What Homeowners Should Know About Waterproofing Atlanta

By Sharron Cantu


If you have just bought a home or you have lived in it for a number of years, you need to ensure that it is free from mold and it is safe for your family. In most cases, basements, decks and entry ways have places that are exposed to water. If water seeps into areas such as floors and walls, it can cause mold and mildew to grow. It can also cause wooden floors to rot.

Mold and mildew is known to cause diseases of the respiratory system. Damaged floors on the other hand can be unattractive and expensive to replace. There are a number of things that can be done to waterproof your property. To get the best outcome when it comes to waterproofing Atlanta dwellers should seek the guidance of qualified waterproofing contractors, architects or engineers. These professionals can provide homeowners with information about the most suitable technique to use.

Several factors determine the way you should waterproof your house. Examples are your budget and the area where your home is located. The common materials used to make a building watertight are Kota stone and bitumen but other specialized compounds are also available. Materials like fibermesh and APP sheets are mostly used to make expensive constructions such as shopping malls watertight.

The process of constructing a home usually begins with the pouring of strip footings. Waterproofing admixture can be added to the concrete in order to ensure that the footing will be impervious to moisture. The concrete slab will then be poured onto an impervious membrane.

It is also important to ensure that below ground walls, retaining walls and planter boxes have a membrane layer applied to the external surface. This will ensure that moisture does not penetrate to the other side. The area that is most prone to failure is the first course of brick work on the footing. It is wise to have a reinforcing bandage applied to the entire length of the walls to cover this joint.

It is also vital ensure that the external walls of a building are watertight. This will ensure that underground moisture as well as moisture from rain and sprinklers will not damage the building. The wooden flooring of a house should also be waterproofed regularly so that mold or mildew will not grow on it.

New wooden floors should be waterproofed as soon as possible. If the floors in your home are not new, you can carry out a splash test. This involves splashing some water on them and determining if the water beads up or if it is absorbed quickly. If the floor absorbs the water, you should apply a fresh coat of waterproofing compounds over it.

It is also essential to ensure that the basement of your home is watertight. In this way, the foundation and the basement of your home will not get damaged by moisture. If there are signs of cracking on the basement or foundation, make sure that they are repaired as soon as possible. You should hire a qualified contractor when waterproofing your property. A good contractor will utilize advanced equipment to determine if there are leakages in the basement and crawlspace. This professional can also determine if there are cracks in walls or the foundation.




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