Whenever there is a moisture problem in your basement, whether it is small or large, it is essential that you determine its origination immediately and have it repaired to prevent further saturation. Moisture leaks in your basement can destroy drywall, insulation, and carpeting, and can make it necessary to consult a mold and mildew expert if the problem has often persisted for more than a few days. Here are some recommendations to help you take care of your basement moisture problems in your home to eliminate mold and mildew.

Apply Interior Protection

When the inside of your basement is already finished with drywall, flooring, framing, and insulation, repairing and cleaning up after a moisture problem is not easy. You will need to remove the damaged materials to get to the root of the problem, which is usually within the foundation walls or slab. However, because you will need to apply waterproofing treatments directly to the unfinished concrete wall, you will need to remove any finished surfaces.

To waterproof your interior basement walls, you can inject an epoxy into any wall cracks that have led to the leaking. This will seal up any openings, and the epoxy is flexible so it will not crack if the surrounding foundation walls shift slightly. If you are unsure where the moisture is coming in, consult a waterproofing professional so they can diagnose the issues to correct them.

Your basement might need a vapor barrier applied onto the walls to collect any moisture before it can get into the drywall or carpeting. Then, your professional may recommend a French drain installed in the floor around the basement walls to collect the incoming moisture. This type of correction will trap any moisture that comes in from the outside soil naturally without excavating the soil from away from your home's foundation. 

Consult a Drainage Professional For Advice

In some situations, the interior moisture problems of your basement can be due to the outside water not draining off, around, and away from your home properly. Insufficient or improperly-installed rain gutters on your home's roof can drain rainfall off the roof and onto the concrete sidewalk or soil directly by your foundation. And if the concrete or soil is sloping toward your home, the rainwater will follow suit.

It can be helpful to consult a professional inspector to check your home's drainage outside to make sure it is working best and as it needs to. They may recommend you add an extra length of rain gutter or add an extension to your downspout to provide a bit more drainage management and your basement moisture problems will be remedied.

For more information, reach out to a basement waterproofing service.