A quick and easy water test that any homeowner can do is to tape a 1 foot square piece of aluminum foil to your basement wall for 24 hours. After 24 hours observe the piece of foil to see if the moisture (condensation) is on the inside (part against the wall) or the outside of the piece of foil.
Results:
Outside of Foil – High humidity is present in your basement. This is a fairly easy fix and can be solved either by adding a portable room dehumidifier to your basement or a whole house humidifier system to regulate the humidity.
Inside of Foil (Part facing the wall) – It may be the soil around your house causing this issue, in which case one of the following waterproofing options should solve your issues.
Concrete sealers are an easy DIY project for a homeowner and a fairly inexpensive solution. There are 3 popular type of sealers-Silicate, acrylic, and concrete. They are each applied differently and it is important to read the labels on each to see which one fits you the best. Or just let GCS do it for you, worry free!
Sump Pumps are another solution (our most popular one) and one that GCS highly recommends. Already have a sump pump? Then you need a backup. We have seen so many basements destroyed by water because the original sump pump failed, and there was not a backup. It is a small price to pay for a piece of mind! Sump pump costs will vary depending on if your home was built with one in mind or not. Once we look at the project will have a plan for what needs to be done.
French Drains are necessary if water needs to be rerouted away from your basement. There are different options for interior or exterior French drains, with the exterior being the most costly. If GCS sees that this is a necessary option, we will fully explain to you the process and cost before any work begins. Our number one priority is protecting your investment!