Search This Blog

23 July 2014

What Homeowners Should Know About Waterproofing Atlanta

By Sharron Cantu


People who own homes in Atlanta should ensure that their properties are safe for their families. They not have mildew and mold. Typically, decks, entry ways and basements may be exposed to moisture. If this moisture gets into the walls or floors, mold and mildew can grow. Rotting can also occur to wooden flooring if it is not waterproofed.

The presence of mold in your home can cause respiratory illnesses, while damaged floors and walls can be unsightly and costly to replace. To waterproof your home, you can use a number of waterproofing techniques. For the best results with waterproofing Atlanta residents should consult with an architect, engineer or qualified waterproofing contractor to get information about the most appropriate method to use.

Several factors determine the way you should waterproof your house. Examples are your budget and the area where your home is located. The common materials used to make a building watertight are Kota stone and bitumen but other specialized compounds are also available. Materials like fibermesh and APP sheets are mostly used to make expensive constructions such as shopping malls watertight.

One of the first things that are done when building a property is the pouring of strip footings. Waterproofing admixtures are added to concrete to make the footing impervious to moisture. Concrete slabs are then poured into a watertight membrane.

It is also crucial to make sure that membrane layers are applied to underground walls, retaining walls and planter boxes. The membrane layer will keep moisture from penetrating into these structures. The other place that needs to be waterproofed is the first layer of bricks on the foundation. Ideally, reinforcing bandage should be applied on the whole length of the walls so that this joint will be covered.

You should also waterproof the external walls of your property to keep moisture from penetrating in them from above ground level by sprinklers, rain or underground moisture. Making sure that wooden floors of a house do not attract mildew and mold easily is also essential. You can achieve this by waterproofing them at regular intervals.

Recently installed wood flooring should be made watertight with immediate effect. If the wooden flooring of a house has been previously waterproofed, homeowners can carry out a splash test. This is done by splashing water of the flooring and finding out if the floor will absorb it or not. If the water does not bead up, waterproofing compounds should be applied on the floor.

It is also essential to ensure that the basement of your home is watertight. In this way, the foundation and the basement of your home will not get damaged by moisture. If there are signs of cracking on the basement or foundation, make sure that they are repaired as soon as possible. You should hire a qualified contractor when waterproofing your property. A good contractor will utilize advanced equipment to determine if there are leakages in the basement and crawlspace. This professional can also determine if there are cracks in walls or the foundation.




About the Author:



No comments: