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basement flooding, basement waterproofing

Common Causes of a Flooded Basement and Why You Need Basement Waterproofing

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Basements can flood. It’s unfortunate as a basement is an integral part of your lifestyle. You store your belongings there. You may have a laundry room, a rec room, a den, or, more importantly, a family member may live there. It has a lot of activity. 

And, if you have lived in Maryland during a typical spring or summer, you have experienced heavy rains and even flooding. There are several floodplains in Maryland and many citizens carry flood insurance on their homes. *** As we have covered in previous blogs, flooding in your basement can result in major and expensive damage which may not be covered by your homeowner’s insurance policy.  

Flooding is one of many reasons for your basement to flood. Here are several reasons:

  1. Poorly made or deteriorated waterproofing. Many parts of Maryland, including the Silver Spring, MD area, experience heavy rain or microbursts of rain. This water can get into the basement and flows into hairline cracks. It also leaks into the walls and floors causing flooding. When a home is built, the foundation, walls, and floors are waterproofed with a sealant to protect it from water leakage and flooding. These sealants, like anything else, deteriorate over time creating cracks. If you are seeing pools of water or flooding in your basement, it is time for an upgrade of the basement waterproofing. 
  2. Poor quality drainage system. Drain tile collects the underground water. It’s located under the basement floor level around the building to make sure that water moves away from your home so it won’t leak into it. Degraded drain tile may cause flooding if there is no proper basement waterproofing.
  3. Plumbing leaks. Though your home may not be located in a Maryland Flood Zone, plumbing failures may cause basement flooding. Pipes can burst, the sewer line may be blocked or the sewer system may be engulfed with water, causing a backup in sinks and toilets. Plumbing leaks bring a large amount of water quickly into the basement. It smells musty or worse as it may come from the sewer backup or clogged drains.  
  4. Clogged gutters. Gutters primarily drain rainwater and melting ice. Trees can fill up gutters along with leaves, sticks, acorns, and even dead animals, thus impeding the gutters from sending water away from your home foundation, eventually creating cracks in it. Gutters should be cleaned 2-3 times a year.
  5. Damaged sump pump. Sump pumps keep the basement dry and clear from groundwater. The pump collects surplus water from the foundation or from rainfall and drains it outside. Sump pumps regularly need to be inspected, cleaned, and tested so that it is properly working. It has to have electricity to operate so if a storm knocks out the power, the pump cannot work, causing a flooded basement.
  6. Downspout failure. Downspouts transport water from the gutter, directing it away from the home and foundation. If a downspout is broken or too close to the wall, it will drain the water back toward the basement and overload the weeping tile. This can cause basement flooding if there is no waterproofing. Downspouts need to drain 5-6 feet away from the wall. 
  7. Leak in the supply line. When the water supply line and hot-water tank fail, the basement will flood. It happens during the winter months when water freezes and expands. The water pipes burst and flooding ensues. 

The good news is that all basement flooding is preventable. You should call your basement waterproofing contractor to do an inspection on your home foundation to make sure your home is protected when those heavy Maryland rains arrive.   

M Taylor Enterprise can inspect your home foundation to see if you have any basement waterproofing issues. Call our home foundation and structural repair experts in Maryland at (301) 649-3406 or matt@mtaylorenterprise.com. We will do a free consultation, make recommendations then do any needed repairs quickly and efficiently.

We serve Montgomery County, parts of Prince George’s and Howard Counties.

*** For more information on Maryland Flood Zones, visit the FEMA website.  

basement waterproofing

Should You Build An Egress Window This Spring?

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Spring is here and it is finally beginning to warm up. Soon, the hot Central Maryland summers will arrive, and homeowners will be lowering the temperatures in their homes or looking for the coolest room in the house as a respite from the heat. 

For many people, the coolest room in the house is the basement. It is below ground, and the cool air is kept tight. It doesn’t go up into the above floors or get warm, like the top floor of the home typically does (especially in older homes.)

