Ottawa Structural Residential Services Ltd

General information

Wet Basement

Each Spring and Fall, Ottawa-Carleton homeowners find themselves confronted with an unpleasant side effect of our seasonal rain/freeze/thaw cycle - Wet Basements!

Chronic water leakage is a serious problem that can destroy personal property, as well as depreciate your home's property value. No one wants to renovate a wet basement nor store anything of any importance down there. You don't want to work there and you discourage your children from playing there. A wet basement deprives your family of usable living space.

Excessive moisture can also create a breeding ground for insects, mould and mildew, not only unpleasant......but a potential health hazard. Fungus and mould can contribute to chronic colds and respiratory ailments.

Signs of potential foundation problems include:

damp spots

cracked walls

peeling paint

wall movement

warped paneling

water seepage

mould or mildew

white, powdery residue

lifting floor tiles

cracks in masonry or masonry joints

stains on concrete

Water can enter your basement many different ways. Below is a picture of a basement which illustrates common leakage points. The wall on the right is a masonry block wall and the wall on the left is a poured concrete wall.