What To Do About a Flooded Basement

Every home is built upon a foundation, and there are some common models for residential foundations throughout the United States. The foundation will be a tough piece of hardware, but sometimes, foundation failure may occur, and commercial foundation repair may be needed. Contractors can be hired to do nearly anything on a foundation, from fixing leaking walls in a basement to drainage services to get rid of standing water. Crawlspaces offer room for contractors to effect residential foundation repair from underneath, which may be highly convenient. A number of issues may threaten a home’s foundation, not the least of which are earthquakes and flooding. But foundation repair teams and drainage services can be hired to take care of these problems. What might a homeowner expect with their foundation?

Types of Foundations

Four major and common models of foundation may be considered. One of them is the slab model, arguably the simplest of these four. A number of modern homes make use of such slab foundations, and most Texas homes built within the past 50 years have them. Slab foundations lack some of the features of other foundation types, but they are solid and very little may affect them.

Meanwhile, a crawlspace is a second type of foundation that offers some distinct advantages. These foundations elevate the home about 18″ off the ground, and they create a space underneath where workers may crawl (hence the name) for repair work. This makes it much easier for repairs in the floor and foundation to be done, and this space also allows flood water to pass harmlessly under the home. This may be a real asset for homes that are built in flood-prone areas, and a homeowner is bound to appreciate having water go under their house rather than into it.

Pier and beam foundations are the third type, and they too have a crawlspace. The difference is that they have beams and piers to support them in the ground, hence the name. They are very cost effective, which may make them popular among homeowners. The only real issue here is that they may suffer from earthquakes, so they are unlikely to be built near fault lines. When homes are being constructed, geologists on staff can be consulted to ensure that pier and beam foundations are safe to build.

The fourth and final model is the basement foundation. Basements are greatly popular because they add a lot of square footage to the home, and this extra space can be used for storage or creating a bonus living area. Some basements are used for storing many items or even food while others are converted into comfortable living spaces. Some basements are used as a second living room for a home entertainment system, pool tables, or hobby tables and equipment. Basements can resist fire and earthquakes alike, and are typically very solid. The disadvantage is that basements may suffer from water leaking into them, and drainage services may have to be contacted to deal with this.

Water in the Basement

How does water end up in the basement? In some cases, the basement is very old, and is made from limestone brick walls that bulge inwards and leak water over time. In other instances, water is leaking into the basement from the surface level, especially if the home is situated in flood-prone areas. And in other cases, the basement ceiling’s pipes are leaking and dripping water constantly. From any of these sources, water can gather at low points in the floor and erode the walls and floor over time. Water may also damage furniture and also foster mold growth due to excessive moisture, and no homeowner wants to deal with that.

Professional drainage services can be hired for all sorts of work on a homeowner’s property, and this includes fixing water issues in the basement. For example, plumbers from drainage services can install a sump pump in the basement, along with channels to direct water to that pump. This pump will draw up loose water and pump it outside of the home, clearing the basement of any and all standing water. Homes in flood-prone areas may need these pumps installed to stay on top of water intrusions from the ground level and keep the basement dry.