Best basement waterproofing pros near Saint Ignace, MI

Statistics show that 98% of basements will experience some form of water damage over time. However, that doesn’t mean all basements will experience severe flooding. The best way to prevent a water-damaged basement is to keep up with home maintenance and have proper drainage installed outside your home to direct water away from the foundation. You can also consider building a flood wall around the house if you live in a flood-prone area.

Sandbags are the most common and efficient way to create a flood barrier at home. Some local authorities pass them around to homes before the risk of a flood. Otherwise, you can use flood-proof house materials, like burlap or woven plastic bags, to make sandbags and fill them with sand or cat litter. Make sure that when you stack them, they’re tightly laid on top of each other, creating the effect of a firm wall against accumulating water.

Some basement waterproofing methods can actually cause your water or moisture problems to get worse, which is why it’s so important to call in a professional who knows how to solve your underlying issue and use the appropriate waterproofing methods. An example of this would be applying latex waterproofing paint to the insides of your basement walls without fixing the water issue outside. Doing so can trap moisture in the basement walls, which can promote mold growth, peeling paint, and even damaged concrete. However, when done by a professional, the only downside to basement waterproofing is the up-front cost.

If there is standing liquid on your concrete, remove it before attempting any of the above cleaning methods. For small amounts of water, use rags, a bucket, and a mop. For larger areas of liquid, lay down cat litter or baking soda to soak up the water first. If you have extremely large pools of water sitting on your concrete, break out the wet vac and get to work.