FAQ

There are an almost infinite number of places and ways water can enter your basement. Often it is not just a question of keeping it out, but rather managing it with a proper basement waterproofing solutions when it inevitably comes in. Consider the following:
  1. Surface water (rain) leaking thru cracks or flaws in the walls – for every inch of rain, 1,250 gallons of water fall on the roof of a 2,000 square foot home.
  2. High ground water– water levels have risen to their highest point due to melting snow, spring rains, baron/change in landscape, & lack of winter sun. This is related to the geography around your home.
  3. Condensation – happens often, warm outside air comes in contact with cool basement walls and floors, moisture is produced
To understand better the elements that contribute to basement water consider the following explanation. Hydrostatic Pressure is the actual pressure of water forced against the exterior of a basement floor or wall. Water can be present in the soil by means of a high water table, underground stream, or capillarity. Groundwater is part of the Earth’s water cycle that flows underground. Water first passes through the zone of aeration or unsaturated zone (the white layer in the diagram). In this zone, a mixture of air and water fills the spaces between the rock and soil particles. From here, water is taken up by plant roots, discharged into a body of water, or flows down to the next zone, which is the zone of saturation or saturated zone (the blue area in the diagram). Here all the spaces between particles are completely filled with water. The top of this zone is called the water table . Contrary to popular belief, groundwater is not an underground river or lake. Rather, it is all the water below the water table stored in subsurface void spaces. As you see many things can contribute to your water problems – the local Geography, the water table, and of course the drainage situation around your house. At Bonded Waterproofing Solutions we will analyze all the contributors to your water problem and you can be sure that our basement waterproofing solution in New Jersey will be designed and installed to alleviate any and all issues that we find. To schedule a free in-home appointment with a NJ basement waterproofing specialist call BWS at 201-218-8869

Heaving and cracking of cement foundation and wall surfaces are serious problems.   Not only can water easily enter your home through these foundation cracks, but the structural integrity of your home may be compromised.   Years of untreated excess water around the perimeter of your house may often be the cause.   Unfortunately, by the time the cracks are visible and water is coming into your home, it is usually too late for “easy” solutions.  The foundation cracks must be repaired and more importantly, the cause of the cracking must be discovered and addressed.

See our discussion of the common causes of Foundation Cracking and Basement water.  BWS personnel have over 25 years experience correcting foundation and wall cracking problems on thousands and thousands of homes.   Using special materials, cements, and know-how, we will find the best, most cost effective solution for your foundation.    And if we feel the problem goes beyond waterproofing, and is more serious requiring structural replacement or reinforcement, we’ll tell you that too and try to guide you to the quickest most reliable fix possible.

Well then, it may be time for a BATH!!! It is common in older homes to find that crawlspaces are often left “open” or not capped – meaning they have a dirt or partial cement and rock floor, essentially open to moisture, insects and bacteria.  And of course also a great area for mold growth.  Bonded Waterproofing Solutions is one of the few companies that will do a full crawl space clean out and clean up for you, and then leave a system in place that completely seals your crawlspace from the elements and reduces or eliminates the awful smell seeping into your house. Our crawl space clean-out and crawl space sealing services generally involve the following:
  • Removal of all the junk in your crawlspace.
  • Complete power wash of the interior area with a spray de-molding solution.
  • Sealing the entire area with a specially reinforced 10 millimeter thick Vapor Barrier.
For more on our Vapor Barrier Installation process 201-218-8869
Well then, it may be time for a BATH!!! It is common in older homes to find that crawlspaces are often left “open” or not capped – meaning they have a dirt or partial cement and rock floor, essentially open to moisture, insects and bacteria.  And of course also a great area for mold growth. Basement Waterproofing Solutions is one of the few companies that will do a full crawl space clean out and clean up for you, and then leave a system in place that completely seals your crawlspace from the elements and reduces or eliminates the awful smell seeping into your house. Our crawl space clean-out and crawl space sealing services generally involve the following:
  • Removal of all the junk in your crawlspace.
  • Complete power wash of the interior area with a spray de-molding solution.
  • Sealing the entire area with a specially reinforced 10 millimeter thick Vapor Barrier.
For more on our Vapor Barrier Installation process call 201-218-8869
That “musty” smell is most likely the presence of millions of microorganisms or mold who are enjoying the damp, high humidity environment in your basement.   Not to mention the poor circulation common to most basements which keeps odors locked into the area and the whole house.   Many people resign themselves to living in these smelly, unhealthy conditions for years, thinking “well it’s a basement and basement’s smell musty…” But in fact a musty basement can be cured.   Sometimes all that is needed is a proper “air exchange system” in the basement which can both remove moisture and unhealthy particles from the air in the basement and even the entire house!  Installing an “air exchange” system is an easy, efficient way to reduce the effect of damaging and uncomfortable humidity in your home.  The system expels humid indoor air, reduces stagnation and introduces healthy air back into the home.   Modern systems are quiet, reliable, and use very little power.   There are no messy trays to empty, and homeowners can finally enjoy their time in the basement instead of dreading it.   The BWS Air Exchange/Dehumidification system we install is a professional grade system designed for the home but of commercial quality. Call us at 201-218-8869 for more information on this quality, affordable solution.

That’s not good….!

Your basement sump pump is the beating heart of your basement waterproofing system.  Without it, the effectiveness of most home drainage systems are severely compromised.  If your sump pump has stopped working or works intermittently REPLACE IT NOW, BEFORE THE NEXT STORM MAKES YOU WISH YOU HAD!

Bonded Waterproofing Solutions can usually have a crew at your home within 24 hours to replace a broken or faulty pump system.   See our professional sump pump systems here.   These included battery-backed units that insure that even in power outages your pump solution keeps working, and moves the water out!

A wood floor that is warping or discolored is almost always a sign of excess moisture either below the floor or even in the air of the basement.   Wood absorbs moisture and over time as it expands and contracts due to the changing temperature and humidity levels in a basement, the floor will begin to warp.   Usually you have no choice at this point but to replace it, however steps must be taken to analyze and solve the humidity issues underlying the cause of the warping.

To support the longevity of a wood floor in your basement, humidity and temperature levels must be stabilized as much as possible typically through use of Dehumidification Systems or thermostat controlled space heating solutions or both.

Basements tend to get damp. It’s a fact of life that everyone knows but not everyone knows you don’t have to put up with it.

If you are worried about the mold issues and furniture rot a chronically damp basement causes, consider installing a professional Dehumidification System.  Many homeowners use those cheap floor standing, retail humidifiers, and deal with emptying the tray full of water (when they remember) and sometimes these work OK for small spaces and relatively low humidity. But if you are ready to take your solution to the next level, consider the maintenance free BWS Air Exchange system here.

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