Monday, May 13, 2013

Basement Water Damage Repair

 
 
Carpet was removed in basement to reveal moldy subfloor

Subfloor had been installed over carpet, which was retaining water like a sponge and caused the floor to rot out and grow mold
 
Tree roots growing through the basement walls had allowed water to penetrate and weaken the concrete

Here all the tree roots have been removed from the walls, and loose debris scraped off the crumbing concrete walls. Subfloor and carpet have both been removed.

We treated the walls with silicate sealant that strengthens the existing concrete and seals water out. We then repaired the walls with parging cement attached with a plastic mesh not visible in this photo and treated it again with the silicate sealant.
 
Rigid foam insulation was added floor to ceiling on the walls to block cold and any possible moisture. Floors were covered with a layer of rolled drycore membrane which allows air flow to dry out any dampness and also allows water to flow under it toward floor drains (which are adequate and clear). Two layers of OSB board were layered over the floors, which seams overlapping, and glued together to create a floating subfloor.
 
Some new framing was built above the subfloor (where water can not damage it) and this basement is now dry and ready to be finished when the homeowners can budget for it.