Years have passed and it seems your basement is in need of a little TLC. Or, you may have witnessed last spring’s catastrophic floods, which are expected to happen over and over again, so maybe you want to keep your basement dry next year? If so, follow this guide.
While you are at it, why not check the radon level in your home. Is this cancer-causing gas seeping into your basement? The detection device is sold in large shopping centres and hardware stores. If you do not believe this gas is present in your home because you have not smelled it, think again. Radon is odourless and colourless. If the level is high, the Écohabitation organization has designed a system, supported by drawings, to evacuate the gas.
On the Écohabitation website, you will find the basic steps to waterproof your basement in a sustainable manner. Here is a quick summary.[……]
Over the last few winters, a small crack has appeared in a corner of your house’s foundation.
You tell yourself that it’s tiny and therefore harmless. And you move on to other things.
That’s a big mistake because you find yourself faced with a structural problem that will affect the stability of your house. This will affect the resale value.
Where does this crack come from? Why is the foundation of the house cracking? Can you do anything about it?
The freeze and thaw cycle is often the primary cause. Depending on the region of Quebec you’re building is located in, the depth of the foundation walls varies. When you do work around the walls, you have to always keep in mind to protect them against freezing.
Once a crack is visible, how do you prevent it from degrading?[……]
