Basement Waterproofing Signs

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Signs your
basement needs waterproofing

Unwanted water or moisture in your basement ruins everything it touches. A home with a wet basement is also one of the biggest red flags to prospective home buyers.

These are some signs that you need to stay alert for:

Basement floor cracks and leakage
Wet basement walls
Musty smells
Damp drywall and carpet
Rusty appliances or floor vents
Cove joint seepage
Efflorescence, yellow, orange, or black stains

Leaky Floor

Leaky Floor &
Wall Cracks

Settling can cause your basement floors to crack. Additionally, water can build up outside your foundation resulting in hydrostatic pressure, pushing against foundation walls and forcing leaks into your basement.

When water comes up through the floor or basement walls you need to address it. Installing a perimeter drain system and drainage channel, and sump pump will help direct any water that comes through the cracks and away from your valuables.

Stains

The white chalky powder on your basement walls, also known as efflorescence, is a common sign of moisture in your basement. Usually accompanied by yellow, orange, and/or black stains, moisture is a problem that if not addressed, can make your foundation walls crack and even cause your basement to present leaks.

Even after waterproofing your basement, concrete walls and floors continually absorb moisture from the soil and release it into the air. A reliable, low-maintenance dehumidifier system will ensure your basement and home will stay dry.

tf stains image Waterproofing

Poor Air Quality

Basement Air Quality

Most indoor air quality issues start in dark, wet areas of the house, like the basement or crawl space. Mold thrives in this kind of environment and will commonly be accompanied by a nasty smell. In addition to mold, excess moisture can lead to wood rot, attracting pests like termites and rodents that further compromise your basement air quality. High humidity levels can also exacerbate allergies and respiratory issues, especially for those with asthma. Addressing basement air quality problems not only improves air quality but also creates a healthier living environment for your family.

After removing any organic materials (mold) and making sure your waterproofing system is working correctly, you should still consider other airborne hazards, such as dust mites and bacteria. These can also affect your basement air quality and potentially endanger your health. Fortunately, you can prevent them with the use of a dehumidifier.

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TERRAFIRMA IN ACTION

Leaky basement? Moldy odors? You’re not alone. We’ve helped families across Oregon & Washington breathe easier with our Basement Waterproofing Systems. Check out some tips and examples of our waterproofing work here.

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Basements WATERPROOFED,
HOMEOWNERS HAPPY

We take pride in our years of experience making homes dry, safe, and stable. From Ashland to Corvallis, Beaverton to Olympia, our Basement Waterproofing clients have given us great feedback.

We had some basement flooding in our house and after learning the cause, we started the work of getting quotes and inspections from Foundation specialists. When we called TerraFirma, Bailey was able to make time for our inspection within the week. From the jump, Bailey was very communicative, and set expectations upfront. He asked what was going on, looked at some suspected intrusion points and then let me know he'd carry on with the inspection and would let me know when he was ready for me. No awkward standing around or wondering how long it would take. Bailey was very thorough with his inspection and had an impressive presentation once he'd made a diagnosis. He told me his ideas and then asked me mine and we both felt good about the plan walking away from it. Ultimately our timeline didn't work out and we personally had to go a different direction, but if it did I'm confident we'd be in good hands with Bailey and TerraFirma!

I recently purchased a home that I knew had water encroachment in the basement. Terra Firma came and presented what can be done and I knew it had to be done. Tieran and his crew came in and did exactly what was explained to me. They answered all my questions and I feel very confident it will be a dry basement going forward. I highly recommend this company for any work that needs to be done to foundation, water issues, crawl space etc. Fantastic company!

I had crawl space waterproofing performed under my home. It was a two day job. Timothy and his team of Jonathon, Jesse and Moi did a remarkable job and finished as advertised. This entails literally the removable of hundreds of pounds of deteriorated insulation (and other garbage left by the builder) and then encasing the whole area in plastic sheeting. A really dirty job in a VERY restricted work space. Yet, both nights at cessation of work, access from the outside of the home to the crawl space door was left without a hint of mud or residue from underneath the house. At the end of the project, Timothy explained the entire procedure and showed me photos. It looked like a skating rink - bright and white! At $14,000, the procedure is not cheap, but since our home was built on a subterranean spring, necessary. But after seeing all the effort by the workers and the amount of material drug in and out of that crawl space, I definitely got my money's worth. Kudos to Timothy and his team and I highly recommend TerraFirma.

I did a ton of research on TerraFirma when I decided to pursue getting a seismic retrofit in my basement, and then to clinch it, my Engineer neighbor spoke highly of them as well, stating they are top tier in their field. Jake's Crew came out today to review, and instead of selling me on a $10,000+ price tag, educated me on why they were unable to do the retrofit - my foundation is hollow concrete, their drilling would shatter it, and their alternative wouldn't meet my required needs. Honestly, I'm BLOWN AWAY how awesome Jake's Crew was - honest, direct, helpful, and educated me on my foundation. They even cleaned up under the porch for me, graciously turned my outside water off under the crawl space (thank you!!!). I'm so sad my foundation isn't able to be seismically retrofitted but I'm ridiculously grateful to Jake's crew for being so honest. I highly recommend TerraFirma - I read a ton of reviews on multiple platforms, and when they do make a mistake they fix it and make it right. They are full of integrity, and I'll forever remain impressed and won't stop recommending them to anyone/everyone!

