Yes, basement waterproofing can be done in the winter, even in below freezing temperatures. Drainage systems can be installed in basements, and foundations can be repaired despite the cold outside. As an added bonus, winter is a great time to get waterproofing done because waterproofing companies generally don't have a backlog of work during this season.
Even in the winter, basements can leak. A frozen ground does not mean that water can’t enter your basement. Water can even come from sticky snow accumulation that sits and waits for temperatures to rise so it can melt.
The cold weather in the North can cause pressure in the soil beneath the basement. This can lead to new cracks in your basement floor and walls, and those cracks can lead to water entering from runoff or high water tables.
Getting a handle on your basement in the winter may be a better solution than waiting until damage comes to your home in warmer seasons when the snow melts. Winter may be the best time!
When the ground unfreezes, the snow will melt, turning ice and snow into water. This brings with it the same effect as a heavy rainfall.
The ground surrounding your house will take on all of that water that has been building up for 4+ months, and it could expand into your home if the drainage system is insufficient.
Damp or wet basements are breeding grounds for mold to arise. This can lead to unsafe living conditions and musty basements, even in the winter.
Our team of trained and experienced experts have a solution for just about any waterproofing issue, even in the cold winter months.
Many people think that Winter is not the right time to do home repairs, however, it is actually one of the best. Hiring a professional crew in the Winter will bump you to the front of the line, which will allow your home to be serviced very quickly.
Professional work done and done as scheduled – a WOW job!
-Marion Garter
The crew went ‘way out’ on getting their job done.
-Nestle & Carole Grimes
Did the job on a timely scale.
-Arlyn & Gail Schellberg
Very impressed with the crew members.
-Gene and Kathy Kiefer
Have cracks in your basement floor?
Learn what you need to do to fix them and stop them from occurring in the future.
Cracks in basement floors can be caused by a multitude of issues. They commonly have to do with either the moisture or water underneath the basement floor or a subpar foundation system that needs stabilization. Not all cracks in basement floors require fixing, but some can lead to or be a sign of larger underlying issues in your home or your building’s structure and foundation.
Sometimes basement floors in old houses dry up and result in cracks. Cracks can also appear in newer houses.
It’s very important to identify the problem correctly, as a misdiagnosis could result in further damage in the future.
Here are the main types and causes of basement floor cracks:
Hairline cracks are smaller cracks in basement floors that have not opened and do not affect the structural integrity of your home.
Cause: Hairline cracks can be caused by changes in the temperature of the air and concrete, poor workmanship on the builder’s part, the type of chemicals mixtures used, relative humidity, and several other factors.
Fix: Hairline cracks don’t necessarily need immediate attention, but it’s good to keep an eye on them in case they open up into larger cracks. To fix hairline cracks, you will first need to clean the crack, apply a sealant, and then cure it to harden the sealant.
When basement floors rise up, it is called “heaving”, and this can cause damage to your home.
Cause: Heaving usually occurs when the ground beneath expands and causes the basement floor slab and footings to rise up with it. When the basement floor rises, it can cause cracks which are destructive to your home.
Fix: Since heaving is oftentimes caused by unwanted water accumulation, the way to begin fixing this problem is by getting rid of that unwanted water. It can accumulate through improper drainage, evaporation, poor soil conditions, or transpiration. After identifying where the water is coming from, you can then put a system in place to keep the water out and maintain a stable foundation.
Foundation settlement occurs when the compression in your foundation is unequal. This can cause lots of repercussions, but one of these is cracks in your basement floor.
Cause: Foundation settlement is often caused by changes in the soil around a home or building. The soil that once supported the structure changes, and that can cause cracks in basement floors.
Fix: Basement Water Controlled uses a Stabil-Loc foundation piering system to fix foundation settlement issues. It’s important to place the anchors in the system properly and securely in order to safely secure and stabilize the foundation.
Water can seep in through the cracks of your basement floor.
Cause: Water comes in through large and small cracks of your basement floor. The soil and ground underneath your basement is filled with moisture, and at different times of the year and, depending on water levels and whether recent rain caused the basement leakage, it can lead to water seepage through cracks in the floor.
Fix: Smaller cracks do not always need to be fixed, but if water is leaking, it could be evidence that you need to update your drainage system. Some options are the dry-up baseboard system or a drain tile system. Larger cracks may be evidence of structural issues. In this case, it’s best to get it looked at by a professional.
