SOS! Water Coming Up through the Basement Floor after Heavy Rain

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SOS, indeed! Water coming up through the basement floor after heavy rain should be considered as an emergency because it is. A flooded basement is never a good thing. There are dangers of a wet basement that you’re probably aware of, but are worthy of being mentioned again just in case you’re not afraid of these dangers. We’ll talk about them later on.

We’ll also talk about the causes of basement leaks in heavy rain. You have to know the causes so you can avoid them. We’ll complement that with information regarding entry points of water into your basement. This way, you can check them and secure them.

On this page:

There are several ways that a basement leaks. Water seepage in the basement may come from the walls. It can also seep through the area where walls meet the floor. We’ll talk about these issues.

Of course, you want to know how to stop basement leaks. We’ll present you with wet basement waterproofing solutions.

Actually, the best solution is to hire a waterproofing contractor. They know what to do and they will do it effectively and efficiently. Their rate is a valid concern and this is why we’ll show you a nifty solution that can help you get quotes from competing contractors which will allow you to choose from the best available quotes.

Dangers of a Wet Basement

wet basement floor

These dangers should convince you to treat this as an emergency:

  • It’s hazardous.

A nasty fall can lead to broken bones and other injuries. All it takes is a small wet spot. Add that to the fact that basements are usually dark and that’s a clear recipe for an accident.

  • It affects your home’s structure.

It will weaken the structure of your home. Worse, it will affect your home’s foundation. This alone should be reason enough for you to take care of the problem.

  • It attracts pests.

Moisture and water damage will create holes which will be open invitation to pests like small rodents. This environment is also very attractive to them and will allow them to thrive and multiply. Worst of all, they will eat at your structure, further weakening the foundation.

  • There’ll be a nasty smell.

Pooled water will eventually smell bad. This is especially true if you end up with a wet carpet.

  • It will be a breeding ground for bacteria.

Speaking of thriving, a wet environment is an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and thrive. They love wet environments.

These bacteria include black mold and mildew. As you know, they bring forth a long list of health issues.

  • Dust mites will multiply.

Moisture will lead to higher humidity. Once the humidity breaches the 60% mark, you now have an environment that will lead to dust mites multiplying.

  • It will lower the resale value of your home.

A basement is a big and important part of a house. If it shows signs of flooding, it will turn off most potential home buyers. Those who would still be willing to buy will ask for a price that’s way lower than your asking price.

Basement Leaks in Heavy Rain – Causes

Surprisingly enough, the most common causes of basement leaks in heavy rain are from the soil around the home’s foundation and not the roof. Water is forced to the basement by 2 different forms of pressure:

  • Hydrostatic pressure

This usually happens during a heavy rain as the soil saturates the rainwater. This creates a water pressure that pushes water to your basement via its flooring and walls.

  • Lateral pressure

This usually happens if you’ve been neglecting you gutters and they’ve become clogged. The water will then go around your home and if the soil around it is loose, it will absorb more water and will push on your home. Eventually, it will damage the foundation of your home. This will lead to leaking.

While not as common, improperly installed or damaged window wells can also be another cause. If you see water damage along the walls, then you may want to check the window wells.

Entry Points of Water into your Basement

There are several entry points of water into your basement. Here are the most common ones:

  • Cracks

You may not know it yet, but there could be cracks along the flooring and even walls. Leaks may come from anywhere from the roof to the windows and they will travel around your home until they find an entry point. In this case, it’s the cracks.

There could also be cracks in mortar joints typically found in masonry walls.

  • Joints

You can find these joints at the areas where the walls meet the concrete basement flooring.

Basement Walls Leak When it Rains and Water is Seeping through Them

If you have a brick wall, don’t be surprised if this happens. This is especially true if the hard rain is coupled with strong winds. The wind can hammer your brick walls with the hard rain. The old contractor may not have shared this information with you, but brick walls can leak water.

A good contractor would have waterproofed the brick walls. Flashing will also be installed strategically.

There are also water repellants that some waterproofing contractors specialize in. This is worth checking out to prevent a repeat in the future.

As mentioned, cracks are another possibility. Water will travel and they will find the easiest entry point. In this case, it’s in the cracks along the walls.

