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.

How To Hire a Basement Waterproofing Contractor

Preventing Basement Flood: A Guide for Seattle, Tacoma, and Lakewood Homeowners

Basement Waterproofing in Oregon – Pre-Construction Waterproofing System

How Water Damage Affects Your Foundation

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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.

I had Bailey come out to do an estimate for crawlspace encapsulation and some drainage work in the basement. Bailey spent 2 hours at the house and on the phone with me in total (not counting the work he did on his own), doing a very thorough work up of the house and patiently explaining what my options were, and what might be better for my renovation contractor to do. I really appreciated Bailey's willingness to think through different options - some that didn't include work for his company - and teach me about crawlspaces!

We had an excellent installation on a fantastic crawl space waterproofing job. We are on the northern Oregon coast and a few feet from the sand so we get a lot of moisture under our 1940s home. We decided to invest in the TerraFirma product after a great meeting last summer with Don as we were taking on a major house renovation and decided we would do what is best all at once. We are very happy we did as the product is a game changer for the health of our home and our next generation. We pick up some great additional waterproofed storage space too in the end. The install process was efficient, and we had three outstanding guys working our job. Antonio, Jesse and Cameron deserve a big shout out. They spent time each day we dropped by to educate us on what they did that day, show us every aspect of the job and took great care to be hospital-like clean. Sometimes not-so -ice people do very good work, and sometimes really nice people do shabby work but in our case with TerraFirma, we received an excellent service from very nice guys. So glad we found Terra Firma!

We had a great experience with TerraFirma. The crew that waterproofed our basement were Aris, Manuel, and Cristian, and they were super pro and cleaned up everyday after work. This crew was just great, they were friendly and worked hard every day. Give these guys a raise!

Terra firma Oregon City Completed my basement waterproofing project. I want to give a shout out to Antonio , Kameron, Jesse For doing a very fast and efficient job Completing my waterproofing system.

So we had Jorge, Juan, and Brad do an encapsulation of our basement crawl space and they did an amazing job. The area they had to literally crawl around in to complete the work was incredibly tight yet they completed their work without complaint and with style. It looks great! The work these guys had to do was tough, give these men a raise! They earned it!

If you hire this company to put sump pumps in your basement, make sure you know exactly where they are going to put them and where the pipes that will pump the water outside will be coming out of your house. Even though one guy gives you a diagram ahead of time, that doesn’t mean the guy actually doing the work follows it. One sump pump was put in our basement just as we expected. The second one was not. We provided new electrical outlets dedicated for use to the sump pumps. The second pump now has cords hanging in mid air barely reaching the new plugs because that pump was not put where they told us it would be. Also, the pipes that take the water away from the house, we expected those to go through the foundation, not through the expensive cedar siding and be exposed on the front of our house! I was horrified to see those holes and said so. My husband redirected them to drill through the foundation so the pipes could not be seen once the work was done. They did that, but now we are left with holes to repair. They did not offer to repair them. The young men who did the work were kind and respectful and did what they thought were expected of them, but if you hire this company, make sure you know exactly where they are going to put everything and not assume anything even if you have a diagram!

TerraFirma Foundation Systems is excellent at basement waterproofing. Be sure to ask about all the available options so you can choose the one that’s right for you. The company is very capable, but it’s important to do your research before making a decision. The crew—Antonio, Jessi, and Casey—worked extremely well together. Antonio is especially sharp; whenever I suggested an idea, he immediately understood what I meant and offered an even better solution on the spot.

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.

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.

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!

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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