basement moisture

Common Solutions to Basement Moisture Problems

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Basement Moisture

One of the most important things you can do for your home and your sanity is to deal with basement moisture problems. This will go a long way in not only protecting the value of your home but also the health of your family.

Wet basements are nasty places. They not only smell but feel nasty. If left unchecked, they can provide the perfect environment for mold and mildew to grow. They can also be the perfect home for other pests and insects.

If you’re determined to keep basement moisture out, here are a few strategies to get you started:

  1. Add extensions to your gutters

Basement moisture problems aren’t confined to the ground level. They can result from further up. This includes the runoff from your roof. If the runoff is not been drained far enough from the foundation, it can result in moisture problems by increasing hydrostatic pressure against the basement walls.

You can prevent this from happening by adding extensions to the gutters. These extensions should drain water not less than five feet away from the house.

  1. Fix the plumbing

Are the pipes in your home leaking or dripping water near the foundation? Call your plumber and have these pipes fixed or replaced. This will prevent the leaking from continuing. You will not only save your basement but save money by preventing water wastage.

  1. Redirect surface water

If the landscape around your home is sloping towards the foundation, then surface water will flow towards your home. You’ll need to create a berm or trench that can direct water away from the foundation of your home.

One of the most effective ways of dealing with excess water in the soil is to install an exterior drain tile around the foundation walls. This will drain water from the soil and guide it away from the foundation walls. Be sure to have a professional basement contractor install this for the best results.

  1. Waterproof your walls

If you want to keep the water out, then you need to ensure that the basement walls are impermeable. The best way to do this is by installing a waterproof membrane on the exterior surface of the foundation walls. These membranes keep the water out and ensure your basement is kept nice and dry.

These methods used in combination will ensure that you have a dry basement for the long term. Contact a professional contractor to help you find the best solution for your basement.

basement finishing

Important Steps in Preparation for Basement Finishing in Woodbridge NJ

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Basement Finishing in Woodbridge NJ

Basement finishing allows you to turn your basement into a living space. A well finished basement can add value to your home by increasing the square footage of the living space in your home. It can also provide you with an opportunity to make some extra cash if you decide to rent the space out.

The right approach must be followed in basement finishing to ensure that the resulting space is comfortable, functional and safe for the long term. The following are important steps you should take to ensure this.

  • Waterproofing

This is one of the most important things to do before you attempt to finish the basement. Waterproofing will prevent moisture problems, such as the growth of mildew and mold as well as the deterioration of materials in the space.

Have a professional waterproofing contractor come in to inspect the basement and provide you with the best solution for waterproofing it.

  • Repair foundation cracks

Do you have cracks in your foundation? They could be signs of a deeper problem. It is important to have these cracks inspected by a foundation expert. They can identify the underlying cause and help you solve the issue. It is advisable to have vapor barriers installed to prevent seepage into the basement.

If the cracks are non-structural and a vapor barrier has been installed, you can have the cracks sealed to improve the appearance of the walls.

Remember that repairing foundation cracks is not a DIY job. A foundation repair professional should be on hand to determine the best solution.

  • Have a sump pump installed

If you don’t already have one, ensure that a sump pump is installed. Have the space fitted with drain tile and a sump pit. You should also include a battery operated backup sump pump to ensure that flooding is prevented even when the primary sump pump fails.

A contractor should assess the basement and design a drainage system that is adequate for the space.

  • Prepare the floor

Having ensured that the space will remain dry even in bad weather, it is time to prepare the floor for the finishing. This will depend on the type of finishing you want for your basement floors. However, leveling of the subfloor is necessary regardless of the type of flooring you want to install.

Ensure that you choose a reliable and licensed basement contractor to assist you with basement finishing. This will ensure that you can enjoy the results of your investment for many years to come.

drain tiles

3 Reasons Why a Plumber Shouldn’t Install Drain Tiles

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Drain Tiles

Basement waterproofing refers to the process of using certain methods, materials and techniques to prevent water from penetrating the basement of a building or house. Since a basement is always located underneath the house or building waterproofing would require the use of strong sealants and materials as well as the installation of drain pipes and sumps to collect and remove water from accumulating in the basement.

