Is WallSeal™ an Effective Solution for Basements?

When it comes to protecting your basement from unexpected water damage, you’ll want to make sure you have the appropriate tools on hand to see the job through. With that in mind, you’ll have to determine whether or not a WallSeal™ vapor barrier can help keep the moisture you’re contending with out of your home’s more sensitive areas. 

Luckily, the WallSeal™ vapor barrier proves to be an exceptionally effective home waterproofing measure. While no waterproofing measure can last forever, this seal is dense enough that it can keep not only moisture but gas, as well, from getting into your basement. The plastic-like material comes in various densities, with the options available to you varying based on the needs of your home. 

That said, in keeping moisture out of your home, a WallSeal™ doesn’t just effectively keep you from having to contend with unwanted flooding. This vapor barrier also improves the overall value of your home while protecting your family’s health. 

WallSeal™ and Your Home’s Value 

As moisture makes its way into your home, you can face damage that far exceeds flooding throughout your basement. If you let moisture sit unattended for too long, the integrity of your structural supports may be compromised. Most structural supports, whether they’re made out of wood or steel, can begin to show signs of wear when overexposed not only to standing water but to unusual amounts of humidity in your home. As those materials start to give way, you may begin to see your walls pull away from your floors. In turn, you may also spot: 

• Wall cracks 
• Rotting floor joists 
• Sagging floors 
• Exterior cracks 
• A damaged chimney 

This damage does more than make your home more dangerous to live in. It also actively decreases the value of your home. If, for example, you want to try and sell a home that’s suffered from evident basement damage, you will need to inform future buyers as to whether or not you’ve invested in any necessary repairs. If you forgo repairs in an attempt to save money, you risk losing up to 30 percent of your home’s overall market value. Similarly, homes that actively suffer from basement damage as a result of moisture levels have a more difficult time attracting buyers. With that in mind, it’s often better to invest in home protective measures like the WallSeal™ vapor barrier if you want to make selling your home simpler later down the line. 

WallSeal™ and Your Family’s Health 

That said, you’re not just looking out for your home’s health when you invest in a WallSeal™ vapor barrier, you’re also looking out for your family’s health. A moist basement presents an active danger to the health of your family, even those members without pre-existing conditions. Residents with allergies or respiratory problems can see their conditions worsening over time. Family members who have previously been in perfect health can also begin to exhibit signs of respiratory damage. 

This kind of threat appears even before mold has an opportunity to take root in your home. Most mold clusters present an active danger to your loved ones. Some of the most common types of mold you’re likely to run into if you fail to keep moisture out of your basement include: 

• Allergenic molds. Allergenic molds can exacerbate a person’s allergies or otherwise cause family members without allergies to develop allergies either to the mold itself or to products with similar chemical structures. 

• Pathogenic molds. Like allergenic molds, pathogenic molds tend to exacerbate a resident’s respiratory problems and other health conditions over time. Similarly, any family members who have previously been in perfect health may begin to have trouble breathing or taking in enough air if they are exposed to pathogenic molds for too long. 
• Toxigenic molds. Toxigenic molds, including black mold, threaten your family’s immune system within days of their initial exposure. Not only is it more difficult for your family members to fight off illnesses after they’ve been exposed to black mold and the like, but they can rapidly begin to show signs of respiratory decline. If you think you’re contending with black mold or a similar growth, you’ll want to get in touch with area mold removal professionals as soon as possible.