It’s been a long time since I have been able to write anything and add to the posts. There’s good reason for that. We have had more business in July than we have had all year. It’s been a great month and a lot of people are happy now that they have guaranteed dry basements. I’ve been working in Charlestown and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, Centreville and Springfield, Virginia, and even into Potomac, Maryland.
I spoke with a great contractor today based in Winchester, Virginia by the name of Phil Lemieux that’s working on a 1920s home. It’s beautiful but the basement is wet. There are stone foundation walls and you can see how there has been years of damage being done and the walls have a lot of structural decay on them. We are still able to work on homes like this. As long as the foundation is structurally sound, we will be able to treat the walls just as we would with any other block or poured wall. The key is to try to fill in large voids with hydraulic cement so that we have a flat surface to spray our waterproofing membrane onto. The home currently has a sump pump installed but it’s not doing the trick. We will be working on one entire side of the house as well as tunneling underneath the huge front porch to treat that wall as well. I am really looking forward to this project. This will be one of the oldest houses we have worked with so far.
Why should you worry about a small leak? Well, just as with many other small household maintenance tasks, if you procrastinate it will get worse. A small water leak can turn into a very serious problem quickly. Therefore, we treat any amount of water intrusion as an urgent matter. Again…WHY? 1) Structural Decay, 2) Mold and Mildew, and 3) Poor Resale Value!
1) THE PROBLEM: Mother Nature has destroyed more than her share of homes. The water seeping into your basement or crawlspace simply does not mix with building materials. The foundation becomes saturated, sheathing in floors and walls, even your roof can begin to separate, swell, and decay. Sheet rock begins to soften and deteriorate while insulation begins to smell and mildew. Left unattended a leaking basement or crawlspace can silently destroy your home.
2) THE PROBLEM: Not until recently has the public been informed of the new dangers of water seeping in their homes. Besides irritations and allergic reactions and the many sicknesses caused by bacteria, there’s a new Killer on the loose…DEADLY BLACK MOLD. “This mold can cause serious breathing difficulties, memory and hearing loss, dizziness, flu-like symptoms, and bleeding in the lungs.” [USA Weekend]…”It is a greenish black mold that can grow on materials with a high cellulose content, such as drywall sheet rock, dropped ceiling tiles, and wood, that become chronically moist or water-damaged, due to excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, or flooding.” [NY City Department of Health]…”Used as a biological weapon by the Russians, the neurotoxin is responsible for the deaths of 16 infants in Ohio.” [Click2Houston] Please look up “mold” on the Internet to be completely informed or ask your family physician.
3) THE PROBLEM: The law now requires property owners to disclose any faulty conditions to Real Estate Agents and potential Buyers. Failure to reveal a leaking basement or crawlspace would be cause for costly litigation. A leaking basement or crawlspace would more than likely end any chance for a “full value” sale. At best the property owner would have to pay to repair the problem and warrant the work to the new buyer…In the meanwhile the sale price is driven down. Today banks will not lend mortgage money for a leaking home, nor will Insurance Companies insure them. Ask yourself…WOULD YOU BUY ANOTHER HOUSE WITH A LEAKING BASEMENT OR CRAWLSPACE ?
If you have any questions about waterproofing in Northern Virginia you can contact us at, Northern Virginia Barrier Waterproofing Systems, 703-866-0535 or 540-974-2755 or 804-859-2544. Our informative website is www.NVBWS.com and my email address is Jon@NVBWS.com . I look forward to talking with you.
