Ceiling Water Damage

Sometimes people cannot figure out where the musty basement smell is coming from in their home. Little do they realize that it actually comes from the ceiling water damage done by dripping water upstairs.
If neglected, the mold spores and mildew will circulate throughout the house, causing sneezing, coughing, runny noses, fatigue and aching joints. Very often the connection between these symptoms and the mold is never made, and people begin taking medications that are really only treating the symptoms.
Find out where the water is coming from that is causing the ceiling damage. Broken pipes, leaky seals and joints, leaking roofs, and condensation are just a few of the main culprits. You might be able to make it a DIY restoration project, or you may need to hire a  contractor, but whatever you do, fix it!
You need to protect the value of your home, as well as the health and welfare of your family.
Randy Hough writes about ceiling water damage and floor water damage at http://fixyourwaterdamage.com/

Basement Water Damage, DIY Restoration

If your basement has water damage, you need to educate yourself about water damage prevention and restoration. You home is the most valuable thing you probably will ever own, so this is critical.
Things left to themselves tend to decay, and this is certainly one of those things. Whatever you do, do not neglect any basement water damage.
The first thing to do is dry it out. You may need to use a basement sump pump to get started. A good humidifier and vent fan can really help as well.
Next, find out just how the water is entering the house and do whatever it takes to stop it. In some cases, the ground must be re-graded to enable water to drain away from the structure.
Another common solution is to install French drains around the perimeter of the house, This is not an expensive option and can be a good DIY restoration project.
Randy Hough writes about DIY restoration and basement water damage at  http://www.fixyourwaterdamage.com/

Using A Basement Sump Pump For Floor Water Damage

A friend of mine owns a rather unique house in rural Vermont that has extensive floor water damage in the cellar. It was very difficult to convince her that she needed a basement sump pump before she could do anything to remedy the situation.
It was an odd case of denial, she was very reluctant to accept that there was much of a problem at all, much less that it needed drastic attention very quickly. Once she got over the shock or realizing that her tenant had lied to her for years, she began to work on the restoration and repair of her house.
First, she evicted the pot-head liar that had used her nice place as a hothouse for plants. The entire basement reeked of marijuana and probably still does. He didn't care at all about the house, it was just so convenient for him to grow his plants, smoke what he wanted and sell the rest.
Next, she contacted a contractor to get quotes on putting in some French drains and changing the grade around the house. I spend many hours helping clean this basement up, and now it is dry and safe.

Randy Hough writes about basement waterproofing products, basement sump pumps at http://fixyourwaterdamage.com/

Understanding Water Damage, Restoration And Prevention

Homeowners need to be aware of how important understanding water damage is, and prevention in particular. If you take care of the prevention, restoration is really not that important.
Think for a moment on how many times you have entered a room and smelled that nasty musty basement smell. This is an obvious indication of a water problem that has been neglected or ignored. There are many problems associated with mold and mildew. It is not so easy to get rid of mold and mildew, but it is not that difficult to prevent it from growing in the first place.
Water damage is one of those things that can happen to anyone at any time. A burst pipe, frozen water pipe, poorly plumbed fittings, poorly graded yards, and leaky roofs are just a few of the ways your home can suffer from water damage.
Randy Hough writes about water damage recovery and  basement sump pumps at http://www.fixyourwaterdamage.com

Getting a Sump Pump For a Flooded Basement

Water damage from a basement that is flooded is no laughing matter. The health and welfare of your family are in danger from the growth of mold and mildew, not to mention the nasty odors that come as a result.
A basement sump pump can be a good solution, if the problem is chronic and there is no other immediate remedy at hand. Sometimes, the only alternative is to move!
You need to consider a few things before running off to the local plumbing supply store of hardware store though.
Find out how to buy a basement sump pump on our website.
There is an interesting article on why water damage is so sneaky, check it out?

Water Damage Prevention and Restoration

If you have ever experienced water damage, you will know why it is so important to truly understand how to prevent it from happening again. You also will probably have learned a lot about restoration as well.
It is sad to see your possessions ruined by water. Items that might be irreplaceable, gone forever. Sometimes it is the small things that hurt the most, like teddy bears, paintings and pictures from school days.
You can learn a lot about this on our site: Fix Your Water Damage. We cover many topics and you might even find a good source to help with your water damage clean-up or repair.

Great Ideas For Waterproofing Basement Walls

Click here to find out more about understanding water damage

For many people, leakage in their basement is a serious problem. Waterproofing your basement walls can solve your problem, if done right

The valuables stored in an unfinished basement can suffer irreparable damage. Not only that, but the moldy odor from standing water can be totally obnoxious.

In a finished basement, it is even worse. If and when mold and mildew begin growing, the furniture and carpeting will be completely ruined. Before you know it, the entire room is destroyed and the monetary loss can be dramatic.

However, a person can avoid this pain and loss by waterproofing their basement walls. Even if your walls already leak water you can waterproof them; with some preparatory repair work first.

Before your start

Before you begin waterproofing, look for any areas where moisture has begun to seep through. Usually, this is in a place where the floor and walls join or along a visible crack. You can safely disregard hairline cracks. They can just be filled with the same mix you use for waterproofing basement walls..

For larger cracks, however, you will need to mix one part cement with two parts sand and add just a little bit of water. This should create a stiff mortar.

You can fill the space with a putty knife or trowel, as long as there is not any outside pressure. Your job becomes more difficult if there is water forcing it's way in. In that case you need to chisel out a dovetail cut that follows the crack and then use the stiff mortar to fill it in.

If water is actively running in through the crack, and not just seeping, you will need to put in a weep pipe to divert the water. Once it has stopped running, the pipe can be removed and the hole filled with a cement plug.

You will begin the task of waterproofing your basement walls after you are sure the cracks have all been filled. This can be done with a commercial epoxy or latex waterproofing mix, or you can make your own with cement and water.

The walls need to be moistened with a fine mist before you start. Make sure there is not any standing water. You must also remove any paint with a wire brush or sandblaster in case they are painted.

Once the walls are ready, apply the waterproofing mixture with a stiff brush, using a circular motion. Soak it down, let it dry overnight, and apply another coat.

Follow directions

If you follow this process, you can keep your basement from leaking, or stop the leakage if it has already begun to appear. Waterproofing your basement walls may take a little bit of work, but it will save a lot of time and money in the long run

When you first notice water leaking into your basement, do not ignore it. This is telling you that you have a problem and it must be fixed, otherwise it will only get worse over time.

Randy Hough has a website: http://fixyourwaterdamage.com/ that talks about waterproofing basement walls.