Since the time people stay in the basement will greatly increase, it may be time to consider what might happen if there is an emergency and you are stuck in the basement. Can you exit quickly? Is the exit large enough for everyone? Are you even able to open the window or door to get out? 

It may be time to have an egress window installed in your basement. Egress windows are essential for your family and others who are staying or visiting your home. An egress window does the following:

    1. Safety: Basements are often used as extra bedrooms. I see these all the time in my Central Maryland customers. If you or a family member is staying in your home, you should have an egress window installed immediately. Should there be a fire or other emergency, the egress window is an easy and accessible escape route for them. It also can be an entry point for emergency personnel. It is particularly helpful if there is a stairwell on the opposite side of the home where individuals are staying. 
    2. Comfortable:  Maryland building codes require egress windows to have an opening of, at least, 5.7 sq. ft. This opening brings natural light to the basement. It also can make it much more comfortable. Your basement may not be a bedroom. It could be a rec room, home office, or a living room. The egress window will add light to an otherwise dark and dingy room. 
    3. Property values are increased. Adding an egress window to your home will also increase the resale value. As this space may be used by the next owners as a closet, storage, or another type of living space. In fact, not having an egress window in your basement may be a disadvantage. The prospective new buyer may even require one to be installed. 

Also, if you install the egress window in the spring or summer, there won’t be any cold-weather drafts coming through which will keep your electricity bill down. Caulk also bonds better in warmer weather. Installing the egress window this season is a smart decision, and won’t interrupt your lifestyle or increase your living expenses. 

M Taylor Enterprise has installed many Egress windows in the Montgomery County, Maryland area. We can install them efficiently and quickly.  Contact us at (301) 649-3406 or at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com for a free consultation.

*** For more information on Maryland temperatures, visit the Maryland state website.

basement flooding, Foundation Repair

Call Your Basement Waterproofing Contractor!

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Summer storms and the importance of proper yard grading and window wells

Your home is like the human body in that one part depends on another. If one organ or body part is working incorrectly, then it will affect other body parts.

If there is improper grading on your home, it will affect the basement and foundation as there will be leaks and other structural issues.

Now, with summer storms coming in Maryland and the likelihood of flooding occurring to homes with basements, it is essential to make sure your yard is properly graded and window wells are installed correctly.

Your home should have been placed on the highest slope in your yard. This means, of course, that the water should run down and away from your home. Thus, no water will collect around the foundation.

Since your home was built, the soil may have settled creating an area with improper grading around your home. This grading issue needs to be addressed so there is no pooling or flooding in your basement.

Additionally, the basement window wells can become victims of oversight. The wells collect leaves, dirt, and other debris which will clog them and deter them from draining water.

So, when the summer rains hit, it collects in the clogged basement window wells, water runs down the foundation walls. They cannot hold the water back and begin to flood into the basement. This leaves deep stains in the walls and puddles on the floor.

To avoid flood damage to your home and property, you need to contact a licensed basement waterproofing contractor to do proper grading on your yard. Once they have analyzed the flooding issue, they will do the following:

  1. Replace the window wells. With new taller models and covers
  2. Grading will also have to be done to the yard to send water away from the foundation.
  3. Grading should then be sloped away from the foundation walls at  5% slope minimum out up to 10% if possible. A clay-based soil works best for this.
  4. A French drain or swale may then be installed for the water to flow into and away from the home.

Your basement waterproofing contractor can do this work quickly and efficiently to protect your home and property. Summer is here, don’t delay!

M Taylor Enterprise has experienced basement waterproof contractors on staff. Contact us at (301) 649-3406 or email matt@mtaylorenterprise.com. We serve Silver Spring, MD and the counties of Montgomery, Howard and Prince George, MD.

basement flooding, Foundation Repair

How to Prevent Your Basement from Flooding

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The skies above your Maryland home are dark. A massive rainstorm is about to hit.