You may think smaller cracks in your basement floor will be easy fixes, but that’s not always the case. Small cracks can get larger over time if not treated.
As a rule of thumb, anything larger than ⅛” should be sealed, and anything larger than ½” should be leveled.
If your basement floor has larger cracks, and you think it may be because of a larger underlying issue, call the team at Basement Water Controlled today, and we’ll send out an experienced estimator to identify if your basement is in need of repairs.
The team at Basement Water Controlled uses a proven piering system to fix failing foundations and uses tested methods to safely and securely drain water from your home’s basement.
If you think your basement floor is in need of fixing, don’t wait to contact us.
Below are the most commonly asked questions about cracks in basement floors.
Before trying to seal your basement floor, it's important to diagnose why your basement is leaking in the first place. Simply sealing it could cause more issues than it resolves. It could lead to more cracks in your basement and also cause water to leak from new locations.
A: Cracks in concrete floors are not uncommon. They commonly occur because of changes in moisture and water in the ground beneath the foundation. Small cracks that are not “open” do not require fixing, but larger cracks and water seepage may be a sign of a bigger issue.
A: Cracks in the basement floor can tell lots of different stories. Sometimes the conditions in which the concrete floor was poured can cause smaller cracks, which do not affect the structural integrity of the home or builder. Larger cracks can mean that your foundation is not equally compressed or that the soil underneath the home or building is full of moisture and needs drainage work done.
A: Small cracks that have not opened do not require fixing. However, if the cracks are open, the floor is rising or sinking, or you have water seepage, it’s best to call a professional to identify your issue before it gets worse.
A: To begin with, it’s always smart to have a drainage system in place that can rid of unwanted water. There are ways to fill cracks in basements, but larger cracks may be a sign of larger issues, such as foundation failure.
A: Generally, you don’t want cracks in the basement floor to be larger than ⅛”, and anything larger than ¼” is enough to warrant a call to the professionals. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
If water is coming through the crack between the floor and wall, this is called cove joint seepage.
Our team has a tremendous amount of experience identifying what the issue of cracks are and what needs to be done to resolve them.
The cove joint is the place where the basement floor meets the wall. There is oftentimes a slight gap in this area because of the way the basement wall and floor are constructed.
Cove joint seepage occurs when the pressure in the soil surrounding your basement pushes water towards your home, and water seeps into your basement between the crack of the floor and wall.
This can be avoided by installing a proper drainage system.
The soil surrounding your foundation has moisture levels that can go up and down. When those levels fill the soil, the water rises up and enters into your basement.
Heavy rainfall – Large amounts of precipitation can cause water to build up around and underneath your basement floor. When the water becomes too much for the ground to handle, it seeps upward through the cove joint in your basement because it has nowhere else to go.
Hydrostatic pressure – Water can build up and rise underneath your basement floor which allows water to seep through the cove joint. This is commonly known as hydrostatic pressure. Water will find the path of least resistance, and oftentimes that is through the crack between your basement floor and wall.
If you are reading this, there is a good chance you have already noticed water leaking into your basement through a crack between your floor and wall. If you are facing an issue now, there is a good chance the issue will persist in the future if action is not taken.
Basement flooding – It may seem obvious, but standing water can occur if there is large amounts of water coming through the cove joint. A heavy rainfall can happen, leaving the ground and soil surrounding your home filled with water. When that water has nowhere else to go, it will find its way into your home and possibly cause flooding.
Mold – Mold can accumulate in your basement in areas with excessive moisture. It can be found on the floor, walls, and most any other materials in your basement. The more water that seeps through your cove joint, the better chance mold has to set up shop and grow rapidly in your basement.
Damage to home property – Continuous cove joint seepage could also leave your basement damp and could cause damage to any furniture or items you have sitting around in your basement. It may be difficult to detect if there is not any standing water, but items in your basement can still take a beating from the dampness caused by the leakage. If your basement is finished, it is especially important to fix the issue before damage occurs to your finished floor or walls.
Stains on floor or walls – With continuous water coming through your cove joint, stains can occur and leave nasty marks on your floor coverings.
Rots wooden structures – Wooden materials like floor joists, support beams that support your home are at risk of rotting if moisture gets into them. This leaves your home’s integrity at risk and also allows for unwanted pests to get in through the holes.