Finding someone to repair leaks in your basement or home and perform any other repairs related to water seepage, leaking or flooding can be difficult. If you have a ‘water’ problem the first person that pops in your mind is a plumber but you would actually have to seek the basement waterproofing contractor.

Seepage through a cove joint is one common water problem in any basement. The cove joint is a small opening that lies between your basement floor and the wall. Heavy rainfall and melting snow cause hydrostatic pressure forcing water through the foundation.

Sealants won’t work as the pressure is so strong that it will force the sealants that is placed in the cove joint out. Instead, interior drain tiles will have to be installed to relieve water pressure to drain the water from the house.

Here are three reasons why a plumber won’t be able to install drain tiles –

  1. Training – Mostly plumbers are not trained or qualified to repair basement waterproofing problems. Their skills are directed towards how to control the entry and exit of water in the house in the proper fashion. Only the basement waterproofing contractor would be skilled and trained to fix basement water seepage problems.
  1. Experience – Even though the plumbers are efficient and could probably make out how to install drain tiles, they won’t have the necessary experience to finish the job efficiently. Only a basement waterproofing contractor would have the years of experience dealing with all kinds of basements to have the installation and design experience to properly install basement drain tiles.
  1. Materials and technology – Again only a basement waterproofing contractor would have all the requisite materials, products, and high-end technology needed to safely and effectively install drain tiles in the basement of a house or building and keep your basement clean and dry.

A plumber, even though his work has evolved through the years, will carry only the materials and equipment he would need to carry out his plumbing work effectively. The technology and material required for basement waterproofing would be much more expensive than what a plumber can afford.

how-to-prepare-your-home-for-spring

5 Important Tips on How to Prepare Your Home for Spring

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

How To Prepare Your Home For Spring

Phew, at last! This is a sigh always heard across the U.S when another long drawn and gloomy winter fades away. The blooming buds herald a less stressful period for homeowners, but there is a catch. During the throes of winter, your home is bashed right, left and center and you have to prepare it in order to enjoy the refreshing new season.

If you want to enjoy the warmer weather, it is imperative to learn how to prepare your home for spring by checking both the interior and exterior environment. This ensures it stays in tiptop shape for the rest of the year. Indeed, the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) says over 67% of the repairs done in homes emanate from damage caused during winter. Here are some invaluable tips to prepare your home for this fascinating season:

  1. Work on the Gutters

Winter comes with storms and a lot of debris will clog your gutters and downspouts. These need to be cleaned because spring is characterized by sudden storms. Thawing ice also needs clear drainage lest such moisture ruins your walls and foundation.

  1. Check your Air Conditioning

Your furnace is going to get a rest for some time and the A/C unit will come in handy. As such, you need to have it tuned by a professional HVAC contractor. It is advisable to schedule a checkup early because these contractors will have thousands of clients calling once the hot days kick in.

  1. Assess the Roofing

Snowfalls contribute to the greater percentage of roof damage in every neighborhood. Roof shingles can be damaged during snow wells removal and a contractor needs to assess the damage before recommending repairs. Loose, cracked or buckled shingles need to be replaced before hot weather sets in to avoid further roof damage. While at it, check the flashing around chimneys and all roof edges for any covert damage.

  1. Look for Leaks

With expected storms during spring and thawing snow, it is important to waterproof all leaking areas. The basement and crawl spaces in particular need to be checked thoroughly while foundation walls must also be assessed for any cracks. Drainage and water piping must also be checked for leaks including sinks, toilets, sewers and any other in your compound.

  1. Carry Out a General Cleaning

Every part of your home could do with some thorough cleaning after the neglect of winter. The windows, for instance, need to be cleaned and repaired in case of damage. The clothes’ dryer duct and surrounding areas need to be cleaned. In the exterior space, remove dead trees from the lawn and trim trees and hedges that had been neglected during winter.