You’re thinking: “How bad will it be this time?”

traffic signals in the rain showing green lights

In just a few minutes, the rain comes down in sheets, soaking your home, your lawn, your garden and, most of all, flooding your basement.

It’s a scary moment.

Once the storm ends, you break out the rags, mop and water vacuum. Here we go again. Last year was a record year for rain and flooding in Maryland.

If you own a basement, you have been through this more than once.

However, there are ways you can protect your basement from flooding. The threat of a storm doesn’t have to send chills down your spine. As a home foundation repair contractor, I can tell you: It can be done! Here are several basement flooding prevention tips that may help you stop the once-inevitable:

  1. Clean your gutters: When soil, leaves, branches and other debris clog up your gutters, the water naturally is pushed down to the basement and foundation. Have your gutters cleaned twice a year, in winter and fall, to clean out all the junk in them.
  2. Add downspout extensions: You may not have a quality drainage system around your house. If so, water may flood your basement after a storm.  Downspout extensions should be installed in drainage systems. The extension sends water away from a buildings’ fill wedge.
  3. Replace leaking windows: Wood frames in basement windows sometimes can become rotted. Once they have rotted, they are so porous that water can leak into the basement. These old windows should be replaced by vinyl or aluminum windows that can impede or block water from entering the basement.
  4. Drain the yard: If you see ponding in your yard after a storm, you may be a basement flood risk, too. Hiring a contractor to install drainage would probably end some flooding, too. Proper  grading around the perimeter of the house helps keep house dry.
  5. Install a sump pump: Sump pumps pump water out of a pit in the basement away from the home. This keeps the basement or crawlspace dry.
  6. Hire a foundation repair contractor: If you are having flooding issues in your home or on your property, they may be beyond your capacity to correct. If that is the case, hire a licensed home foundation repair contractor. They will do an assessment of the foundation and basement. Then, they can make recommendations and repairs.

Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia experience a lot of rain during the spring and summer. Protect your basement from more damage by making the smart adjustments now.

M Taylor Enterprise, Montgomery County, Maryland, has experienced home foundation repair contractors who can assess the reasons your home is flooding, make recommendations and make the installations that you need. Call us for a consultation at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorenterprise.com.

basement flooding

Ten Items That Cause Basement Flooding

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basement flooding 3 M Taylor EnterpriseA house  with a basement can be a blessing and a curse.

They are great for massive storage, laundry rooms, man caves, rec rooms, kids’ bedrooms and even to house the in-laws. The extra room they provide is invaluable.

However, basements can also be a huge financial and physical drain. When it rains as often and as heavy as it does in the DMV-Washington, D.C. Beltway area, basements can flood causing property damage and even bodily injury while incurring large insurance claims and deductible payments.

In other words, basement flooding is a real issue for your largest property investment: Your home. Basement flooding, however, is not something to be automatically accepted. It can be prevented. You just have to know how to examine your foundation before it occurs and then make some structural repairs and changes.

 To prevent basement flooding and property damage, look for these signs of trouble:

  1. poor grading around the house foundation and window wells
  2. clogged and/or broken downspouts
  3. cracks in the foundation walls
  4. a high water table during rains
  5. missing or blocked foundation drains
  6. hydro static pressure which is forcing water into the basement
  7. missing or damaged parging outside
  8. overgrown shrubs and landscaping preventing water to runoff
  9. basement steps/walls/area drains creating rain water entry points.
  10. settlement of back fill causing voids under slabs

If you see any or all of the above issues concerning your basement, your house will be flooded in the near future. It is a guarantee. This insidious type of structure deterioration can lead to flooding and serious damage to a home.

As you can see, basement flooding is a serious issue in more ways than just your home. Your family health is also at risk.

The good news is: M Taylor Enterprise, Silver Spring, Maryland, can re-grade around the outside of homes, install interior drainage systems and do full foundation excavations. We alleviate the chances of having basement flooding thus preserving your home and, possibly, your health. Call us at (301) 649-3406 or email us at matt@mtaylorent.wpengine.com.