Budget-Friendly Ways to Waterproof your Basement

Your basement is a vital part of your home since it’s the foundation of your house. Most people use their basements as a place to store their unused items or even to use it as a space to spend their leisure time in. The basement is very versatile and can be transformed into a living room or a storage space depending on what you need.

However, due to their placement, lack of exits, and limited ventilation, the basement can be prone to a lot of issues such as mold growth, water damage, and flooding. 

Floods from stormy weather aren’t predictable but there are several ways you can minimize water damage by waterproofing your basement. However, waterproofing basements can cost a lot of money. The average cost ranges from $250 to $20,000.

For those with enough funds, this cost won’t be an issue. What happens if you’re a bit tight on budget? In this post, we’ll talk about a few budget-friendly ways you can waterproof your basement.

#1. Gutter maintenance 

Broken or clogged gutters are common causes of basement flooding and water damage. Gutters are supposed to funnel water away from your home and when it is clogged, it won’t be able to do its job.

One thing you can do is inspect your gutters on a regular basis. Once you spot any issues and get them repaired as soon as you can, it will decrease the cost of waterproofing your basement.

#2. Foundation crack maintenance

Cracks can appear in the foundation due to a variety of factors. Over time, it is expected to crack at one point. The solution to this is to fill those cracks with epoxy. The sooner you spot foundation cracks and fill in those spots, the less expensive the whole process will be.

When cracks are left unnoticed for a long time, they will continue to grow in size and let in more water. 

#3. Add a drainpipe

Installing drain pipes in your yard can help reroute excess water from reaching your house. Sometimes puddles can form outside due to rain and can pool up. By placing a drain pipe in saturated areas, you can prevent water from reaching your basement and reduce the chances of water damage and flooding. 

#4. Floor barrier

If you’re not sure about installing drain pipes, another thing you can do is install a plastic vapor barrier at the base of your flooring. Water can rise up walls and having these barriers can provide extra protection when you are waterproofing your basement walls.

Simply place the waterproof tape in between the pad under your carpet and concrete floor. Also, try to place the plastic underneath the baseboards around the edges of your walls.

#5. Use dehumidifiers

Lastly, opt for dehumidifiers. Since basements can be moist and filled with high humidity, one simple way to decrease water in basements is to reduce moisture.

Having a dehumidifier will save you a lot of time and money. You won’t have to repeatedly clean out the water in the basement thanks to the dehumidifier. 

Wrapping Up

Waterproofing your basement can be done in many ways but in the end, the main key is maintenance. Keep an eye out for any cracks or damages early on and you can prevent your basement from water damage and flooding. 

Some other things you can do include not keeping nice furniture or belongings in the basement, store your belongings in plastic tubs, raise the plastic tubs off of the ground, back up the sump pump with battery, and simply stay diligent about crack monitoring.

Guest Contributor: Diana R