Right now it's pretty dry outside; but when winter ends and spring begins, chances are good you'll have problems with moisture in your basement. Whether it comes from the melting snow that finds its way into your home through cracks in the foundation or humidity which comes in through the walls and the concrete floor, moisture is a bad thing.
“ Another thing that would help is to install a moisture barrier in your basement that will prevent humidity and dampness from finding their way into your hom... ”
If you don't take steps to stop it, you could find yourself dealing with an unhealthy situation. It doesn't take much moisture for mold to start growing. When present in large concentrations inside your home, exposure to the spores can cause such symptoms as nasal and sinus congestion, cough, skin and eye irritations, breathing difficulties and upper respiratory infections.
Mold has been in the news a lot lately, particularly in New Orleans where homes and businesses now drying out in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are filled with it. There's nothing people with homes in New Orleans could have done to prevent mold exposure, but if you know your home has problems with moisture, you need to take action.
Among the steps the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you take to reduce moisture and keep mold from growing in your home:
* Seek out and fix the source of water problems -- leaky sinks, toilets, etc.
* Vent bathrooms, washing machines, dishwashers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside.
* Reduce the potential for condensation on cold surfaces (i.e. windows, piping, exterior walls, roofs or floors) by adding insulation.
* Avoid installing carpeting in area where there is a perpetual moisture problem, like around sinks and concrete floors which experience frequent condensation.
"Another thing that would help is to install a moisture barrier in your basement that will prevent humidity and dampness from finding their way into your home," says Bill Emerick, president of Ideal Products, LLC, the manufacturer of SANI-TRED. His company makes a unique line of liquid rubber, ultra-adhesive coating and caulking materials which, thanks to their molecular structure, are able to penetrate into concrete or wood surfaces and bond to them permanently. The material was originally designed for use as a heavy duty, industrial outdoor flooring surface; but once contractors found out about it, they started using it in residential homes as well.
SANI-TRED products are easiest to install in homes under construction, or those with unfinished basements, but Emerick says a lot of his company's customers are also using it as a sealant when they fix water-damaged basements. If your basement is already finished, he says you or your contractor should remove the existing trim and wall sheeting from the studs, waterproof the walls and floors with SANI-TRED then replace with new wall sheeting. "It is important to coat and seal all areas of the walls and floors to eliminate any possibility of humidity or water entry," he adds. As an additional bonus, a full basement installation of SANI-TRED is also guaranteed to reduce existing radon levels to well below acceptable limits.
Because users need to follow specific instructions and guidelines for installation, Sani-Tred products are not sold through regular retail outlets. Orders can be placed online at www.sanitred.com or by calling the company's toll-free number (866) 784-3308.
Courtesy of ARA Content
