Dalworth CrawlSpace

Many northern homeowners enjoy the perks of having a basement. Once the basement is waterproofed, it can then be finished into the room of your dreams. This room can become a guest bedroom, a bar, an entertainment room, or even a game room. With lots of space and convenience, this space can add some serious value to your home and provide comfort when seeking shelter during a storm.

Why don't all homeowners have basements? The good certainly outweighs the bad, but why is it that homeowners and builders tend to have an issue with basements in Texas?

Soil

Since most soil in Texas is made of clay, it's considered expansive soil. This kind of soil is mainly composed of clay particles that expand and contract depending on its moisture content.
This expansive soil is quite common in Texas causing some big problems for foundations as well as underground structures, like garages and basements.

If it rains or the moisture in the soil is increased some other way, it's been estimated that 5,500 lbs. of pressure per sq. ft. would begin pushing on the home's foundation. This kind of pressure could easily cause foundation wall cracking or bowing.

Control

Moisture control is the most critical factor in maintaining a healthy and safe home in Texas. Once the moisture takes over a home built on expansive soils, the home can begin to experience serious foundation problems, mold growth and other basement issues.

Whether or not a Texas home has a basement, this expansive soil can still cause problems in a home's foundation. Here are some tips recommended by a foundation and construction expert from Basement Systems, Inc., Tim Snyder:

* Remove large trees that grow close to the house, since they may take too much moisture out of the soil.
* Install a drip irrigation system to water vegetation around the house. Drip irrigation uses a minimal amount of water and maintains consistent soil moisture content.
* Make sure that gutters, downspouts and (if necessary) drain pipes carry water away from the house foundation.
* Slope the ground away from the house foundation so that ground water won't saturate the soil that surrounds the house.

How to Protect the Lower Level

As we've learned more about expansive soils, we've begun to understand the harmful effects that moisture can have on the foundation and the basement. Of course, Tim Snyder has provided some exterior moisture control tips, but we also need to attack the moisture from the inside.

Your basement can be a great living space with limited problems if you contact a basement waterproofing expert in Texas. Many homeowners fear having a basement in Texas, but they don't realize that simply avoiding having a basement doesn't prevent the effects of expansive soil.

A foundation repair expert can help prevent the effects the expansive soil may have on your home's foundation, while waterproofing your basement will reduce your fears and increase your home's livability and value.

Basement Waterproofing

Some contractors will enter your basement and perform some repairs to eliminate cracks and holes and reduce the hydrostatic pressure being placed on the foundation walls. This will reduce bowing and cracking.

In addition, products such as a sump pump and backup sump pump will be installed as a part of the interior drainage system. This system surrounds your basement and catches the water right at the wall-floor joint where water collects. Then the water is directed through the drainage system and out of the home. This sump pump system draws the water out of the soil, since water rises in the soil toward your basement floor, and the water is then diverted out and away from your foundation.

The backup sump pump is a great investment for when storms come and the power goes out. This pump will pick up any slack and keep your basement dry.

Once your basement is waterproofed you'll notice an improvement in air quality and a reduction in mold growth. Mold loves moist basements because moisture helps it survive and it feeds off of organic material such as carpet, wood and paper. The basement's musty smell will dissipate and you'll be able to enjoy your dry basement-- even in Texas!

Contact Dalworth Restoration of Texas today to receive more information about basement waterproofing in Texas and to schedule your free basement waterproofing repair estimate.