As the temperature outside drops, and the snow starts to fall, it is easy to snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate and relax by the fireplace. One thing that is important to do in all homes with a basement, though, is waterproofing. Surprisingly, winter is a great time to do it. The post You Need To Know These Facts About Waterproofing In The Winter appeared first on .
As the temperature outside drops, and the snow starts to fall, it is easy to snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate and relax by the fireplace. One thing that is important to do in all homes with a basement, though, is waterproofing. Surprisingly, winter is a great time to do it. When it’s freezing cold outside, you are not very likely to see water leaking into your home. You should realize that when spring comes, though, all of the snow will melt. If your basement isn’t waterproofed before the first big thaw, it is at risk of flooding.
Potential Damage
The first sobering fact is that 98% of all home basements will incur water damage. Late winter is a particularly risky time of year for this to happen. As the ground begins to thaw, the soil becomes rich with moisture. Add to that the melting snow and potential early spring rain showers, and you have a recipe for flooding.
Snow
In the particularly blustery white winters of Illinois, fresh snowfall in January can reach 15.5 inches or even more. The serene calm of a deep winter wonderland may be beautiful, but think about the sheer volume of water waiting to flood to your yard. Early spring is always a muddy mess, don’t let your basement be one too.
Water
Imagine a big pile of snow 10 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Resist the urge to turn it into a giant igloo, and remember that you are actually staring at frozen, crystallized water. But exactly how much water? In gallons, the answer is 2,600. Picture 2,600 gallon water jugs all soaking into the cracks in your unsealed basement wall. On second thought, don’t. It wouldn’t be pretty.
Spring
Rejoice, spring is here! Or you would, except in Illinois it rains through March, April, and May for an average of 11 days per month. Good luck waterproofing when everything is wet. To make matters even wetter, for every inch of rain you receive on your roof, 1,000 gallons slide off into your gutters and ultimately lands on the ground directly next to the frame of your house. And yes, this puts your basement at risk.
So, what are you waiting for? Call the Real Seal today to schedule your basement waterproofing appointment.