We had a great experience with the Terra Firma team. We needed water mitigation done in our basement, and from the sales team to the install team we felt confident throughout the entire process. We were especially appreciative of Luis, Jorge, and Nick on the installation team, as they not only did great work, but they finished ahead of schedule. They also made sure to communicate with us every day to keep aware of progress, and had very helpful tips for how to take care of the new mitigation system and our basement moving forward. Would highly recommend!

Christian and his team were on time, personable as well as professional. The team did a great job repairing the leaks in our basement and keeping us informed of any changes and progress.

I had a great experience working with Samuel Bryant. Sam arrived on time and communicated clearly ahead of the inspection, coordinating well with both me and my tenant. He performed a thorough inspection of our basement sump pump, took the time to explain everything clearly, and provided detailed recommendations based on our specific situation. What stood out most was how responsive and patient he was with all of my questions. I really appreciated Sam’s excellent service, and I would highly recommend working with him.

We had TerraFirma out to work on our foundation six months ago and were very pleased with the experience. We had a pretty big project on a home built in 1900 and the company worked with us to divide it into phases so it wasn't so financially overwhelming. Phase 1 included crawl space encapsulation, replacing old wood columns with smart jacks, carbon fiber stitching cracks, installing a dehumidifier and a sump pump with drainage line. After starting the work they realized some components that had been in the contract weren't needed and they quickly had me sign an addendum that would lower the cost of the project. James Taylor, the lead was great to work with, always explaining their plans for the day, progress they had made and ensuring that we were pleased with the work. The crew was right on time every day for two weeks. They were clean and courteous. They were set to finish a day early but found some water entering the basement while they were wrapping up. James called his supervisor and they set to work installing a section of drainage system that was unplanned. They did this at no additional cost because they said that is what they were hired to do and it was the right thing to do. I was shocked by this because it is hard to find a company and crew off workers that will stand by their work like that. Terra Firma might be more expensive than other quotes you get but it was the first time I have felt that a company genuinely cared about the quality of their work and they treated my home with respect. James and his crew (Byron, Alex, and Jake) went way above and beyond to make our basement a better and more useable place. They certainly could have just done the minimum that was agreed upon but they didn't and they will get my business for any future needs because of it. Our unfinished basement and crawlspace is now clean, comfortable and dry. The work was transformative. I highly recommend this company.

Thanks to TerraFirma for the 3 young men Jorge, Juan and Manuel who encapsulated our basement. Always on time, working a full day and at the end of it all doing a wonderful job. Our basement has never looked or smelled better. Thanks Michael

My mother-in-law’s house was built in 1962 and has had basement water issues for more than 40 years. We’ve spent so much money trying to fix it over the years, but TerraFirma Foundation Systems completely transformed the situation—it feels like magic. Thank you to the team: Casey from sales and the crew members Antonio, Jessi, and Casey. The three musketeers worked efficiently and truly operated as a team. Thank you for bringing such an incredible change to my mother-in-law’s home! One suggestion for management: please focus on bringing happiness to your customers rather than worrying too much about potential lawsuits.

Jorge V. Juan B. And Manuel J. We’re a great crew waterproofing my basement. Thanks guys. It was a pleasure working with you.

Last year our house flooded due to rising ground water in a daylight basement that we had assumed was sealed and waterproof. Well it wasn't! We hired Terra Firma to do a waterproofing job that included drain lines below ground, drain track around the inside corners, and a sump pump. Our install team (Andrew, Zach, Joey, and Kayden) were amazing. They arrived on time every morning, worked hard all through the day, and were done ahead of schedule. They answered all of our questions and even helped us plan the best way to resurface our finished basement floor so any future water damage would not create long term damage. We could not be happier with Terra Firma and our amazing install crew. Five stars for sure.

Basement Waterproofing Homeowner Questions

Should I be concerned about damp spots on my basement carpet? What should I do?

If you have wet carpet in your basement or damp spots on the floor or baseboards, this could be a sign that you have a leaky basement issue. Wet basements create more problems than just wet carpet. Mold or mildew could be growing under the carpet, which fills the air you breathe with musty odors and hazardous mold spores.

The first step in fixing your leaky basement is finding the source of the water intrusion. Save yourself the hassle. One of our basement waterproofing experts will inspect your basement for waterproofing problems and recommend the best solution for your home.

Why should I trust your methods to waterproof basements?

TerraFirma is more than just your local waterproofing contractor. We are proud to be part of basement waterproofing solutions, which comprises more than 300 elite basement waterproofing and crawl space repair contractor companies all across the United States and Canada.

TerraFirma is able to provide our customers with industry-leading products and warranties, while remaining committed to personalized service and custom solutions.

My basement has flooded in the past. What can I do to prevent this?

Basements can flood from a number of areas, including: floor cracks, leaking or burst pipes, leaking windows, hatchway doors, sump pump failure, and water heater failure. Our local experts will help you understand and address the cause of your basement flooding.

How should I handle a wet, leaky basement?

Avoid any electrical hazards – Avoid touching any devices or wires
If possible, pump out any standing water
Dry out and discard any wet non-essential organic materials such as wood
Find the cause of leaking and flooding. Our local experts will help you find the causes and provide you with a tailored solution to your basement.

What are footing drains?

Footing drains are installed just outside the foundation of your home’s basement. These are thick pipes with holes designed to let water flow inside. A layer of stones is put on top of the drainpipe to prevent soil backfill from blocking the pipe. However, with time, backfill can seep through the stones and clog the pipe. Improperly maintained footing drains can lead to a leaky basement.

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