It is a tough call but now that you know how to prepare your home for spring, it is all systems go. You will enjoy every bit of spring.

basement remodeling

Your Wish Is Our Command: Basement Remodeling in Trenton NJ 08601

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Do you feel like the walls of your home are closing in on you? Do you feel like you can’t relax because the kids’ toys are always strewn about in your living space? Do you want to just pack up and move because you need more space, but the thought of leaving your beloved neighborhood brings tears to your eyes? It sounds like you might be in the market for basement remodeling in Trenton NJ 08601, and Select Basement Waterproofing is the company for you.

When most people think of basement remodeling in Trenton NJ 08601, they think of a dark, dingy area that smells of must and sweat socks. It might bring back nostalgic memories of first kisses at high school parties or “borrowed” Budweisers from your dad’s mini-fridge while you and your college buds rung in 1997. That is not the basement remodel you’re in need of now. You need a space that will be aesthetically pleasing to you and your loved ones, offer functional space for your family and guests, and increase your property value when you do decide to sell. You need basement remodeling by Select Basement Waterproofing; we can provide all of these things.

Our four-step foundational process offers you the protection you need to ensure that your basement does not become a leaky, musty, mold remediation zone. The process offers you peace of mind while satisfying the foundation for later aesthetics. Our foundational process is as follows:

  1. Complete Total Basement Waterproofing: Interior and exterior basement walls are cased with a rubber membrane, and the basement floor is protected below the slab.
  2. Install Thermal Barrier: Reflective insulation is installed to lower electricity bills and eliminate wall moisture.
  3. Frame Unsightly Obstructions: HVAC and other obstructions are framed and hidden using either wood or galvanized studs.
  4. Install Choice Rock: You choose: Sheet-Rock, Purple-Rock, Dura-Rock, or Aqua-Fiber Rock, whichever you pick, we know you’ll be pleased!

After the four-part foundational process is finished, you are free to customize until your heart is content. Do you need just a simple office space? We’ve got you covered. Do you HAVE to build a guest space for your… um…wonderful mother-in-law’s impending (I mean upcoming) 3 month visit? We can make her… and you… happy. Do you desire a kick-butt theatre room with an awesome state-of-the-art design? Check out ours! Your wish is our command.

So if you’re ready to turn your current home into your own personal palace, or if you just need some extra space to make your home livable, contact us, Select Basement Waterproofing. We promise you’ll love your basement as much as you love the rest of your home, maybe even a little more!

egress-window-installation

Four Of The Best Basement Egress Window Installation Tips You’ll Read This Year

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Too often, people are unable to escape a building burning. However, ensuring there are escape routes is critical. That is why it is important to have a basement egress window. Not only does it provide a source of light, but it is an escape route for the building occupants in the event of a fire. There are many factors to consider when installation an egress window in the basement. You need to consider several factors to maximize its function. If we may be so bold, we have some great egress window installation tips. So great, in fact, that they may just be the best four tips you see all year.

  • Location, location, location! Be aware before you have that hole cut in your home to carefully consider the location of the basement egress window. It will affect the appearance of your home, so think about what it will look like from the outside. Finally, ensure that it will permit enough light into the basement.
  • Before cutting the hole on the wall, make sure there aren’t items such as water pumps or electrical wires in the area that could be damaged or compromised in some way.
  • Don’t allow anyone to dig the hole without ensuring the foundation is strong enough to support the window. Also, make sure the measurements taken are accurate. It may be a good idea to draw an outline of the window on the wall before starting to dig.
  • Remember that the thickness of basement walls vary. Therefore, some walls are easier to cut that others. This is another consideration that could affect where the window can be placed.

Want to install an egress window in your basement to have an escape route if there is a fire or other emergency?  Contact Us for a no-obligation quote, and let us help you ensure the safety of your family.

basement-sealing-in-east-brunswick-08816

What Are The Benefits of Basement Sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

When you think of a home, the basement is the last thing that comes to mind. However, it is one of the most important spaces in the home. It is the foundation of the home. It is what gives the home its structural integrity.

Water is the worst enemy of basements. It can cause great damage to a basement and the rest of the structure of the home as a result. It is therefore important to ensure that your basement is made waterproof.

