Interior Projects
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  Basement Tips
    Lighting Techniques
    Sump Pumps
    Contain Water Intrusion

  Deck & Patio
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  Energy Related Tips
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    Hot Water Savings
 
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    General Security Tips
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  Storage Solutions
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    Basement

  Out Of The Normal
    Hockey Centerpieces
    Winter Cat Shelter

Protecting your basement against water damage...

STOP WATER FROM TRAVELING- In a perfect world, the pipe would burst right next to the sump pump. All the water would flow in and you'd come home to a dry basement. Unfortunately, more times than not, I see concrete floors pitching to the center of the basement instead of toward the walls. A builder is not going to pitch your basement floor. The concrete is poured, leveled out and job is done.

Perimeter Drainage - Your home may already have a perimeter system going to the sump pump. This would be a series of under the slab pipes with gravel around them that exits into the sump pit. You may notice a gap between the walls and the slab. This is a floating basement floor. The water comes in through the walls and never gets onto your floor ( in theory).

If you don't have perimeter drainage, there are companies that can perform this for you. If you pay no attention to anything else you read, pay attention to this. Check out any waterproofing company you hire completely. Get references, check with consumer affairs, see if the township building department is familiar with them. Find out how long they've been in business under "this" name. Get a certificate of insurance with your name on it, as the customer, before they start the job.

Stop the water from Traveling - Your basement might have partition walls, a laundry room, and heater room with the water heater in it. You can purchase pans that go under your washer and hot water heater. These pans can be discharged into the floating area of your floor or directly to the sump pump. They contain the water from spreading on the concrete.

Another way to contain water is to apply a silicone sealant along the base of the walls that hold any water appliance. This seal would be run where the 2x4 base plate meets the concrete. If water comes against it, it will act as a dam and prevent the water from spreading under it, possibly onto the carpet in the next room. You can put a threshold in the doorways and apply the silicone along that area too. This could be enough to direct the water in a safer direction.