White powder basment wallIn a word, it’s called efflorescence. When people see it on their basement walls, they often refer to it as the white powdery stuff, white mold, or white mildew.

The white stuff you have on your basement walls, officially called efflorescence, is actually a deposit left behind by water. You may have noticed it on the outside of your house walls too (hopefully below the damp course, that is). The stuff is normally harmless, although you’re still advised to wear hand and face protection when you brush it off, just in case.

The big question is “why is there water there in the first place?” Walls are supposed to be dry. Having damp walls is a bad idea because the moisture could eventually cause the structure to begin to break down.

To answer the question we need to take a trip underground to the dynamic, natural world. Water – the source of life they say – is constantly on the move filtering through the earth and stone. As it travels, it picks up natural minerals and salts that it transports along and finally deposits someplace else. It’s almost as if sand and stone were made for the job!

Our homes certainly are. They are built from natural materials in the form of sand, cement and stone. Water passes naturally though these too, which is why we go to the trouble of baking bricks and painting outside walls with expensive waterproofing paint. We also add damp courses, roofs, gutters, downpipes and overhangs like eaves.

efflorescence-concrete-basement-wall-toronto

We do everything “upstairs” to keep the water away from our walls. Down in the basement it’s often a different story. When it rains the earth around the foundation becomes saturated. Many basements we’ve encountered are little better than “leaky buckets” rammed into the ground.

In a sense, efflorescence on an inside basement wall is like a friendly sentry-guard. It’s telling us that moisture is penetrating through our basement walls and leaving its customary calling-card behind. It’s likely to be historic evidence left behind as the moisture evaporated, which is why it’s normally more evident in dryer summer months.

This makes it the friend of home buyers too, especially when viewing the basement of a home in summer that’s subject to intrusive damp during winter time. The seller can try their hardest to brush it off, but there’ll always be a stain when you know where to look for it.

This is the biggest single reason to track down the cause of efflorescence if you have it in your basement, and to get rid of it before it starts working down the value of your home. It’s a sign that moisture is making it’s way inside your basement, and with that dampness often comes mold.

Not sure if you have efflorescence or not on your basement wall?  Contact us here for a free in-home inspection of your basement.

 

 

Mold and mildew removal in Toronto homeNobody likes walking down into their basement and smelling that damp, mildew odour.  It makes it feel like you’re walking into a dungeon.  Your basement doesn’t have to be like that, read on.

There are two stages to effectively removing mildew odours. The first is to remove the mildew that causes the unpleasant smell.  Mildew is actually another term used to describe fungi growth.  In other words, it’s mold. The second is to remove the cause of it, which is down to getting rid of the conditions in which it thrives. But first let’s deal with the smell.

A Word of Warning

If you have a sensitive stomach, chronic bronchial infection or the mold growth is extensive, you may want to consider a mold removal company to deal with it.  If you do decide to go ahead, wear a full set of clothing and don a face mask and a set of rubber gloves before you start. Remember to read the instructions on all cleaning materials too.

Remove the Mildew

The general idea is to remove as much as possible and kill the rest.

  • Fill a bucket with tepid water and add a cup of vinegar or borax. You can experiment with combinations, but no more than one cup in total please. Soak a cloth in the mixture and wring it out just enough to prevent drips.

 

  • Work from the ceiling down (the job is messy), and remember to rinse your cloth regularly in a second bucket of tepid water. There’s no point in moving mildew around so wring it out thoroughly each time before soaking it in the mixture again.

 

  • As you go along get rid of all soft furnishings including curtains, upholstery and carpets. Forget about cleaning them. They are permanently stained and will haunt you with their smell if you try to keep them.

 

  • Hire a few commercial-grade oscillating fans and leave them running until everything is bone dry. Smell the difference. Unfortunately the job is not done yet because the next generation of mildew is waiting to take up residence.

Prevent a Recurrence

Mold and mildew occur naturally in warm climates with high humidity. Your first step is to buy a decent dehumidifier and get the ambient moisture level down. While that’s happening cast an eye around for any water intrusion. This could be from a dripping tap, or from groundwater that follows cracks in the walls and floor.

Use the grid method to make sure you don’t miss the slightest water stain. Start with the ceiling, then the upper walls, then the middle walls and so on. Be mindful of the season. Basements seldom leak in summer, but the evidence is there all year round.

Assuming there are no leaks, you can complete the job by installing bright lighting (mildew hates this) and redecorating all painted surfaces with mildew-resistant paint. Do not waste your time doing this if you suspect a groundwater leak – even if this is dry at the current moment. The chronic water leak will just cause the mildew smell (and mold) to return.

If you have questions about removing mold from your basement or repairing a basement water leak, feel free to contact us here.  If you’re located in the Greater Toronto Area, we can arraign a free, in-home inspection.

High water tables around Toronto HomesDo Waterproofing Paints Work?

When you think about it carefully, we usually waterproof things from the outside. That’s as much true for garments, as it is for leaks on roofs. Engineers understand that it’s futile trying to stop seepage through a crankcase joint. Yet some in the basement-waterproofing industry keep insisting that basement walls are an exception to the rule.