Sealing the cove joint in your basement may be a short term fix, but it will not always work in the long term and could cause even further damage to your basement in the future. Once you seal the cove joint, the water will find another way to enter into your home, either through cracks in the basement floor or it will work its way through the sealant. This depends on the amount of hydrostatic pressure that is pushing the water up.
Each case of cove joint leakage is different and can call for a unique solution. However, the fix generally has to do with your basement’s waterproofing system. Your basement needs to be able to take the water that is built up and drain it away from your house. The most common solutions are the DRY-UP baseboard or a drain tile system.
Baseboard system – The baseboard waterproofing system is a method that channels water from the walls or holes that are drilled through cement blocks to a sump pump. This solution can be great because it is not as intrusive as other drainage methods. It is also very versatile in that it can be installed in most any basement, regardless of how it was constructed. It also has a clean look to it.
Drain tile system – The drain tile system is a powerful waterproofing method that channels water away from your home and prevents water from building up and exiting through your cove joint. There are different drain tile systems for different circumstances, so it’s best to consult with a professional before installing one in your home.
Sump pump – The sump is a valuable part of the drainage system, as it takes any water in your basement and pumps it out away from your home. Sump pumps can fail due to installation, machine and lifespan errors, so it’s a smart idea to have your sump pump properly installed by a professional to make sure it’s done right.
Basement Water Controlled is a family-owned business and team that consists of highly experienced and trained professionals. If you have a cove joint seepage issue, the BWC team has most likely seen it and fixed it before. The team has over 50 combined years of experience and is only one call away from coming in to give you and your basement an estimate.
If your basement leaks when it rains, you can fix it before the situation gets worse.
Basements can leak after rainfall because the soil surrounding your home's foundation becomes saturated with water. This causes pressure to build up and forces the water upwards into your basement, also known as hydrostatic pressure.
The first step in fixing the leakage problem is pinpointing where exactly the issue is coming from.
Below you will find the most common causes of why your basement gets wet when it rains as well as what you need to do to get them fixed.
Damp floor – Damp floors are a common symptom that homeowners notice after it rains.
Wet carpet – A wet basement carpet after it rains generally means there is an issue underneath that is causing water to come through the basement floor or between the floor and wall.
Standing water – What might seem obvious, if you have standing water after it rains, it means there is an issue that needs to be taken care of beneath the surface.
Mold accumulation – Mold can grow in your basement in less than a week after it floods. Be sure to check the walls and floors as well as around pipes and sinks.
Walls – Water can come through basement walls after it rains because the soil that is surrounding the walls applies pressure on the wall, and water eventually makes it way into the basement. The grading of the ground surrounding your basement could also be the perpetrator if it slants towards your house as opposed to slanting downwards so that the water runs off away from the house. Your walls may also have cracks in them. This can be caused by a poor foundation which causes the walls to move, and in return, crack and allow water to seep through.
Floor – If your floor is damp, leaking, or has standing water after it rains, there could be a multitude of issues that are causing these issues. One issue that you could be facing is an unsound foundation. When the foundation is not secure, movements can cause cracks in the floor, which leads to water coming through, especially after rainy days or seasons. If you have a drainage system that is backed up or clogged, this could also lead to water coming through your basement floors. Rain will fill the soil around the house, and when it has nowhere to go but into the house, that is where it will end up.
Cove joint – Your cove joint is the place where your basement floor meets the wall. After it rains, water can seep through the cove joint through hydrostatic pressure. Water builds up and rises underneath the basement, and it has nowhere else to go but through the cove joint. As tempting as it may be to seal the area, it probably will not fix the problem, and the issue will arise again in the future once the water makes its way to another part of your basement. The most common cause of the rise in water is an underperforming drainage system.
Install or repair a drainage system – The recommended solution to wet basements is a proper drainage system. This can be a drain tile system, which is a common and powerful system that is designed to catch water before it makes its way into your home. It relieves the hydrostatic water pressure, and keeps the water out of your living space. The baseboard system is also a brilliant system that takes care of smaller leakage issues, and it does not require any breaking or replacement of your concrete floors.
Foundation repair – If foundation failure is the culprit in your leaky basement issue, it’s a good idea to stabilize it before the foundation becomes less secure. Foundation failure is commonly caused by poor landscaping and gutter systems, and the solution is a piering and stabilization system.
Sump pump installation – Sump pumps collect water through a barrel and then remove the water, so it doesn’t leak into your basement. If your sump pump is damaged, clogged, or not working, it may need to be replaced and reinstalled.
