Monday, July 2, 2012

The Advantages of Basement Waterproofing


Investing in a home is a major undertaking. It goes far beyond the initial purchase of the house, but instead continues on for the entire duration of ownership. In owning a home, whether as a primary residence or as a property that is rented out, there are often serious and expensive decisions to make. Among those can sometimes be the question of basement waterproofing.

Granted, this issue is not likely to arise in areas or regions where flooding is either unlikely or near impossible. A home in an arid region, or on the outskirts of a desert for example, is not going to have need of this sort of weatherizing. These homes may need completely different levels of weatherizing. The question discussed here is whether or not a basement is likely to flood.

Living near a significant water source is often a good indicator about water levels in the ground. Homes near rivers, for example, are notorious if not for flooding than at the very least for having wet or damp basements. In fact, along a river bank many buildings will have no basement at all for that very reason. They instead have a small crawl space for storage purposes or an expanded attic space.

The biggest downside to this is actually not being limited in how the basement is used, but instead the mold and mildew that all that dampness often leads to. This sort of situation can spell massive health problems for many, sometimes permanent in the case of children, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems. The costs associated with cleaning up mold in a house are often staggering.

This is where the big decision comes in. The cost associated with waterproofing is often high. Occasionally, a case can be made for insurance to cover at least a portion of the cost, however that is not something that is certain or to be counted on. This often happens as part of a settlement following disaster clean up. When not covered at all by insurance at the very least bring it to the attention of an agent as it may actually lower the cost of future premiums.

Before making any decisions based on expense alone be sure to also look into possible grants available that could help offset the expense. In some areas prone to flooding there is grant money available to help people appropriately weatherize their homes. Aside from protection against flooding these monies can often be used for insulating homes for winter, or assisting in cooling homes in particularly hot areas.

By choosing basement waterproofing a homeowner is making a serious home improvement. It means protecting against disaster. It can also mean expanding living space within the home. Where a basement was perhaps not habitable as a game room or informal living room in the past, it will become usable.

There are many upsides to making this investment, however as with all improvements it requires serious thought and consideration as to whether or not it will be worth it for a particular person or family. Other factors that deserve considering include the length of time the house will be lived in, the degree to which the space is needed, and any health concerns that may be involved. It is a serious decision to make.