Five Reasons Pittsburgh Residents and other Homeowners Should Consider Waterproofing their Home this Year

There’s no better time than the present to take steps toward making your home a better place and a safer environment for you and your family. There are a number of ways to increase the safety of your home, maintain its condition, and protect it from damage. Waterproofing covers all three and is something every homeowner should consider to protect against the many side effects associated with unwanted water entry.

Waterproofing benefits a home for years beyond initial installation and should be on your home improvement to-do list this year for five main reasons:

1. 1.    Protection Against Damage

Unwanted water in your home may undoubtedly be unpleasant and inconvenient, but it can also cause a wide range of damage.  Even a little water can do significant harm. If flooding occurs or there’s a leak, items like furniture, electronics, and personal belongings can be ruined. Some things

may be replaced at a cost, but other items may not be recoverable, such as cherished family photographs.

Waterproofing systems, either internal or external, work to keep water away from a home’s perimeter and to collect water that gets inside. There are a number of ways water can leak into your home, for instance, from excess groundwater, flooding during heavy rainfall, and due to structural flaws. In any case, a waterproofing system prevents the accumulation of moisture and protects valuable belongings, including your home itself.

1. 2.    A Healthy Home and Family

Displaced water and accumulated moisture can cause physical damage as well as damage to you and your family’s physical health. Moisture provokes mold spores to grow, and consistent mold exposure can cause allergy and asthma symptoms, infections, and toxicity at the extreme. Airborne contaminants are also the result of a damp environment and create unhealthy indoor air that you and your family end up breathing on a regular basis. Water in your home is best addressed and cleaned up right away to prevent mold from growing, in particular, but the best solution may be to prevent water from getting inside in the first place.

1. 3.    Preserved Value and Appeal

Whether or not you plan to stay at your residence forever, waterproofing keeps your home in good condition and contributes to maintaining its property value in addition to increasing resale appeal. Water damage can significantly decrease a home’s value and affect the overall condition, taking away from the home you originally bought and loved.  If you have any plans to sell your home, a waterproofing system may increase both the value and appeal. Preventing water entry before it has the chance to do damage preserves your home for both present and future inhabitance.

1. 4.    Additional Living Space

A dry home all over means more available living space, or at least more storage space. A basement that frequently experiences moisture problems isn’t really ideal for occupying anything. Instead of a leaky basement that attracts critters and has a musty smell, you can have a dry basement that serves as a game room or a safe place to store seasonal and personal items. Every room in your home, from the attic to the basement, can be utilized and safely occupied as it should be in a home that’s continuously dry and protected.

1. 5.    Home Comfort and Security

This guest post was written by Gillece Services, a Pittsburgh waterproofing contractor that serves western Pennsylvania. Gillece Waterproofing helps to protect homes and families in the Pittsburgh area from flooded basements and associated water damage. Residential waterproofing is something that can certainly add to the value of one’s home and should be considered when installing a new roofing system.