A contractor might not be the first person you’d turn to for advice when storing holiday decorations. However, if you keep those decorations in a basement, you could face an unpleasant surprise when retrieving them for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
From soggy decorations to water-damaged lights, basement moisture can wreak havoc on your stored items. This page explores the basement waterproofing methods that protect your stored holiday decor.
Your seasonal or holiday decor probably remains stored in the attic or basement throughout the year, where moisture and temperature changes are common. Here’s how to protect your items during storage:
Organizing holiday decorations is useless if they’re stored in a damp basement. Excess moisture damages cardboard and metal, leading to decay, mold, and rust. Here are the methods professionals use to protect against basement moisture:
If you are unsure if your basement is moisture-prone, contact basement waterproofing professionals for a free inspection. They will evaluate the area and diagnose areas of concern.
Keep your holiday decor and other items safe and dry all year long. JES Foundation Repair offers specialized waterproofing solutions to ensure your basement remains dry and mold-free year-round.
Contact us for a free basement inspection today. We recommend tailored, long-lasting basement waterproofing solutions to keep your home dry. Click the button below to get started!
Basement finishing has become more and more popular in recent years as homeowners seek to make the most of every square inch of space that their home has to offer. There are many regulatory requirements around what is needed to class a basement as a ‘habitable space’. For example, you will need an egress window of a certain size. However, waterproofing is not technically necessary to finish your basement fully.
However, it is a very good idea to waterproof your basement before you begin any finishing work. After all, nothing is certain to ruin your hard work and furnishings quite like dampness, flooding, and mold. The benefits of waterproofing your basement before finishing it are many, and the process itself should be very straightforward and cost-effective, unless there are serious underlying issues that must be addressed first.
Generally speaking, waterproofing your basement will start with clearing all obstructions and debris from the space. After this, insulation will be cut to size and installed alongside vapor barriers to prevent moisture from seeping through the bare concrete walls and into your home. Depending on the space you have, a professional may also suggest perimeter drains and a sump pump system to make sure that your finished basement stays safe and dry in even the worst weather. Waterproofing your basement before you finish it will not only protect your hard work, but will make your finished basement more comfortable to be in.
Waterproofing a basement can take anywhere between a single day and a full week. The more extensive, constructive types of waterproofing will take significantly longer than applying sealants, for example. If you’re working with a contractor, be sure to talk to them about how long they see the process of waterproofing your basement taking.
If you’re waterproofing your basement on your own time, do your research in advance and make sure not to take on a project that’ll consume more time than you’re willing to commit.
JES Foundation Repair offers a wide number of drainage systems that can be installed within your basement for efficient moisture and water control. Arguably, one of the most important drainage systems is sump pumps: basins that can intake large amounts of water found in and around your home and redirect this water elsewhere so that you do not experience leaks or floods. The SafeDri™ ProPlus 330 is the most basic model, and the SafeDri™ UltraPro Triple Sump Pump System has an additional pump for heavy-duty jobs. Homeowners also have the option of the SafeDri™ ProPlus with Battery Backup System, which includes a battery backup that kicks into gear in the event of a power failure.
If you notice that water is entering your basement from any doorway openings, the BasementGutter™ Grated Drain Pipe is the solution for you. It is installed directly into the floor at any entryway, therefore capturing any water that may enter your basement through it. The holes of the grate are also small enough to block larger pieces of debris from entering, and even then, the drain pipe is easy to clean. Another option is the BasementGutter™ Interior Drain System, which lines the perimeter of your basement and is both resistant to being clogged and non-invasive to your space.
JES Foundation Repair also offers a basement dehumidifier that can remove 4 times the amount of water from the air than the commercial brands. It is also highly efficient since it drains on its own and can be adjusted to remove as much or as little moisture as you deem necessary.
Groundworks Editorial Team