Install gutter downspouts - Poorly installed or nonexistent rain gutters can be the cause of basement flooding as well.
Unfortunately, yes, the issue can compound if action is not taken now. Depending on the problem you face, cracks in your floor or walls can increase in size. Your foundation can continue to become less secure. The more it moves, the better chance water will have to seep into the basement, possibly through the cove joint.
Drainage systems will not fix themselves, and generally don’t get better over time. The water may leave your home after some time, but the flooding could come back once another hard rainfall hits.
Basement Water Controlled is a family-owned basement waterproofing company that has handled just about every basement leaking issue you can think of. The team is made up of experienced professionals who care about making your basement safe and dry again.
Is water entering your home through the exterior of the foundation wall? There could be an assortment of reasons why water finds its way into your home.
Water can enter your home even if there are no interior cracks. Moisture can make its way through the walls, leaving your basement wet and possibly unsafe.
An outside wall sealer is a thick coat of protective substance that looks similar to paint after it has dried and is designed to protect basements from water entering through the foundation walls.
Exterior wall sealers can help cut off the bleeding by making the exterior non-penetrable.
Let’s take a closer look at how exterior wall waterproofing is done and how you can take care of your basement leakage issues.
Exterior wall sealer is great for homes that have water or moisture leaking through the foundation walls.
The sealer looks similar to a coat of paint and is applied directly to the surface of your foundation walls.
First, the ground surrounding your foundation wall is dug up to expose the foundation walls. This allows the team to be able to apply the sealer.
In the example below, you can see the foundation walls have been exposed to give us access to apply the sealer.
We need to make sure that the foundation walls are cleaned thoroughly so that the coat of sealer is applied correctly and has lasting effects.
Finally the outside wall sealer is applied, which will keep water out of your home.
Here is what the sealer looks like after it has been applied.
Do you have water coming up in the center of your basement floor? There is a solution to this common basement issue.
Generally the cause of water entering through the center of your basement floor is hydrostatic pressure. The pressure in the soil surrounding your home's foundation will build up, causing the water to inch upwards into your home.
Our crew was on-site in a customer's home last week working in a basement that had water coming up through areas in the middle of the floor and along the sides of the wall. We installed an underground center trench in their basement floor to solve the leakage problems.
The underground center trench is similar to the UG-18 Drain Tile System. A center trench is dug through the basement floor and then drain tile is installed. Through the drain tile the water is channeled to your sump pump which pumps it out of your basement!
After the system is in place a layer of cement covers it all. And your basement is finished! And Dry!
The perimeter drain ("French drain") is installed along the edges of your basement floor next to walls, whereas the center trench runs through the middle of your basement floor. Both are designed to channel water through them to the sump pump, where the water is then pumped out of the house.
Will rain gutters prevent water from coming up through my basement floor?
When a customer states that water is coming up through the floor this would be an indicator to us that there is a high water table. The water table usually fluctuates depending on the amount of rain or snow in any given area.
Folks living next to water sources like swamps, creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds, ditches, or just low lying areas often times know how high the water can rise before it comes up in the basement. I have personally met with a fair amount of homeowners who point to a pond and know right where the water height will be when the water enters the basement.
This indicates to us that a proper draintile system along with a sump pump installation is what we would recommend for the repair.
Installing rain gutters in an attempt to prevent water from coming up through the basement floor cracks would not be an effective repair option in this situation.
Water run off certainly contributes to the level of the water table. However, by installing a sump pump along with an interior Drain tile system, it is a guaranteed fix.
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Do you have a sump pump pipe laying across your lawn? Below is a solution we recently installed for another one of our happy customers in Minnesota.
Their sump pump pipe was laying across their lawn, not properly draining, so we installed this drainpipe with minimal intrusion! Once the sod was back on, it was hard to tell we installed anything! Can we do this for you?
Carefully rolled back sod. We take great care to ensure your property is preserved.
A narrow trench is dug after the sod is temporarily removed.
Laying the pipe.
We finish by connecting the pipes, backfilling the dirt, then place the sod back on top.
Or maybe the pipe is draining in the wrong place, causing your basement to flood? This can happen when the water that is taken out of your home gets drained right back into the place it entered from.
We can redirect this drain to flow water away from the home rather than towards it.
Sometimes water can pile up from the discharge leaving your grass dead. Again, this is another case where we can redirect your hose to drain away from unwanted areas.
