My Basement Floor Is Rising

Seepage usually occurs when there are cracks in your basement s concrete foundation walls or if you have an old house when the brick cmu or stone foundation leaks.

My basement floor is rising.

Water near exterior foundation wall or stains on foundation wall. If there are gaps in the concrete floor such as cracks or where the basement floor meets the foundation wall the cove joint or seam between the foundation and the floor slab ground water is forced up through them and into your basement. If your basement is in the way and there are structural deficiencies or cracks in the concrete then your basement becomes the path of least resistance and the groundwater goes there. Painting your basement floor ensures that the foundations remain waterproof and you don t have to deal with any musty odors in the.

Seepage is when your basement floor gets some little rivulets and puddles of water usually no deeper than 1 4 to 1 2 deep which soaks and ruins the carpet in the finished portion of a basement. When the soil heaving really gets invasive is when interior framed walls load bearing and or non load bearing get pushed upwards affecting the main floor framing system. This pressure can also cause the basement floor and walls to crack. In one case the homeowner drilled a hole in this floor and water shot upwards through the hole to hit the ceiling.

Rising groundwater causes hydrostatic pressure and that causes soil to push on your basement walls and floor. The paint seals the concrete and prevent rising damp while providing your basement floor with a non skid surface. Make sure to not only contact your laminate flooring retailer but also the flooring manufacturer as well as your flooring installer if you didn t do the installation yourself. Heaving can cause cracks in the basement floor slab and uneven floors which can make finishing a basement much more difficult.

The cause of the damage can vary based on the type of basement you have and what floor material you use. Most traditional laminates are made with a waterproof surface layer a decorative layer and then fiberboard backing this backing is what is susceptible to moisture and if it comes in contact with liquids it can warp twist rot and start to grow mold and mildew. Painting your basement floor waterproofs your home and protects it from mold and fungal growths. If you notice humps bumps ridges or bulges in your basement floor these could be signs of serious damage beneath the surface.

Laminate basement flooring precautions. Choose the right materials. As the water table rises the amount of hydrostatic pressure increases. If the water in your basement seems to be only near the exterior foundation walls then the problem is likely surface water that isn t draining away properly.