One of the problems with spring rains is that they can follow a very hard winter, where the ground has frozen. When the ground freezes it expands and any water sitting in or around your foundation can expand as well. This can cause new cracks in your foundation and create paths for water to seep into your basement.
Extended rainfall and constant wet soil will cause water to be absorbed into your foundation. The outside of the wall becomes wet. The only dry place is your basement or crawl space; this is where the water will evaporate to. At this point, homeowners tend to turn to dehumidifiers which will draw the moisture from the air. Once the air is dry the dehumidifier wicks moisture through the wall into your basement. It doesn’t solve your problem at all. It can even exasperate it.
Soil on the east coast has a very acidic PH. This is why in spring people tend to use lime on their grass to help it grow. However, concrete is made of sand, gravel, and lime or Portland cement. As the acidic water comes in contact with the concrete, a chemical reaction occurs. A white chalky powder begins to show where the moisture has wicked through the wall.
The more years this process happens for, the faster the water begins to come in. The water you don’t see, in your basement walls, does the most damage. Don’t delay and wait until the problem worsens. Call Mid-Atlantic Waterproofing today for your free inspection.
Categorised in: Foundations
This post was written by Jane Azzinaro