There are also building codes that have to be followed to help prevent this issue. Usually, they dictate that more than 6 inches of your home’s foundation should be above the land. In addition, the land should tilt away, and not towards the home.

Why is this important? It’s so that the water won’t pool towards the walls. By driving it away from the foundation, you’ll lessen the chances of water pooling around this area.

You also have to take care of a clogged gutter. You have to make sure that rainwater is diverted to where it should be diverted. A clogged gutter will lead to rainwater flowing directly to the areas around your home. This can lead to water seeping into your basement through the basement walls.

You can also consider adding gutter extensions. This can help if the downspouts are flushing water near your home.

There are also interior waterproofing systems that experienced waterproofing contractors can install. The main role of this system is to lessen the hydrostatic pressure. This will prove to be helpful whether your walls have cracks or not.

Water Coming in Basement Where the Walls Meet the Floor

There’s a joint where the floor meets the walls in your basement. Water can seep through this joint. This is also caused by the same issues listed above so follow the tips above to take care of this issue.

How to Stop Basement Leaks – Wet Basement Waterproofing Solutions

mold on a basement floor

As you can see, this issue is caused by a handful of problems. Fortunately, they can be easily solved by hiring a waterproofing professional who will do the following whichever one applies:

  • Clean the gutter and extend it if necessary.

The gutter is one of the first things that they’ll check. They’ll clean it if it’s clogged so that the water will flow freely to the downspouts so that the water will be dumped away from your home where it can’t create pressure against the wall and foundation.

Most professionals recommend that the water is dumped more than 5 feet from the home’s foundation. If this is not the case with your gutter, they will recommend it to be extended.

  • Check the landscaping.

If the gutter is fine, the landscaping will be checked. They’ll do a quick check if the soil tilts towards or away from your home. You have a problem if it’s tilted towards your home because the water will flow back to your home even if the downspouts have dumped it away from your home.

  • Check the foundation.

Building codes dictate that at least half a foot of the foundation should be exposed above the soil. This lessens the problem if ever the water puts pressure on the walls. If this is not the case with you, then you need professional help.

  • Water repellant will be applied.

This is a quick solution. This is very important especially if you have brick walls.

  • Fix the cracks.

Cracks may have developed along the walls and they give water an easy entry point. These will be sealed by professionals using caulk or hydraulic cement.

  • Clean, repair and cover the window wells.

Window wells should be clean. The professional will clean it if it’s not. There are also covers specifically designed to prevent it from being clogged.

  • Check the footing drains.

If your house has one, there’s a chance that they’re clogged. They can be unclogged with a garden hose or an augur.

If you don’t have footing drains, a curtain drain has to be installed. This can help funnel underground water away from your home.

  • Have a waterproofing system installed.

This system is installed inside your basement. It helps lessen the pressure. Complement this with a drain tile so that the water will be captured before it reaches the basement.

This may sound simple but it’s actually a very complicated and potentially expensive job. But still, hiring a contractor is your best bet especially if you can find a contractor with a great deal.

Get Quotes from Competing Contractors

What’s the best way to get the best quote from a qualified contractor? It’s to get quotes from competing contractors. Basically, the idea here is to have them compete with one another for your business. If you’re just going to ask one contractor for a quote and he knows that he’s the only one on your list, then what’s stopping him from sending you an exorbitant quote? You have no leverage.

On the other hand, you can let them know that you’re shopping around for the best deal. That will tell the contractors that they have to send their best quote if they want to be considered at all. Basically, you’ll be choosing from the best available quotes.

Of course, you have to make sure that you’re requesting for quotes from licensed and qualified contractors. This is usually the challenge because this requires a lot of effort and research. This is why a lot of homeowners end up just hiring the available contractor at that point. We understand that this is a problem and this is why we’ve made it easier for homeowners to get in touch with licensed and qualified professionals and request their best quote.

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By completing and sending a form, you’re sending a request to the top licensed professionals in your area that specialize in the service that you need. In this case, you’ll be able to reach out to professionals that can help you deal with water coming up through the basement floor after heavy rain.

These professionals understand that it’s not just them that are receiving your details. They know that you’ll receive quotes from their competitors so they’ll put together the best quote that they can send you.

This is a smart way to get the best deal. You’re creating leverage. In the end, you’ll benefit from this because you’ll get the best quotes from around 4 of the best contractors nearest you.

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