It has been very hot around here with no rain in sight really, so wet basements probably have not been on your mind. But with this humidity you could still have trouble in your basement. Hot and humid weather just increases the humidity and moisture in your basement. High humidity can lead to mold and mildew growth. Depending on the severity, conditions can lead to rot, structural damage, premature paint problems, and health problems. High...

No one enjoys a flooded basement. It is one of the worst problems for homeowners to face. Regardless of if your house gets water regularly or if it happens once a year, there is never a good time for water in the basement. To prevent basement flooding you need to understand why it is happening in order to properly fix the problem and to prevent it from reoccurring. Sometimes basement flooding is caused by a...

One of the two leading causes of poor indoor air quality is mold growth. Mold can form and grow on any surface that provides a food source surrounded by moderate temperatures, oxygen and sufficient moisture. The best examples of mold food sources are cellulose-based substances, such as rugs and wood. In today’s hoomes, food sources for mold are readily available in the form of untreated paper-faced gypsum board, wood wall studs and wood-based sheathings as...

It is summer and the basement is moist. You may not see any water, but if you can smell it and feel it, it is there. You may have a basement water proofing system in place, or perhaps you don’t have water seeping in your foundation from pipes or floor cracks. That’s the good news. The bad is that, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your basement is dry. Often water enters a basement through capillary...

Most basements, because they are built into the ground, present the possibility of invasive water, making what was once a dry basement into a wet basement. This is because water in the soil can put constant pressure on basement walls. Also, water follows the path of least resistance and over time can find its way into a basement. With real estate transactions there are more problems with wet foundations and basements than any other physical...

The purpose of a dehumidifier is to lower the humidity of the air in your home.  Humidity is a measure of the moisture suspended in the air at any given time.  Moisture levels are higher during different seasons.  In Massachusetts, humidity levels are much higher in the summer than in the winter.  Home dehumidifiers are mostly used to dry air in the basement or crawlspace.  These areas are prone to high humidity levels because they...

In order to know how to waterproof a basement, you need to know how water enters the basement. There are many different ways water can enter the basement:  floor / wall joint, floor or wall crack, or through the bulkhead, to name a few. Here we are going to talk about how water enters through the floor/wall joint. The floor/wall joint is the most common entry source of water entering the basement. This is where...

If you find that there is mold growing in your home from a wet or damp basement, you need to act fast in order to remove it. However, if you have a mold problem that covers more than a 10-foot by 10-foot area, consider calling a professional. When dealing with mold removal, be careful, once mold is disturbed it will release mold spores that can cause additional growth, or those spores can lead to health...

If basement water problems can be solved, you can gain some valuable storage or living space.  There are two ways to go about approaching water issues. The first is to address the leak from the outside of the foundation and the second is to deal with the problem from the inside. From both directions, there are waterproofing techniques designed to seal water out, and others that are designed to divert water from the foundation. Waterproofing...

For weeks now, our hearts have poured out to the thousands of our fellow Americans who have (and will) fall victim to the worst flooding in our country’s history.  As we continue to address home foundation leaks and cracks throughout New England, we are warmed by the compassion expressed by those we serve while they themselves suffer the effects of foundation cracks and water damage. A recurring conversation that we have with our customers involves...