!

-          If your basement is already finished, you can now rest assured that your investment will be protected and will never leak again

-          If you want to keep your basement unfinished, you can now use it as a big storage area and save yourself a lot of room upstairs

-          A properly waterproofed basement will tremendously increase your home's market value. If it is or will be finished then the value just went up even more!

-          If you are planning on finishing your basement, it is important to note that foundation problems are much easier and less costly to fix before the basement space has been renovated. Homeowners may be wise to waterproof their walls even if there are no visible issues yet

-          If you are planning on selling your home, the potential buyer's home inspector is trained to spot foundation problems before anything else. You will then be forced into a bargaining match that you did not plan for and will either lose the sale, have to fix it in a rush or end up being forced to sell it for a significantly lower price. Historical data shows that people are unwilling to buy a home with any form of basement leak problems. Resale value will likely fall by 25% if these issues are not properly rectified.

-          On the other hand, if you properly waterproof your home then, you will be able to sell at a much higher premium because you will most likely have one of the only properly waterproofed homes in your entire area!

-          If you sell your home and it leaks shortly after, the sad reality is that you are most likely going to be facing a lawsuit! Even if you win, the time and headache involved will take away any joy you had from the sale and leave you with a bitter feeling. Avoid this at any cost!

-          You will no longer have to deal with the annoyance of mopping your floors after a rainfall.

-          Even if your basement only gets wet once a year, the problem will only get worse and your basement wall will not fix itself! The problem(s) will not continue to be something that you can simply deal with and it will only worsen at a quicker rate and can end up costing you much more than you could have imagined.

-          A crack(s) and a small amount of water now will eventually turn into a larger crack(s) with more water and structural issues. Your home is no exception. Act now!

Are you scared yet? Good! The sooner you get scared, the sooner you will act and the sooner you will provide your home and everyone in it the health and safety that they deserve.

There are two types of homes in Ottawa: ones that have leaked and ones that will leak. Which category does your home fall under? If it has leaked, did you rectify the situation or did you just brush it off as a minor issue? If it has not leaked, what have you done to ensure that it never does?

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