How to Save Money on Basement Wall Repairs
There are many reasons why your wall may need wall repairs and painting. Many times, a bowing wall arises from hydrostatic pressure. When the earth around your home is compacted with water, it causes the earth to buckle and press against the foundation. If your downspouts aren’t emptying water away from your home fast enough, or if your foundation is in a low water table area, you might also need some basement waterproofing as well as wall repairs and painting. Basement wall repairs can be one of the most expensive fixes you can make to your home.
Cost and Common Problems
Basement wall repairs are very expensive when they are needed to repair leaking windows and plumbing, replacing drywall, and replacing cracked and missing bricks or tiles. Any damage to the wall will be very expensive. A small hole will not cost much in labour to fix, but if you have to replace the entire wall because of the damage, the cost can get very expensive very quickly. Fortunately, there are some inexpensive ways you can help prevent damage to your walls and avoid some of these problems.
Another situation where basement wall repairs can be prevented is if the painting is peeling. Painting contractors can often help you fix the peeling paint or reapply the paint in these cases. They are experienced at both removing peeling paint and redoing old ones without causing any damage to your walls. If you’ve just moved into a new home, however, you may have to deal with this problem.
Sometimes your basement wall repairs aren’t caused at all by soil shifting but instead are caused by water being displaced under your foundation due to hydrostatic pressure. If your home has recently been impacted by either severe storms or some type of drought, the soil in your foundation may have become compacted and is moving against the pressure of the water. To relieve the pressure, the water moves toward the sides of your house, creating hydrostatic pressure. If you’re in this situation, you may need to invest in additional foundation drainage systems that will allow water to move out of your basement.
When walls aren’t properly sealed, moisture can penetrate through the sealant layer and find its way into the interior of the wall cavities. Even though this can’t usually be seen on the surface, internally the cavities are filled with moisture. If you suspect that this is the case with your wall cavities, then you need to contact a waterproofing company right away to find out how you can seal those cavities properly.
Be Aware of This
Basement walls are especially prone to cracks during severe weather because these areas are usually located below ground level. Even the slightest crack can let in water and then the weight of the water can cause cracking and wall movement. The more you let this soil pressure build-up and move into the interior of your home, the more likely you are to incur basement wall damage over time.
One thing to keep in mind when you are performing basement wall repairs is that some repairs will be easier than others. If you have small cracks or holes, then small repairs may be possible and they don’t require specialized equipment. However, larger holes or cracks require the use of heavy machinery and specialized equipment. To make sure that your wall repairs are as effective as possible, you should get bids from several local contractors and ask them to break down their estimate in detail along with photos so you can get a better idea of what the total project will cost you. After you’ve got a good estimate, make sure you communicate clearly with the contractor about the cost expectations, including any extra or hidden costs, and make sure that you agree on the scope of work before the work begins.
