Waterproofing a 100-year-old Basement in Burgettstown, PA
Water leaking into a basement, whether it is old or new, is never a good sign. A home with 100-year-old basement walls made of stone can be even trickier to handle. Learn how we can address this issue in older homes throughout Pittsburgh.
After living in the same house for many years, it can be easy to become complacent and get used to seeing the same things day in and day out. It just becomes a normal part of life. While seeing water in the basement is common in many homes, it should never be a normal occurrence or part of daily life to get used to.
Water can leak into basements for many reasons, whether due to improper drainage, heavy rains, or other flooding issues. Rainy days are not in short supply around Pittsburgh, as the area sees 38 inches of rain each year, on average. This makes having quality waterproofing measures in place to protect your basement and home even more important.
A homeowner who has lived in her house for a long time had been dealing with water leaking into her basement with stone or fieldstone foundation walls for many years. It became something she put on the back burner, but she knew she couldn’t ignore this problem any longer.
There was an existing sump pump in the basement, but it was clear it was no longer working as it should to keep the basement dry. After contacting the professionals at Baker’s Waterproofing for a free inspection and repair quote, she knew she found the right company she could rely on to give her a more functional and healthy home.
Meeting the Homeowner
When some people buy a house, they just know it’s the one, and a place they want to live for the rest of their lives. A homeowner in Burgettstown, PA, located 26 miles west of Pittsburgh, has lived in her house for 55 years, and she plans on staying there for the foreseeable future.
The basement may not enter her mind that often, but she has always been aware of water leaking side the 100-year-old basement walls made of stone. Over the years, the water and dampness has only gotten worse. Water seemed to leak in through a back wall almost every time it rained, leaving large puddles on the floor. The owner was most worried about the potential for mold growth, so she wanted to have the leakage issue addressed once and for all.
The owner would like to keep the basement permanently dry so she can use it as a storage space without the worry of belongings getting damaged by leaking water. Other considerations at the top of her mind were the cost of repairs and having a trusted company complete the work. She found all these needs could be met by working with Baker’s Waterproofing.
Initial Inspection
The homeowner called to schedule a free inspection and estimate with our company, and she then met with one of our experienced inspectors. The inspector completed a thorough assessment of the basement and its stone or fieldstone foundation walls.
The inspector found that one section of the basement in particular was getting water, as was another wall that was not treated. The basement also had an existing sump pump previously installed by another company, but it was clearly not functioning as it should to keep the basement dry.
Our inspector then educated the homeowner on how to permanently waterproof and protect her basement. It can be tricky to waterproof older homes, but our expert team at Baker’s Waterproofing has more than 45 years of experience in working with older homes with stone or field stone foundations, as well as 100-year-old basement walls.
The homeowner was ready to have a dry basement, so she agreed to the proposed solutions that included an interior drainage system, a new sump pump, an exterior discharge line attachment, and a wall vapor barrier.
Repairing the Damage
The basement of the Burgettstown home was not as large as some other basements, so it was a simple, straightforward job for one of our installation crews to complete in one day.
The crew started by installing the AquaStop BasementGutter™ interior drainage system. This system is placed around the basement’s perimeter in the sub-floor to catch any leaking water from the walls and the joint where the walls meet the floor. This helps keep the water away from anything stored in the basement so it will not cause damage.
Water draining into the specially designed BasementGutter™ system is then channeled to a sump pump system so it can be properly removed from the home. The older, ineffective sump pump was replaced by a more reliable SafeDri™ sump pump.
The SafeDri™ sump pump pumps collected water out of the basement and away from the home through a discharge pipe. Because Pittsburgh area winters can get quite cold and snowy, it’s possible for the exterior discharge line to freeze or become blocked. To allow water to continue to drain, a special FreezeGuard™ attachment was installed on this outside line.
Additionally, a vapor barrier was placed on the stone or fieldstone foundation walls. Not only does this help improve the appearance of these walls and brighten up the basement, but the waterproof and mold-resistant material also helps direct leaking water down to the interior drainage system.
The longtime homeowner is excited to finally have a safe, healthy, and dry basement that she can use once again!
If you are having problems with water intrusion in your older home with stone or fieldstone foundation walls, contact the professionals at Baker’s Waterproofing today to schedule a free inspection and repair quote. You don’t have to live with a wet basement anymore. Let our experts help guide you with tailored repair solutions!
