There are two types of water sources that can enter your home: (1) surface water and (2) groundwater. Either kind can find their way into your home and result in minor to major damage if proper waterproofing efforts have not been made to safeguard your structure.

Surface water is often thought of as temporary water, like rain and melting snow. Surface water is also as its name implies: Water either falling on top of the earth’s surface (like rain) or topical water bodies like rivers, lakes and streams. Ultimately, surface water may indeed seep (through gravity and excess water conditions) into the earth, essentially becoming groundwater.

As you may know, water exists under the ground. The effect of groundwater on foundations depends on several factors – where the structure sits in relation to the groundwater water level, fluctuating water tables, soil content, and so on. Changing conditions in the environment affect your property’s water levels/water tables which, in turn, can impact your home’s foundation. Groundwater, then, is the naturally occurring water that resides below the surface of the earth. It, too, can be a source of water intrusion to create waterproofing issues.

Water-Related Damage: Signs to Look For

For your convenience, here’s a list of signs that moisture/water has at some time entered your home/basement. While you may not see actual water in your basement, these signs indicate its intrusion at some interval. You won’t necessarily see the water itself for the simple reason that water evaporates. Unfortunately, the cause of the water condition does not evaporate … until it’s repaired.

Be aware that some of these conditions can be caused by surface water or groundwater sources, or a combination of both:

Damp or moist spots on walls will ultimately show varying grey discoloration on block or poured concrete walls. Discolored floor tiles or discolored basement floor areas are other signs of water entry.

Mildew and mold stains are obvious signs of moisture entry and will also show discoloration. Mold and mildew are living organisms – fungi that grow and thrive in damp or darkened areas. Moist or wet areas are “breeding grounds” for the formation of mold that can present health hazards and denigrate the indoor air quality of your home as well as damage home contents. (Damp areas are also breeding areas for pests, bugs and rodents that gravitate to water. Add hiding places for them, like basement cracks and crevices, and problems with your basement are further compounded.)

Musty odors can be caused even if you don’t see visible signs of what’s causing them. Musty smells may or may not be accompanied by visible mold/mildew since odors are the result of the decaying process linked to mildew, mold and dry rot. Thus, you may detect these odors which indicate that dampness-caused conditions exist, but you may not find proof of the wetness causing them. Again, water evaporates, but water’s damaging effects do not disappear if causes are left untreated.

Dry rot is a brown-black growth appearing on walls or even clothes and other objects. Like mold, this is also a fungus. Some may think of dry rot more to do with boats and their exposure to water. But dry rot forms on land, too, based on the same principle. It’s the result seen when damaging water causes wood or wood-based products to rot or decay.

Cracks in walls and floors are usually caused by movement in your home’s foundation. Cracks that form because of underground soil content or shifting settlement issues may grow; these are considered active or “working” cracks. In comparison, cracks resulting from shrinkage are normally static in nature. Depending on the severity and cause, cracks can lead to extensive structural problems for your home. Basement wall or floor cracks provide an entryway for water to leak in or seep through. Hence, it’s always important to repair cracks because of their strong potential to permit damaging water entry.

Cracks often form in vulnerable spots like the seam (or cove) where the wall meets the floor. They can also appear on walls from top-to-bottom and will vary in type and intensity. Cracks can develop with any kind of basement construction – poured cement or block-type walls. Exact repair and waterproofing methods are determined by condition examination as well as the type of basement construction. (For example: injection system waterproofing repairs may be required for cracks that form in poured cement walls; drain system repairs may be the likely answer to cracks in block walls.) Regardless, waterproofing expertise is the solution to address basement cracks which provide the opportunity for water entry to occur.

Remember: There is a LOT of weight (the weight of your home) resting on your foundation. Your foundation walls must be maintained and protected to handle that weight. Water intrusion can become trapped in cracks and cause further damage you may not detect until it forms for awhile, but it’s developing nonetheless. If the damage is already semi-severe, you will likely observe signs like corroding and/or buckled or bowed walls due to the effects of hydrostatic pressure.

Peeling paint is another indicator of water damage. Paint issues may show up as paint flaking off walls, chipping and discoloration.

Warped paneling is a common sign of moisture damage. Damaging effects can also include discoloring and bowing of wood. Wood and wood products are absorbers of water; their susceptibility to moisture can be manifested and quite noticeable.

Rust spots are well-known, obvious indicators of water effects. In the basement, for instance, you may see rust formations on laundry appliances, metal shelving, your fuse box, metal objects on the floors, etc.

Find out the precautions to take >>>