What Can I Do if I Have Mould in the Basement? 

If you have mould in your basement, you must address it. Not only is it potentially very dangerous for your health, it means you have a moisture problem in your basement. Until you identify the source of the moisture and complete the wet basement repair, mould will keep coming back.

If your basement has been damp for a long or even a short time, you will likely have mould growth. 

Whether mould affects people in a house will depend on sensitivities and the existing health of the occupants. You may not even realize the mould’s effects on your family; respiratory issues, eyes, nose or throat irritations, coughing, and asthma symptoms are signs that mould spores are impacting you or someone else in the home. 

1) “The Canadian government considers mould growth a significant health hazard.”

2) “Health Canada recommends controlling dampness indoors and cleaning up any mould regardless of the type of mould present” – “Addressing Moisture and Mould in Your Home,” Health Canada

How the age of your home will influence moisture concerns:

Moisture on or in any organic surface will produce mould over time. Whether in a bathroom or a basement, wet drywall, wet concrete, cinderblock, or wet wood are breeding surfaces for mould.

Many homes built decades ago were constructed without considering the effects of ground moisture against un-waterproofed outside walls. Mortar breaks down over time to allow freeze and thaw and cracking of the foundation, through which water can enter a basement.  

Proper basement waterproofing needs to be done by a licensed drainage contractor. Waterproofing a basement is not a job for a general contractor or a quick fix; a lack of knowledge and its resulting damage is often not evident for months later; by that time, it is hard to prove any wrongdoing. 

Best Plumbing and Drainage Contractors have licensed drainage specialists and plumbers with years of experience in successful interior wet basement repair and exterior foundation repairs and waterproofing. Our experience means we are efficient and knowledgeable and competitive in our pricing. 

Please read our confident client testimonials here.

Please read our Best 20-Year Limited Warranty carefully here.

We care about doing the correct job, whether the wet basement repair is completed from the inside or outside. Best Drainage Contractors have decades of experience using science and engineering-based methods to ensure your basement will remain dry.

• When looking for a waterproofing specialist, please do your due diligence and research well. 
• Read reviews, call and speak to them about your wet basement, and invite several professional drainage contractors to your home to discuss the moisture issue.
• There are many products available for waterproofing, but it is crucial that the correct method is employed. 

You might have the foundation repaired and expertly waterproofed from the outside. Alternatively, if we can fix your basement water problem from the inside, the aim is to:

• Waterproof the interior and minimize moisture transference (from the outside to the interior wall) using a waterproofing coating followed by an overall layer of rigid foam insulation, caulking, and taping with proper air space allowed between the studs and insulation board.
• Reduce basement condensation that promotes mould growth (interior air cannot meet cold condensing surfaces). This is achieved with an uninsulated stud wall.
• You need to assess every basement individually and find the source of the moisture. Moisture from under the floor would require a different approach.

While looking into waterproofing specialists, you must begin drying out the basement to reduce mould growth.

Here are a few tips to help you get started: 

• Focus on the areas of the basement where the mould is worst. 
• Use a portable sump pump or/and a wet-shop-vacuum outlet to remove any standing water.
• Open the windows on the opposite sides of the basement whenever possible for a cross breeze that pulls clean air into the basement.
• Use a fan under one open window, pointing toward the other open window to blow fresh air through the area.
• Turn on your furnace to help dry it out.
• Purchase a dehumidifier but close the windows so you aren’t drying incoming moist air.

Until the source of the moisture is identified and the wet basement repair is done, the mould will come back.  

Don’t hesitate to call Best Plumbing and Drainage Contractors at (519) 438 6565