1.    What is the best way to check out a contractor?
The best way is through consumer organizations. The Better Business Bureau and the Division of Consumer Affairs will have a 3-year complaint record of the company. References can be helpful but most companies will only give out their “happy” customers. This does not mean they do not have many “unhappy” customers.                                        

2.    Will a “french drain” resolve my water problem?
The term “French drain” is very loosely used in our industry. The gap between the wall and the floor is sometimes called a French drain. Perforated piping under the floor or outside of the home is sometimes called a French drain. Therefore we will address all of these water management systems.

The gap between the wall and the floor is called a ‘floating floor”. This is done in hope that the water will get captured in the gap and run the water to a sump pump. The biggest problem with this method is that it sacrifices the structural integrity of the foundation. The floor is supposed to come in contact with the wall to help to prevent the bottom of the wall from “sliding in". In addition, the gap is not properly pitched to the pump. Therefore, the water will stagnate and cause a musty odor and mold problems. If any sheetrock or paneling is near the gap the stagnating water will eventually evaporate and dampen the materials. When sheetrock gets wet it is a prime breeding ground for mold because the back of sheetrock has paper on it. Paper is an organic substance. When paneling gets wet it will dry-rot and warp. 

Perforated piping under the floor is an effective method for any water that is under the floor. It will do nothing for the water, if any, that is inside or outside of the walls. This method is strictly a floor solution. If you have wet walls this will not resolve your problem.

Perforated piping on the outside of the home will only work if it is placed at the base of the footing. Surface drains will only handle surface water. By placing the pipe at the base of the footing any water that approaches the home will be drained away. The walls must be waterproofed from the outside with effective sealants as well. This is called “outside excavation”. It is the ONLY method in our industry that will “stop” the water. All the other methods “manage” the water.   

 3.    Is there anything I can do to solve my problem?
The only problem that a non-professional can permanently fix is surface water (grading, gutters, downspouts, etc.). To determine if your problem is being caused by surface water only you must inspect the basement from the inside. If surface water is the only problem, the majority of the dampness, efflorescence (white-powdery substance) and staining will be closer to the top of the wall. If the majority of these symptoms are closer to the bottom of the wall (where the wall and floor meet) and you are experiencing standing water after heavy rains then your problem is sub-surface water. Healthy Home highly recommends that, if subsurface water is the main issue, you hire a foundation and waterproofing specialist to repair the problem.

4.    Is there a “quick-fix” for my water problem?
If the problem is sub-surface water, there are no “quick-fixes” yet to be invented. Things like waterproofing paints and submersible pumps will only handle the symptoms. Waterproofing paints can cause the problem to get worse because the sealant is placed on the inside of the basement wall. This actually seals the water inside the wall which increases the pressure (like a dam) and could cause the wall to crack. Also, it stops the concrete from breathing which slows down the evaporation process. This will cause more mold and odors. If your roof was leaking would you seal it from the inside of the attic? In an article called “Basement Waterproofing: Facing the Facts” written by Consumer Reports it states, “Waterproofing a basement is time-consuming, messy and expensive. Many homeowners do not realize this or won’t face up to it. And therein lies a trap – a specious promise of an easy solution”.

5.    Aren’t all the warranties or guarantees the same?
Absolutely not. First, 99% of all of the waterproofing companies do not warranty/guarantee the foundation walls to be dry. Their warranty/guarantee only covers the wall cove area (where the wall and floor meet) and a 3’ perimeter of the floor against water penetration. Secondly, beware of the word “lifetime”. It is too vague of a term and gives the company a lot of leeway to not stand behind their promise of a dry basement. Make sure that the warranty clearly states that the foundation walls, wall cove areas and entire floor are covered against water penetration and that the length of the warranty/guarantee is a specific term.

6.    If I have a water problem but do not see any visible mold should I still have mold remediation performed?
Yes unless it strictly comes down to an affordability issue. A wet/damp basement is a prime breeding ground for mold. Mold problems can sometimes be invisible. A musty odor is usually the first sign of a mold problem. If the water problem is resolved but the mold spores are not remediated it is possible that the mold problem can still progress or spread. The New York Times state, "Mold feeds on organic substances and is brought to life by moisture. When a water source is removed but existing mold is left, the spores, if you will, start to panic. They go through the process of sporulation. They throw themselves toward water sources". The first step is to get rid of the water and high humidity levels but it is still important to get rid of as many mold spores as possible to reduce the risk of it reoccurring or spreading in to other areas of the home or building.

If you choose not to remediate the mold you should still hire a contractor that specializes in both waterproofing and mold remediation. If the contractor is not experienced with mold they can cause the problem to progress or contaminate other areas of the home. Since these contractors do not carry Pollution Liability insurance, if they worsen or spread the mold, they will have NO insurance to protect you or them.

7.    What is the best way to resolve a mold problem?
To resolve a mold problem the first step must be to get rid of the moisture problem. There had/has to be moisture if there is mold. If you do not resolve the moisture problem, no matter what you do for the mold, it will eventually come back.

Once the moisture issue is resolved then the next steps must be followed:

• Contain the area with a negative air machine and polyethylene sheets to make sure that no spores will be spread in to other areas.
• Brush and HEPA-vacuum the area to eliminate as many spores as possible.
• Spray a mold cleaning solution to denature any remaining mold spores. Cleaning solutions that put the mold spores in to a dormant stage are not as effective. Dormant mold is inactive and awaiting future moisture and food to begin again mold reproduction and growth. Denatured mold is a mold spore that has been reduced to non-allergenic dust and can never reproduce or grow again.
• Spray an antimicrobial coating over the cleaner to encapsulate the spores and help to prevent against future mold growth. This step is the most costly and many companies leave this out to save money. Without this step the odds of the mold returning are much higher.
  

Please note that bleach should not be used to resolve a mold problem. Bleach is 98% water and has a flash point of 15 seconds. After the 15 seconds all that is left is the water and water feeds mold. Also, if your walls were powerwashed during the waterproofing process, the mold remediation process should not be performed for several weeks. Mold cleaning solutions and antimicrobial coatings are only effective if the area being remediated has a moisture content of less than 20%. The moisture content of a masonry wall that has been powerwashed will take several weeks until it will be less than 20% unless industrial-grade dehumidifiers were used.

8.    If I clean out my basement before the work is performed will I save some money?
Yes you will save money but it is not always necessary for the work to be performed. Please be aware that if you carry “moldy” products through your home you will spread the mold spores in to other areas of your home. If you have any concern of mold, let a mold professional do the removal. It will be less costly in the long run.


If you have any other questions that you would like to be answered do not hesitate to email us at info@hhbw.net.