A sump pump hose can run above ground, however, we've seen many issues with homeowners mowing, wanting better looking landscaping, and seeing grass get killed from the water piling up in the wrong area. We've even seen basements flood because of the above-ground sump pump line.
It's good idea to keep the drainpipe at least 8-12 feet away from your home's foundation, and ideally in a spot where the water will run downwards away from the house rather than towards it.
Yes, clogged gutters can cause basement flooding. In fact, clogged gutters and downspouts are actually a large contributor to foundation failure. Water spills over the edges, and heavy amounts of water saturating the soil causes the soil to expand and damage the foundation walls. The expansion presses against the wall causing movement which ultimately cracks the foundation.
A gutter is an aluminum, vinyl, steel, copper, or zinc channel drain that catches water runoff from a roof and carries it to a downspout to keep water from piling up next to the home.
Surprisingly to many, gutters are a great way to prevent basement flooding. Gutters allow rain and snow water to flow down and away from the foundation.
A downspout is a tube that connects to a gutter at the roof’s edge and carries water down to ground level, and extensions then carry the water away from the home’s foundation to prevent flooding.
Heavy rains and storms can flood gutters by blowing debris onto the roof and into the gutters. When the gutters and downspouts build up leaves, sticks, and other debris, the water ends up overflowing, and it dumps water directly below.
Cleaning your gutters is fairly easy – here’s how to do it!
First, clear your gutters of all debris by gathering the leaves and sticks into a bucket. There are some devices out on the market that help you clean your gutters using an extension pole, but the best option (and most effective option) is to clear the bits out by hand, using gloves if necessary.
Next, if your downspouts are clogged, detach them completely. Most are removed by dislodging a couple screws near the top, and the entire unit slides off.
Once your gutters and downspouts are clear, reassemble the downspouts and rinse them out by running a hose into the gutter.
Most recommend that your downspout extension be at least 4-5 feet away from your house. This is to make sure the water doesn't sit next to your home's foundation and cause issues. It does depend on the slope of your yard, how well your soil takes in water, and any regulations in your area.
Downspouts are quite necessary for a successful water channel system away from your roof. Without a downspout, your gutters would simply spill water down to the ground, which is what you typically are trying to avoid.
If you have neither a rain gutter or a downspout, the water from rain and snow would spill off of your roof and build up on the ground. A heavy enough rainfall or snow melt could cause major water flooding in your house.
Water is channeled away from your house in a downspout to an area that is able to handle the water. Sometimes that is 4 feet away from your house, other times it is 15-20 feet away.
If your gutter overflows, it will fall down to the ground next to your home's foundation. This water can seep into your home, and worse, it can crack your home's foundation which leads to more issues down the road.
Water intrusion and foundation movement repairs are very costly.
Today is a good day to check your downspout drainage. It is important to ensure you not only have proper rain drainage from your roof, but also have clean gutters.
Mold in the basement can be dangerous to humans. Long exposure to mold can cause sickness, and the longer you leave the mold issue, the worse it can get.
Mold occurs where there is moisture, which is why you commonly find it in the basement of homes. If your basement is perfectly dry, chances are there won't be any mold.
Mold in the basement can be fixed. First, you need to rid and clean your basement of the mold. To keep mold away for good, you will need to ensure that your basement stays dry. This means keeping moisture and water out.
A waterproofing system can be installed to keep water out of your basement. Common systems are the drain tile system as well as the dry-up baseboard system. Other solutions can also be considered, such as installing a dehumidifier.
Basement flooding can cause mold. You may think that once the water is gone the mold won't have a chance to appear. That is not always the case. In fact, water can make its way into small spaces that are not visible to the eye, such in walls or under cabinets and flooring. These places can make for breeding grounds of mold to appear and exponentially grow. In fact, mold can grow in as little as a day after your basement floods.
Some solutions to kill mold are bleach and vinegar. Check out some other solutions to kill mold.
Mold in your basement can be a big deal because it can cause harm to you and your family's health. Mold is said to cause respiratory issues as well as allergic reactions in some cases.
One of the best solutions to kill the musty smell in your basement is the "Must Buster". It helps eliminate household moisture and musty odor caused by excessive dampness.
Simply empty its contents into a cloth or nylon sock and hang it over sink, drain or bucket. When the sock is empty, simply refill it.
Must Buster costs $4-5 per container depending on the quantity (plus shipping and handling).