There are many benefits to basement sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816. These include:

  1. Increasing the value of your home

If you’re thinking of selling your home in the near future, sealing your basement will contribute a great deal to its value. Ensuring that your basement is sealed will increase the usable space within your home. This means that the square footage of your home increases since your basement will count as a floor as well. Remember that for many people, the basement space makes up about 1/3 of the total space of the home.

  1. Increased usable space

As mentioned earlier, having your basement sealed will ensure that you have more usable space available to you. You can do just about anything with a waterproofed basement. You can turn it into an office, a guest room, a music studio or an extra living room. You can greatly improve your family’s quality of life with extra space to work around.

  1. Protect your family’s health

A humid or damp basement provides the ideal environment for the growth of mold. Mold such as toxic black mold can develop into fully grown mold within 48 hours or less. Although most molds are harmless, some produce toxic chemicals that can result in infections and poisoning.

Molds also produce spores. Exposure to a high spore count can result in allergic reactions including difficulty in breathing and skin irritation.

  1. Preserves the integrity of your home

Basement sealing protects the integrity of your home. Molds and moisture can not only destroy furniture and the beauty of your home’s walls and floors, but also affect the structural integrity of the home. Ensuring that your basement is made waterproof will protect your home from mold and moisture. It will save you a lot of money in repairs for the long term.

Lastly, basement sealing in East Brunswick, NJ 08816 gives you peace of mind. You never have to worry about a flooded basement when you hear claps of thunder in the distance.

basement storage in trenton nj

Creative Ideas for Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Posted by Stephen Bertolacci on

Basement Storage in Trenton NJ

Everybody loves a house with a basement. Even if it is just used for storage, the basement is a luxury of untapped space. While the livable basement is the vogue right now, if you don’t have the budget to convert your unfinished basement to living space, create an organized storage area.

The key is organizing your basement

The trick to any storage is organizing. Remember, most people have too much stuff so it is OK to go through your stuff, especially if you buy something new. A good rule is to throw away something old for everything you buy new. This theory helps you not get too much stuff. Too much stuff is the death of organizing and staying organized. Once you have purged the items that you never, ever use or don’t want anymore it is time to find their proper place in the storage zone.

Store less frequently used items in the basement

Obviously, the stuff you put in the basement shouldn’t be your everyday items. All of your every day, every week, and even every month, stuff should be more accessible than stored in the basement. Every day items should be stored in accessible drawers. Stuff you use every week should be in cupboards and pantries on the main living area in the room where it will be most used. The items you use about every month can be in the top of the closet—away but not too far away. Items stored in the basement should be once or twice a year items. Holiday decorations are a great example of a good basement storage item.

The exception is if you need to use the basement storage in Trenton NJ as more like a pantry or for bulk item storage. If you need this type of storage make sure the daily or weekly items are accessible. Storage shelves are good for the pantry-type items needed for storage in the basement. Make sure your storage shelves are fully accessible. Don’t fill up your shelves with your Costco toilet paper and then stack boxes in front of them. It will make it a pain to get to the stuff you need.

Have an organized system so you know where everything is

Organize the items you want to store by likeness. For example, all the Christmas stuff should be together and all the sports equipment should be together. Another common sense tip, but it has to be said. Taking the time to make sure all your ski boots are stored with your poles will save you time when it is time to hit the slopes.

Be aware that basements can flood

Basement storage in NJ may be a little different from other storage space in your house. Remember, the basement is below ground so the environment will be different than the upper levels of the house. Make sure that you don’t store cardboard boxes or any other organic material storage containers on the floor. Storage boxes should be plastic and at least six inches off the ground. Basement can flood and it is easier to just keep the plastic storage boxes off the ground than to deal with soggy, cardboard boxes after a basement flood.

Waterproof Your Basement

Even with that, any water issues should be dealt with in the basement. Never store anything in the basement if there are signs of water issues without taking care of them. Visible standing water, water stains, peeling paint, water bubbles, mildew, mold, musty odors or foundation cracks are all signs of water issues in the basement. Even if you are just using the basement as storage it makes sense to fix any water issues to create a dry, basement environment. Then if you ever wanted to convert the basement into living space it is already prepped with the proper waterproofing and drainage systems.

Contact us for a FREE Estimate!