Midwest Basement Tech

Why No One Wants to Live with a Wet Basement

Water can get into your basement through a number of ways, including leaky pipes, flooding, and even cracks in the foundation. A wet basement becomes an unusable place where health hazards and structural damage can form and ruin the value of your home.

• Unusable Space
  Finished basements make great entertainment rooms or storage spaces. Once water is introduced to the space, however, furniture and electronics can easily be compromised, and anything you store there can suffer significant damage. With proper restoration and waterproofing, this part of your house can be reclaimed as your entertainment area.
   
• Mold Growth
  Mold thrives in cool, damp environments, and a wet basement provides the perfect conditions for a mold infestation. Not only is mold unsightly, but black mold can cause significant health problems, especially for individuals with weakened respiratory systems. Additionally, because mold consumes organic material, it can cause considerable damage to the wooden structures of your home.
   
• Structural Damage
  The presence of water may be a sign of structural damage. You should have your foundation inspected to ensure that water isn't entering the basement through cracks. Even if there isn't structural damage already, a basement that is left wet can cause disastrous problems for your home's structural integrity.

The most important thing to do when you discover water in your basement is to call an expert who can determine the cause. If the cause is pre-existing structural damage, it should be repaired before the damage becomes even more costly. If the cause is not structural, then a basement waterproofing expert can help you come up with a solution to reclaim your basement.

In Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky, Midwest Basement Technologies can help you find the source of the problem and provide all of your waterproofing and foundation repair needs. To discuss your specific problems with one of our qualified technicians, call (618) 372-7077 or visit our website today.
 

The Dangers of Ignoring Cracks in Your Home

It's normal for cracks to appear in a foundation over time, but that does not mean that they should be ignored. Foundation and wall cracks should be monitored closely and analyzed by a trained foundation specialist, as these issues can cause water leaks, problems with the home's interior structure, and total collapse if left unaddressed.

• Water Damage
  Cracks in the foundation provide the perfect opportunity for groundwater and rainwater runoff to enter the home. Once inside the home, water can lead to additional structural problems and a mold infestation. Mold can degrade wood supports inside the home and can cause allergies in family members who are sensitive.
   
• Interior Damage
  The soil your home is built on expands and constricts naturally, causing your foundation to shift to compensate and leading to foundation cracks. If foundation damage is left unaddressed, your walls can follow the motion of the foundation, and also develop cracks. Your interior walls will show this damage, and your windows and doors may become stuck as a result of the frame shifting.
   
• Home Collapse
  If foundation cracks go untreated for long enough, the foundation can begin to bow, leading to additional damage to the walls. Wall cracks that are wide in some spots but narrow in others are signs that a wall is pulling away from the rest of the home. If this damage gets worse, the foundation will eventually collapse under the weight of the home, causing the entire structure to fall.

You should always call a foundation specialist as soon as you notice cracks in your foundation, as a specialist can track the damage and provide necessary repairs. In the St. Louis metro area, Midwest Basement Technologies provides all of the basement waterproofing and foundation repairs you could need. For a free quote, visit our website or call (618) 372-7077.

The Hidden Dangers of Mold Exposure

Moisture in your home can be a breeding ground for mold, and that mold can have dire health consequences. However, many homeowners don’t realize the serious risks that mold infestations present. The Fabry family, for example, didn't worry about moisture until a mold infestation forced them out of their Colorado home.

This video clip features the story of the Fabry family. Cutting into an infested bathroom wall released mold spores into the Fabry's home, and soon their nine children began to experience alarming symptoms such as abdominal pain, blurry vision, vertigo, and rashes.

If you have water in your home, your chances of being exposed to dangerous molds go up dramatically. Midwest Basement Technologies helps homeowners prevent moisture problems and mold growth. Call (618) 372-7077 to speak with one of our trained foundation and waterproofing specialists.

Are You Buying a Home? Don't Forget About the Foundation!

Foundation problems can mean costly repairs for homeowners. Furthermore, these expenses get even worse after the damage spreads to your home’s interior. When buying a home, keep your eyes open for signs of a wrecked foundation or wet basement. Knowing about these issues before closing on a house can help you make a smart investment.

• Interior Clues: The indoor signs of foundation damage are relatively easy to spot. Start by scanning for uneven surfaces. Some floor materials, like tile and hardwood, make this test relatively easy. You can also spot a bad foundation through misaligned doors, jammed windows, and cracks in walls. Additionally, be sure to check basements and crawlspaces for water, as wet basements are often related to foundation deterioration.
   
• Exterior Investigation: You can use outdoor clues to support any suspicions you have about a house’s foundation. Start by tracing the lines of the foundation from one end of the home to the other. You should see a straight line without major breaks, bulges, or divots. Next, inspect the walls for leaning, and keep your eyes open for foundation edges that extend past an exterior wall. These are all symptoms of an unstable, shifting foundation.
   
• Gutter Issues: Foundation problems commonly begin with soil erosion and moisture intrusion. Both of these symptoms can be traced back to a home with broken gutters. Take a detailed look at the gutters of any home you consider purchasing, checking for dents, rusted seams, and cracks. In addition, gutters will not be able to divert water correctly if they are filled with debris, so check gutters for an abundance of leaves and debris.

If your perfect home has foundation issues or a wet basement, don’t worry, you can leverage the costs of foundation repairs against the asking price for the home. You can also count on Midwest Basement Tech to assess and estimate the costs of a repair job. Call us at (618) 372-7077 for more information about our services.

5 Resources To Read if you Suspect Water in Your Basement

Follow the links below for more information on how the right services from your basement waterproofer can protect your basement for years to come and why it is good to deal with local, family-owned businesses. Contact Midwest Basement Tech at (618) 372-7077 for more information on these topics.

• Take a look at this slideshow from FrontDoor.com to see how finishing your basement can help increase your home’s value.
• This informative article from the University of Tennessee provides great information about remedying wet basement problems.
• Explore this page on ThisOldHouse.com to learn more about preventing leaks from infiltrating your basement.
• Check out this article from FamilyHandyman.com for more information on choosing a good contractor to handle your home improvement projects.
• This article from Bankrate.com explains how spots in your basement walls can point to moisture issues.