Why Do I Need Basement Drainage?

You may be reading this saying, "Of course I should be getting drainage, it's just too expensive" or "I'll do it soon" or maybe you're thinking to yourself that basements are scary places and it is just a fact of life that basements are dark, scary, and damp places. Well, hopefully this blog is able to change each and every one of your minds because having a finished basement can add a lot of value to your home, and provides you with extra space to enjoy or use as storage.

There are several different scenarios in which you may need to look at having a basement drain installed (although personally, I think it is better to be safe than sorry)! 

It seems to be more common than not that people believe that the problem is not actually a problem, but more of a minor inconvenience every few months. People don't mind spending a hundred bucks here or there to fix the problem temporarily, but are less likely to shell out a little more for a permanent solution to the problem.

We see this when people will call around or talk to friends (as you should do) and many people hear solutions like cleaning gutters, landscaping options, exterior drainage, and others. The problem is that these solutions will work, but often not for long. But because the solutions work temporarily, people believe that the only problem is that their gutters aren't clean or that the soil around the home isn't sloped correctly, which may all be true. These aren't the problems to the underlying issue, which is that of the basement. Unfortunately, the materials we use in a building aren't perfect, so we have to come up with solutions like the ones that we use here at All-Dry. These are interior drainage products that don't pretend to keep the water from getting into the home (because this is very difficult), but rather products that if (but more likely when) water gets into your basement, will collect the water and keep it from damaging your home.

As mentioned earlier, some people just believe that basements are kind of supposed to be these dark, scary areas. This is definitely not true, as you can see if you check out some of our basement pictures in our photo gallery or before and afters! Finished basements can be a huge blessing and add a lot of value to your home; imagine you have a 1,000 square foot, one-story home with a basement, by finishing your basement you have almost doubled your livable square-footage of the home. These places don't have to be scary, unusable places, but can be transformed into dry, fun, and livable areas!

If you still aren't convinced about finishing your crawlspace, or at least getting drainage to keep it from becoming damp and moldy, then maybe this last reason will help you out. This is more of a practical benefit, but it is still true and very important. It is pretty likely that at some point you will be selling your house, whether your family is getting bigger, maybe smaller, you're moving because of a new job, or maybe you're retiring! The fact is, you're going to be selling your house, and there are two ways that your damp, wet, and/or moldy basement can go for you; your potential buyer may love the home, but then see the crawlspace and either immediately back out because it isn't an issue they want to deal with or you may end up having to pay for a solution anyways. If you're going to be paying for it anyway, why not do it sooner? That way you can actually enjoy the benefits too!

I won't go through all of the different ways that you can use your newly finished basement, but I'll give you a lot! Here's a short list of different things to do with your basement: a playroom, bedroom(s), home gym, home theater, wine cellar, and many, many more! I hope this post has enlightened you to why you should get basement drainage and finish your crawl space, there aren't really any negatives to this process!

Call us with any questions you may have about getting work done to your basement! Our number is 1-864-984-2308, we look forward to hearing from you!