Hidden Leaks in Finished Basement of Sainte Genevieve, MO Home
Woods Basement Systems has seen numerous homeowners make the same mistake this homeowner made in their Sainte Genevieve, MO home. They didn't waterproof their basement before finishing it. Water threatens to damage any renovations made to the basement as well as the furniture and belongings kept there. Homeowners can end up with hidden leaks and mold growth behind the finished walls. The damage caused by these hidden leaks can end up costing more to fix in the long run than it did to finish the basement in the first place!
Wood Walls Damaged by Water in Sainte Genevieve, MO
The bottom half of finished walls is the most susceptible to water damage, especially wood walls like the ones in this Sainte Genevieve, MO basement. Water is most likely to leak into the basement through the area where foundation walls meet the cement floors. Moisture causes wood to warp and rot. Wood can also be a food source for mold growth. This basement's homeowners had replaced their wooden walls multiple times but were still getting this sort of damage from hidden leaks behind their finished walls.
Wet Basement in Sainte Genevieve, MO
When the owners of this Sainte Genevieve basement called Woods Basement Systems for a free inspection, they warned that black mold had grown on their carpet. Mold needs three things to grow: a moist environment, a food source and warm temperature. This finished basement had hidden leaks behind the wood walls that had soaked the carpet. If carpet and walls are made out of organic materials, they may provide a food source for mold. Heating the basement during cooler months and warmer weather outside can give mold the right temperature it needs to take hold. Mold spores and other allergens in basement air end up being dispersed throughout the home due to the stack effect. The stack effect is the normal air circulation throughout the home when warm air rises and creates a vacuum that draws cooler air from the basement or crawlspace upward. That means that the air from the wet basement is being breathed in by the homeowner and their family on every level of the home.
WaterGuard Installed in Basement of Sainte Genevieve, MO Home
Woods removed the damaged bottom half of the finished wood walls to prepare for the waterproofing installation. The WaterGuard drainage system was installed under the cement floors along the perimeter of the basement. Other French drain systems are installed either along the concrete footing of the home or on the exterior of the foundation and are notorious for clogging due to mud. Unlike those systems, WaterGuard is situated on top of the footing so it is out of the way of the "mud zone," and won't become clogged. Using its special wall flange and channel holes, the WaterGuard collects water seeping in through the foundation walls and floors and then drains it to the sump pump for removal.
TripleSafe Installed in Basement of Sainte Genevieve, MO Home
Woods installed the TripleSafe in this Sainte Genevieve basement to receive that water collected by the WaterGuard drainage system and remove it out and away from the basement. The TripleSafe contains three pumps: a primary, a secondary and a battery back up pump. They sit at different levels so if the weather is very severe and the primary pump can't keep up with the amount of water coming in, the secondary pump will kick into action and help remove the intruding water. Should a thunderstorm cause a power outage, the battery back up pump is there to protect the basement from floods and can pump up to 11,000 gallons on its charge! The lid of the TripleSafe forms an airtight seal with the liner to prevent water in the pit from evaporating into the basement air. The lid also features a WaterWatch alarm system that will warn the homeowner if there is a plumbing leak in the basement.