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.

***Please note -- I updated my review from 1 to 5 stars. Terra Firma took the initiative to reach out and assess any next steps needed to correct the problem. Trust is 100% restored knowing that if problems come up they will take any action needed to follow up. I will also say that the work they originally did was actually to code, and we agreed that the moisture problems arose due to the nonstandard setup of my dehumidifier, NOT because of errors in Terra Firma's work. Thank you Terra Firma.*** Unfortunately, I have to drop a negative review in the interest of warning other folks that their work has gone downhill. I previously had an excellent experience with Terra Firma for management of a water problem in my crawlspace. I hired them without question again for my current property for management of moisture issues, and I didn't check their work upon completion as thoroughly as I should have. Unfortunately, about 1 - 2 months after completion of work, I discovered a large mushroom growing out of one of the structural posts in my crawl/basement. On closer inspection, I noticed that the dehumidifier water discharge line they installed was dumping less than a foot away from my foundation, corresponding to the exact spot the mushroom was growing. Moisture was the exact problem they were supposed to fix, but now they have created a severe structural problem secondary to moisture with the dehumidifier line dumping large quantities of water right next to my foundation. In other words, they created the exact issue they were purporting to fix by collecting the moisture and depositing it into my foundation. Once fruiting bodies are growing out of wood, this is an indicator that the wood is severely compromised and the fungus network has grown extensively. I now have a very expensive and serious problem to fix. I called to let them know about the problem, not sure if I will hear back from the coordinator/ the team who did the work. I am not sure if I would trust them to fix the issue after the damage they have caused, but I would accept financial remediation. If they take steps to make things right, I would update my review. I would not hire Terra Firma again for any crawlspace work, be it structural or moisture related because of the big problem they have caused. Again, just would like to warn others.

After years of battling water problems, we had TerraFirma install a sump pump system and vapor barriers in our basement in 2017. It changed our lives! The system has worked wonderfully and even better, no more anxiety every time it rains that we will end up baling water with buckets. We have our system serviced every year to maintain quality. The technicians are always very helpful and professional. Stevo Clay was out today for our annual service and he was thorough and informative. We are grateful for the peace of mind we have knowing our system is good working order.

I had a consultation with Riley for some water damage in my basement. He was courteous (took his shoes off before coming in the house), informing and on time. It seems like this team has great communication and I will use them in the future should the need arise! My issue was a smaller drainage problem and door framing issue that needs to be addressed by a different specialty.

We have had their water proofing system in our crawl space for 5 years and it has worked perfectly. They come out every year to check the system to make sure it is operating properly. It is with great pleasure working with Lucinda at their Roseburg office. And working with the service agent Jason. He is a real professional and checks everything on the system. We have great confidence in Jason and TerraFirma and highly recommend them for your water issue problems. They do it right the first time. Best, John Moeckel, Bend Oregon.

Marcus from Terrafirma came out to service the crawlspace waterproofing system arriving right at the scheduled time. He was very friendly, courteous and professional. I highly recommend.

After I bought a 115 year old house built partially into a hill near the top of Council Crest in Portland and discovered that the walls bled water when it rained, two walls were built into a hill and had endured the pressure of water and mud for a century, causing cracks and turning the foundation to crumbles, I called Terra Firma when an neighbor with an old house told me about her experience. Terra Firma has a great reputation. During the first meeting, Hannah walked the property and made a detailed proposal, explaining how Terra Firma would ensure that the walls do not cave in by shoring them up and anchoring them, supplemented with a vapor lock system to keep the water out of the house. NO MORE MUSTY SMELL, THANK YOU! Hannah explained the plan thoroughly, using her iPad to ensure that I understood. It could not get any better than this...I signed the paperwork immediately and contracted for the foundation repair and upgrade. This week, Geovany and his team spent four days working very hard and very smart to finish the project on time, and without any hitches. And they were working hard, very thoughgoing and steadfast. I am extraordinarily pleased with the work of the TerraFirma team, and how they did it. It is obvious by looking at the work that my basement walls are solid, secure, and dry. THANK YOU TerraFirma!

Very good work. They completed the job in three days, and even came out a few days later when I had more water on the floor. It was a plumbing problem, not waterproofing, which was easily fixed by the plumber. No charge for Terra Firma follow-up visit.

Your team was outstanding in courtesy, timeliness, responsiveness and communication.

The guys doing the work were always right on time, they were very professional from the beginning to The end of the job...they were very polite and clean. We are happy we called TerraFirma foundation systems. We feel much better about the future rains this winter, knowing our basement is taken care of and we have a reliable pump system. Amber was very helpful and answered all our questions...

Our house is over 100 years old and the basement was very humid. I had laid down a vapor barrier but it wasn't sealing out all the moisture from the walk-in crawlspace. So we decided to have our walk-in crawl space encapsulated by Terra Firma after getting quotes from 3 companies. I knew that we needed a pro to get all the weird angles done correctly. We chose TF because they were professional, communicative, and their quote was reasonable in comparison to the others. They got the job done and have stayed in contact afterwards to make sure everything was correct. As a homeowner, I appreciated how they listened to my issues and expectations while also giving me needed expertise about how to get the job done. After the encapsulation was finished, the difference was clear. Our home smells better and the air is nice and dry.

We purchased a home in 2020 that had undisclosed water infiltration in the basement that resulted in all basement finishes needing to be demolished to clean up the water and remove mold. TerrFirma was the only company who was able to diagnose and address both water infiltration caused by poor exterior yard grading and drainage and also the interior water proofing needed. They also repaired and stabilized a very large structural crack in our basement foundation wall. In addition to doing all this work they were also able to fit earthquake retrofitting into the project while here when asked (after they showed up to start the project). The estimator, Bridget was very meticulous in her bid and made comparing estimates easy. Her experitse, flexibility, follow through and communication were superb. Working with Spencer Hunt, the project foreman, was so stress free. He was able to accommodate our request for earthquake retrofitting even though TerraFirma was extremely busy. He was excellent at explaining everything the crew was doing. He checked in with us through every step of the process to make sure we were educated about and happy with the work. We are so happy we used TerraFirma and would recommend them to anyone who needs drainage, foundation, concrete, earthquake and waterproofing work done in the future!

Sam was able to provide an excellent inspection and honest report of my crawlspace waterproofing needs. Didn’t feel rushed or pressured. Was able to educate me to better understand the issues and risks. Thank you so much Sam

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 The Basement Systems® International Network, which comprises more than 300 elite basement waterproofing and crawl space repair contractor companies all across the United States and Canada.

As a member of the Basement Systems® International Network, 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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