A flooded basement remains a major battle for many homeowners. Waterproofing might appear to be quite the expensive task but consider how costly the chore would be to remove any damage water can easily cause. Any repair tasks will easily outpace the cost experienced waterproofing a home.
Insurance Is Not the Total Solution
While it is a wise and prudent decision to contract for home owner’s insurance that would cover a flooded basement, many standard issued policies do not cover this situation. If it is available, make sure to check the requirements to have it included.
Sometimes these policies protecting homeowners from a flooded basement situation require some level of waterproofing be accomplished to protect the home. This is especially true when living in a high flood risk area.
Once you have applied some type of waterproofing, many insurers will offer policies protecting homeowners from serious flooding situations.
Keep Your Documents Safe
Make sure all your insurance documents are safely stored for easy access in the event you suffer a flooded basement. Do not place insurance documents in a safety box that is then stored in a basement. It is also imperative to keep an up-to-date detailed inventory of all the house contents complete with purchase receipts for value verification.
A great idea is to take photographs of every room to use as evidence in the event you need to file a claim for a flooded basement.
Foundations are Not Waterproofed
Many homeowners are shocked to one day discover the foundation of the home was not waterproofed when first constructed. In the event you are contracting to build a new home, waterproof request the concrete foundation correctly. Concrete absorbs water easily. Any moist earth surrounding the concrete foundation can easily cause dampness in any basement.
When a basement is waterproofed, humidity is prevented but the foundation is also well protected. This would be an essential step toward protecting the home’s value, as well as the perfect method toward preventing a flooded basement.
Hire a Professional
Since a flooded basement is an extremely serious and costly situation any homeowner might face, waterproofing should never be considered a do-it-yourself project. There is far too much at stake for any project requiring on-the-job training. Leave this task up to a reputable and experienced professional.
You may not have a choice. Most insurance companies demand a licensed contractor do this type work in order to issue coverage. If not, an insurance claim may be denied. Furthermore, waterproofing a basement is ideally done when the home is being constructed.
Mold Presence Needs Attention
Finding mold on a basement wall is a good indication that there is a leakage problem. There may be non-visible cracks in the concrete walls or floor or sweating pipes and even condensation building up on basement windows. Mold can present a serious health problem and not only does the homeowner need to attend to its removal, but taking care of any water damage has to be done to fix the problem.
Although waterproofing can help minimize damage, a flooded basement will present a major problem that can be avoided through proper planning and construction.
