Improving A Damp Basement
Lee Dobbins

Defined Tag: Damp Basement.

If you've ever lived in a house with a damp basement, you know how discouraging it can be as you are loath to store anything down there never mind using the extra space is living space.  You probably felt like the basement with something to hide and you didn't want your friends and neighbors to know about it but, in fact, you are not alone because close to 70% of basements in the United States suffer from dampness.

There are a lot of reasons that basements are damp some include faulty plumbing, others include the soil quality, weather conditions, and the general climate or air your your house was built on. While dampness in the basement can be inconvenient they can also pose certain dangers to the members of your household such as:

* In the long run, dampness in the basement can weaken the foundations of the house.

* Wet floors can become a breeding ground for unwanted pests that can threaten the health of the family.

* Dampness can also cause foul stench to emanate from the basement into the different parts of the house.

* Dampness can lead to degradation of walls, floors and furniture, which can easily become unsightly pretty fast.

Either way, having it missing your basement is not anything anyone would want so most people are seeking a way to improve this and get the moisture out of their basement.  Here are some things you might consider if you have a damp or wet  basement:

* Waterproof the walls and the floor. Post-construction waterproofing, which is the solution most appropriate for existing homes, can be accomplishes either through roll-on or spray-on options. Roll-on options include the layering of the surfaces with membrane. Such membrane is often made of tar polyethylene sheets. Spray-on solutions, on the other hand, involves the application of the same membrane, only, in liquid form that solidifies into a formidable water-resistant layering.

* Construct an efficient drainage system. A damp basement is often caused by poor drainage, hence, the water accumulates in the surroundings. Hence, the proper preventive solution would be the construction of a drainage system that will prevent the accumulation of water. This is essential, especially for houses in territories that experience heavy rains or snow.

* Apply vapor retarders to concrete walls or floorings. Concrete may be hard, but inside, it has many pores. These pores foster the accumulation of vapor which over time will cause a damp basement. The accumulation of vapor should be minimized, if not eliminated altogether. This can be done by applying vapor retarders to the concrete surfaces. Vapor retarders, ideally, should be placed between the gravel bed and the concrete mixture during the construction of the concrete surfaces. Post-construction, you can try sealing solutions to decrease the porosity of concrete.

Luckily you don't have to live with a damp basement forever and you can get rid of the wetness in many ways.  Doing so will provide you with a clean and healthy living area that you can expand into to get more living space in your home.