Basement Flooding
In Nebraska, basements are by far the most common location for flooding and water damage. Think about it, basements are susceptible to all types of water sources; ground water, sump pump malfunction, water heater failure, washing machine failure, washing machine hose burst, frozen pipes, bathroom plumbing fixtures and every other flooding event that occurs on the floors above.
A flooded basement presents unique challenges that other parts of your house do not. Historically, in Nebraska, basements were not meant to be finished. At least not finished in the manner that they are today. With full wall framing, insulated foundation walls, wallboard, base trim, carpet and pad, these water damaged materials don’t dry as efficiently as they do above grade. Below are some common water damage issues relating to basements.
Basement Foundation Walls
Believe it or not, all foundation walls allow water to enter through them, right into your basement! Impossible you say? Even if liquid water never enters your basement, WATER VAPOR certainly does. That’s right, water vapor…a gas. Nebraska basements are simply a hole in the ground. What’s in the ground? Water!
Concrete is actually fairly porous and certainly not water proof. Even with “waterproofing” on the exterior of your foundation wall, water vapor (if not liquid water) will eventually enter through the concrete, into your basement. A traditional unfinished basement is at very low risk of staining any type of major structural damage due to water intrusion. Bare concrete is structurally stable and not a good food source for mold. However, when we remodel and finish our exterior foundation walls, we put all finish materials at risk. Many basements in Nebraska were designed or engineered to be finished off in the manner that we finish them.
Over time, minor amounts of water can enter through the foundation resulting in wet walls. This moisture is almost undetectable but it can cause big problems if not corrected.
Drywall & Sheetrock
In general, the moisture load of structural components is higher in below-grade rooms and above-grade. This can create unique challenges for basement drywall and sheetrock. Over time the repeated exposure to higher moisture content can lead to mold growth. This fungal growth simply loves the paper surface of drywall. Some of the most difficult walls to dry are basement foundation walls that have been insulated with vapor barrier. This is the NUMBER ONE place we find mold growth in Nebraska basements.
Base Trim & Finish Carpentry
Base trim is DryHero’s “canary in the coal mine”. You can often tell if a basement has suffered water damage or susceptible to mold growth just by the way the base trim looks. If the base trim is gapped away from the drywall, is discolored or otherwise deformed, the odds are that there is some time of water intrusion or moisture issue.
Carpet & Floor Coverings
Most carpet and cushion is synthetic and fairly porous, making mold growth difficult and drying fairly simple. Here’s some more good news; the less money you spend on your carpet and cushion, the better it will respond to water damage restoration efforts. Since certain carpet and pad combinations hold moisture longer than others, it’s important to select smart materials for basement floor coverings. Choose materials that trap moisture and you could end up with stale odors and mold growth on the carpet seam tape and tackless strip.