I bought an older home built in the 1950s a little over a year ago, and I've noticed the basement tends to get quite humid, leading to some mold issues. There's also minor seepage in the block foundation, but fortunately, we haven't experienced any significant flooding since moving in. I've made sure the gutters are extended and there's no standing water around the foundation. I'm considering whether it's worth investing my bonus into waterproofing the basement with an interior French drain, a sump pump, and a whole-house dehumidifier, or if I should focus on another project like redoing the bathroom or putting up a fence. We plan to finish the basement one day since my fiancée uses it as a gym and I want to avoid mold concerns there. Should I focus on waterproofing for peace of mind and increased resale value?
3 Answers
Mold can definitely be a serious issue, especially since your fiancée works out down there. I think prioritizing waterproofing makes a lot of sense in your situation!
When I was a kid, our basement flooded really badly, so I can’t stress enough how important it is to take care of moisture issues. It can cause a lot of problems down the line. Just do plenty of research before moving ahead, though!
Using a humidifier in the basement is a good first step to monitor things, but you should definitely explore where the water is coming from. Interior waterproofing might not be the best fix if you can address the issue from outside, like adding a French drain. That might save you some cash too!
I appreciate that! We do have a couple of dehumidifiers down there now, but it’s still not cutting it with the mold and efflorescence.
Yeah, I’m considering a full-house dehumidifier as a cheaper option, but I’m not sure that's enough.