Why Basements Leak

Underground spaces leak when two conditions are true:

  • There is groundwater backed outside of them, and
  •  Hydrostatic pressure forces a way into them, via:
  1.  The material of which they are constructed, OR
  2. Cracks and openings through this material, OR
  3. A combination of these two defects working together

 

These conditions are endemic in most spaces above ground. The difference with basements is the groundwater that lies around them. Contractors should adjust for this when building below ground level. The fundamental problem is that they often simply don’t as most of the time they apply the minimum waterproofing standards allowed by law during construction.

The Right Way to Avoid the Problem

When rain falls to the ground a certain amount of it inevitably pools. The earth absorbs the water. After that, gravity takes over and forces it gradually further underground. This happens faster in recently disturbed earth around the outside of basements. When it reaches the undisturbed level it starts backing up. There’s little we can do to stop this once it starts. However builders can install management systems, such as a weeping tile system, assuming they know how.

First and foremost, they are supposed to waterproof the outside basement walls with membranes that prevent the groundwater finding a way through the construction material – as well as any cracks and opening caused by subsequent ground movement. Most stop there, because they’re not thinking about hydrostatic pressure.

Waterproofing contractor in Toronto applying waterproofing membreane

This is the outcome of gravity bearing down on the column of water-laden earth that still backs up behind the water-proofing membrane. This can be sufficiently powerful to find a way through the slightest imperfection, filter through the building material and pour down the inside basement wall.

There is usually only one way to stop this, and that’s with an underground drainage system along the bottom of the basement wall outside and/or by applying an industrial grade waterproofing membrane along the outside of the foundation wall.. With minor leaks and cracks, the job and sometimes he handles from the inside, by repairing the foundation crack. Many homeowners are tempted to try water-proofing paint instead. While this does have its moments there are a number of limitations.

What Waterproofing Paint is For

Although “water-proofing” is something of a misnomer because the paint does not last forever, it does have some usefulness when applied to raw concrete when it can sink in and be absorbed. Under these conditions, it may be able to repel creeping damp for a few years. However it is no match whatsoever against determined hydrostatic pressure, which will easily work it’s way past any sort of paint sealant you apply on your basement walls.

It is also useless when applied to previously sealed or painted walls because its adhesive properties depend on absorption. Many a homeowner has paid to have it applied during the dry season, only to see it fail soon after the first heavy rain. In conclusion, the product is designed for repelling dampness, not for waterproofing against moisture flowing through your basement wall.

If you have any questions about a leak or damp problem in your basement, feel free to call us at 416-622-7000 or contact us via our web form.  We offer a 100% free Estimate and Inspection of your foundation.

 

 

In the past home improvement has usually focused on converting lofts and attics in order to create office space or to add another needed bedroom to a house. However, the new trend is to look below the stairs and think about converting a basement into another kitchen come lounge area – making what was once a dead space, one that really does work for you and your family.

Home owners are now up to scratch when it comes to wasted space in their homes. A dusty old and leaky basement, when expertly converted into an extra room, can add thousands of dollars to the value of a property which makes it definitely worth considering.

Basement conversions don’t have to be dark and gloomy

The Benefits of Converting a Basement

There are many benefits to converting a basement into a kitchen come lounge area and the trend is gaining momentum. The reason is that basements usually offer much easier access to them, unlike lofts. They become more versatile living areas that suit the modern way of life unlike loft conversions which end up being extra bathrooms, bedrooms or even studies.  Unlike and attic or loft, plumbing usually already exists in a basement, giving it extra versatility.

Finding Out if a Basement is Suitable for Conversion

Older properties and this includes Victorian houses normally boast timber-suspended floors which make for ideal basement conversions. The only thing to watch out for and to have checked is whether the property has shallow foundations or not. If your property does, then you will have to get the property underpinned before the conversion can begin.

The easiest route to take is to discuss the project with a specialist underpinning company who will be able to advise you not only of the cost for the work, but how long it would take to do the job as well. This way you get to incorporate the extra cost into a budget and work out a realistic time scale for the work.

Stylish basement conversions add another dimension to a home

What about Planning Permission for Basement Conversions?

The great advantage in basement conversions as opposed to loft conversions, is that because you are only altering the interior of a property, you usually don’t have to apply for planning permission, though you should always double check. But with this said, if you add a basement window and an exterior door to the basement – then you would need to apply for planning permission from a local council. You need to check the planning permission limits too because you may want to extend your basement in the future.

Should your property be a listed building, you need to get permission for any renovations before the work can begin and this includes if the work is out of sight. The reason you need permission is that any listed building is protected for historical and/or any other important architectural reasons.

You will also have to abide by all the current building regulations, even if you don’t need to get planning permission to convert a basement. These are legal requirements for any area that is built for people to use and live in and they exist as a safety measure.

Building Regulations Explained

Extensions and any other building work that involves areas of a house or other property that people will use or live in are covered by strict building regulations. These regulations are set in place to protect the people who live in properties and cover anything from health and safety to fire escapes. When it comes to basement conversions basic regulations cover ventilation, electrical wiring, safe access, damp proofing, fire escape methods and safe access.