No homeowner would surely want to encounter any flooding or leaking problem in the basement. That part of the home is located at the foundation supporting the structure. Because of its location, it may be prone to accumulation of water from seepage through cracks in the walls or floors that may be inevitable as years go by.
You do not need to spend too much just to remedy simple basement flooding problems. If you would take a closer look at the condition, you may find that your basement could only be accumulating water due to simple or common problems. If that is the case, you could actually use several simple and logical solutions that do not require significant expenses on your part.
Here are some common problems that lead to usual basement flooding. The frequent and logical solutions are also described to make waterproofing of that area more feasible and possible.
Condensation or wall seepage
If there is leaking or flooding in your basement and you could not easily determine the actual source of water, you could do a simple test. Put a piece of commercial aluminum foil right on the wall. Seal all of its edges. Leave it there for at least 24 hours. After that, check the status of the foil. If you could find moisture or water on the interior of the foil, it is a confirmation that the problem is caused by seepage through the wall. On the other hand, if moisture is outside the foil, the problem could be traced to condensation resulting from poor ventilation. If that is the case, you only need to improve ventilation in the area.
Gutter downspouts
Rainwater could accumulate to saturate the soil adjacent to basement walls. This occurrence would lead to water leakage or seepage through cracks that are present in the walls. To correct this problem, just add 3-foot to 6-foot extensions right to the bottom of the downspouts. Doing so would prompt movement of water away from your basement.
Flat lawns
If the lawn is flat or is sloping toward your home, it is possible that water could accumulate around the basement. This would of course cause seepage and leakage through basement walls. To remedy this situation, slope the lawn strategically away from your home. If the technique is impractical, you could dig a drainage ditch across or along the problematic area. Insert a perforated plastic pipe and surround it with rocks. This way, water would be drained to move away from your home basement.
Shrubbery
Shrubbery around the home that is dense or is overgrown could lead to water accumulation in the basement area. The sun could not reach the ground to possibly dry out the formation of moisture. The simple waterproofing solution to this problem is to immediately trim the shrubs. You may also opt to utilize alternative materials that would allow natural evaporation and drying so that the ground would be kept dry most of the time.
