Problem
If you notice cracking on
the inside of the
foundation you will find 3
to 4 times as many
cracks outside.
Contact EVERDRY
Waterproofing for a
free inspection.
The Stages of Water Damage
EVERDRY can fix your basement at any stage of damage. The
earlier you are able to catch the problem, the less damage will be
done to your foundation and home.
First Stage
A foundation goes through various stages of cracking. Cracks
typically start from the outside and work their way inside. The first
stage of cracking is usually just a hairline crack outside and nothing
is noticeable on the inside of the basement at this point.
Second Stage
The second stage is when the crack has worked its way about
halfway through the foundation or basement wall. Water may just be
inside the hollows of a block wall or be inside the crack of a mortar
joint or concrete wall. This second stage is when you begin to notice
signs of water such as mold, mildew, peeling paint, white powder,
warped paneling, a musty odor, dry rot, rust and/or dampness.
Third Stage
The third stage is typically when you begin to see cracks or water.
You may even begin to notice bugs or rodents in your basement that
can enter through the cracks and stay due to a moist, damp
environment. In addition to the signs from stage two, you may notice
the basement is excessively damp, shows hairline cracks or spots
on the walls. You might notice a loss of lime salt (white powder from
walls.) Puddles form on the floor. You may see seepage during
moderate rain, or basement flooding during torrential rain.
Fourth Stage
The fourth stage is when the cracks are at an advanced stage. You
will notice a lot more water, some mud, more insects, rodents, and
some foundation movement, such as bowing walls or buckling
floors. In this stage there is visible structural damage, such as
corners shifting and cracking or the basement floor dropping.
Most wet basements leak water through the natural seam where the concrete basement floor and
wall meet. The most severe leaking will occur after a rain or after snow melts. Surface water
collects and builds up in the clay bowl that surrounds the foundation causing hydrostatic pressure.
Water is then forced through the natural seam where the basement floor and wall meet.
