Tips for Stormproofing Your Basement to Prevent Storm Damage

3/19/2019 (Permalink)

Winter brings with it lots and lots of water, whether in the form of rain, snow, or ice and sleet. Flooding and storm damage can be a common occurrence in many areas of the country this time of year, and your home or business can suffer, with building structures being affected negatively. In these times, contacting a professional water restoration company will be a great help, since such companies are experts in water damage cleanup and repair.

While flooding can’t be predicted most of the time, being aware of the areas of your home or business that are most prone to flooding during or after a storm will help you be prepared to handle, and even to prevent, storm damage. The low-lying areas of homes and businesses are most at risk, so taking extra precautions to stormproof your basement and cellar areas will save you a lot of time and money over time.

Basements and cellars will need to be regularly inspected during wet weather since they have a number of easy entry points for water. If there is heavy rainfall during inclement weather, or if the building is near a body of water such as a lake or river, flooding is a real danger. Keep an eye open for cracks in the foundation, ceiling, and walls of these areas.

Ensure that the doors and windows of the basement or cellar area are well-sealed against wet and stormy conditions. Entryways are also a potential problem area; make sure they are free of standing water and debris so that people don’t get hurt. Extra precautions here will also go a long way towards the prevention of any mold colonies being established.

Take steps to make sure that water is drained away from the foundations of your buildings. Standing water in these areas can create weaknesses in walls and foundational elements, eventually allowing water to leak into your basement area.

Our team of professionals here at SERVPRO of Huron & East Seneca Counties is experienced in all the repairs and cleanup needs that can come from storm damage, flood waters, water damage, and fire damage. Mold remediation is one of our specialties.