5 Advantages of Exterior Basement Waterproofing

While you might not think about it, there are a wide variety of reasons to choose exterior basement waterproofing techniques to protect your basement. Moisture can be a serious problem in any basement, so keeping it properly waterproofed is very important. A damp basement can be a cause of structural damage, property value loss, and even health issues in some cases. Damp basements are also much less useful  than dry ones. But what are the specific advantages of exterior basement waterproofing when compared to waterproofing the inside of your basement, or leaving it alone completely? The following list should explain the importance of exterior basement waterproofing.

Area Covered

The benefits of exterior basement waterproofing center around one fact. While interior basement waterproofing does keep water out of your basement, it doesn't keep water out of your walls. This can lead to problems from water interacting with your paint, wood, insulation, wires, and pipes. Obviously, not waterproofing your basement at all is even worse.

Mold and Mildew

Mold and mildew will only grow under moist, humid conditions. Waterproofing your basement from the outside will significantly reduce the area available to new mold and mildew growths. This is very important, as mold and mildew take a great deal of effort to remove, and can damage food, paper, walls, and even cause respiratory problems. Preventing their growth before it occurs is important for your property and health.

Damaged Posessions

Moisture can cause damage to items stored in basements. In moist areas, it is impossible to store objects such as food and paper without them being damaged. Obviously, a basement that can only store waterproof things is not a very useful basement at all. If you would like to keep food, books, or anything made out of paper in your basement, then a proper waterproofing strategy that is implemented well is a must.

Increased Space

A damp basement may take up the same amount of space as a dry one, but is it equally useable space? Not really. Nobody wants to live in a damp area, or even spend a lot of time in one. If you wish to have extra space that you can make good use of, you will have to waterproof your basement.

Structural Damage

Allowing moisture into the walls of your basement can lead to serious structural damage. Wet wood is much more vulnerable than dry wood to a wide variety of problems that can both reduce your home's value and safety to live in.

For one thing, termites require a great deal of moisture to thrive. Termites can live happily in damp wood, causing a huge amount of damage to your home. Moist wood is much more vulnerable to ordinary rot as well. While you can try to solve these problems after they occur, you are much better off protecting the walls of your basement with exterior waterproofing.