Small Basement Leaks can Lead to Big Basement Bills
BASEMENT CRACK HAS MOISTURE STAINS
THE IMPORTANCE OF BASEMENT WALL COVERINGS
During this service inspection, the homeowner complained that they believed a small crack may be getting moisture in the basement. This is what the inspector saw when they got there. The white chalk on the walls is something called Efflorescence. That is what happens as the water in the cement begins to evaporate and it hits the minerals in the cement.
It crystallizes on the surface of the cement. When this white chalk occurs the inspector then does a flood test. During a flood test, the inspector will put a hose on the exterior wall where the suspected leak is. After some time running the water outside, the area will likely start to dampen or worse will case scenario, leak. This wall spot began to leak after only 15 minutes of water on the outside. It was a good thing that the techs were able to come and look at this home before the heavy rains came this winter. Even more fortunate this was an existing customer so they already had an internal trench drain that this water could flow into.
Were it not for this system the water would just flow into the basement and begin to move across the floor as we see at so many other appointments. Cezar proceeded to fill this crack with Zypex, a material that expands in order to fill cracks in the walls and stop water from continuing to come through into the home. Our inspector then recommended Bright Wall Panels in order to provide a neater finished look to this homeowner's basement.