Protecting Your Basement from Mold

(ARA) - Protecting your basement from mold follows the old proverb - an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Have you ever found water in your basement, or seen cracks in your foundation? How about standing water pooling against the outside of the house, or something green growing on the walls of your basement? Well, any of these things can spell problems in your basement, but quick action can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a problem costing thousands of dollars to repair.

The most important step in controlling mold growth is controlling moisture. Whether it’s from leaking pipes or cracks in the walls or floors, moisture creates an excellent breeding ground for mold and mildew. Unfortunately, mold can be a health hazard and many people are allergic to the molds found in your typical home basement. Plus, mold damages whatever it grows on and many porous items, like ceiling tiles, wood, drywall, books and carpets, which may have to be thrown away if they become moldy.

That’s why damage caused by mold can quickly become expensive to fix. For example, mold on a floor can cost less than $500 to remedy, while a more complicated problem involving structural damage can run a tab from $5,000 up to tens of thousands of dollars.

So, how can you control moisture in your basement? Here are a few easy steps to take:

• Buy a dehumidifier for the basement.
• Install a floor drain by the washing machine.
• Seal the dryer vent.
• Insulate cold-water pipes with foam insulation.
• Arrange soil located around the foundation perimeter so that it slopes away from the house to keep rainfall from collecting against the foundation walls.
• Clean all gutters to keep them from overflowing directly onto foundation walls leading to the basement.
• Act quickly to clean up spills or leaky pipes.

If you’ve got cracks in your cement walls or floor, seal them before there is a problem.

• Eliminate cracks in basement floors by using a liquid filler. There are a number of good products out there, including DAP’s Liquid Cement Crack Filler which comes ready-to-use and is perfect for repairing cracks in concrete floors. Once applied, it can be walked on in just 30 to 45 minutes.
• Cracks and holes in walls can be filled and patched with DAP’s Ready-Mixed Concrete Patch. It can be used to patch small holes and cracks on concrete and masonry surfaces, dries to a durable finish, and does not shrink.

If you already have a leak, use a hydraulic cement to repair the leak. Quick Plug hydraulic cement from DAP is designed to dry quickly, so you’ll need to mix it with water and hold it in place. It creates a watertight seal in just three to five minutes.

Finally, create a waterproof barrier between your basement and the moisture outside by sealing your basement walls. This is something you can do before you ever notice a problem. It is important to use a paint designed specifically for preventing moisture infiltration and mold growth. One made just for this task is DAP’s Kwik Seal Plus Basement Paint with Microban Antimicrobial Product Protection. This specialty paint safeguards concrete and masonry walls with a waterproof seal that’s guaranteed for ten years. For added security, the Microban protection in the paint continuously fights the growth of stain and odor-causing bacteria and mold on the dried paint surface. It’s available at most Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers and comes in white, gray and beige.

A waterproofed basement offers peace of mind and can prevent visits to the doctor and costly repairs down the line. For more information on repairing your basement, call (888) DAP-TIPS or visit www.DAP.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content