When it comes to repairing water damage in the basement, timing is key. Water damage in the basement of your Maryland home can often go unnoticed for extended amounts of time since the basement tends to be a less-frequented area than anywhere else in your home. There are 2 major secondary problems that come as a result of prolonged water damage in the basement: mold growth and structural damage. At American Eagle, we specialize in basement waterproofing and make it our goal to keep water damage from wreaking havoc on your home.
Why Choose Basement Waterproofing?
We want you to understand the risks that are associated with water damage in your basement so you can take the necessary basement waterproofing steps to safeguard your home from them.
1. Prevent Mold Growth
Mold will begin growing 48 hours after water damage has occurred. Mold requires a food source, moisture, and time in order to grow. Our homes are full of food sources for mold (wood, drywall, sheetrock, etc.), and all it takes is a little water leak to provide the moisture necessary for mold to begin growing. Mold reproduces through microscopic spores that spread rapidly through the air, affecting surfaces and materials throughout the entire home.
The best way to prevent mold growth after your home has received water damage is to get it repaired quickly, and not give it the time it needs to grow. When mold is in your home, it poses a lot of health risks, especially to the elderly, those who are chronically ill, those with compromised immune systems, and infants. Mold spores travel through the air, so when they are inhaled they cause a lot of respiratory issues like: coughing, sneezing, headaches, rashes, irritation to eyes, nose, and throat, fatigue, and other respiratory symptoms like shortness of breath and sinus infections. Because mold has such serious health side effects, it should not be ignored or procrastinated. Water damage repair needs to happen as quickly as possible to prevent mold damage, and basement waterproofing is the best way to ensure water damage doesn’t even occur in the first place. And you can include basement dehumidification to seal the mold growth and ensure it does not occur again.
2. Prevent Structural Damage
Floors, walls, ceilings, and foundation all make up the basic structure of the home. When the materials that make up these components are exposed to water and moisture for prolonged amounts of time, their structural integrity is weakened. Wood, sheetrock, insulation, carpet, drywall, cement, and padding are all porous materials. When porous materials are exposed to water, they will begin to absorb the moisture present. Absorption will lead to expansion, warping, weakening, rotting, and deterioration. If the materials that make up the structural components of your home are weakened by water, the very integrity of your home is at risk. The longer the water remains without being removed and dried, the more damage these materials will sustain.
The best way to maintain structural integrity and prevent damage from prolonged water exposure is to get it cleaned up and repaired as quickly as possible. Water extraction and structural drying and dehumidification produce the best results when executed immediately following initial water damage. Your water damage problems will compound and repair expenses will increase exponentially by failing to act quickly when water damage strikes your home.
Contact Professional Basement Waterproofing Experts
The best way to safeguard your home from water damage and the secondary problems that come with it is to implement basement waterproofing. Contact the basement waterproofing experts at American Eagle today and our team will install a waterproofing system that will meet your home’s needs.
