Pittsburgh is a town that experiences flash floods likely to cause lots of damage and flooding to homeowners and businesses. From The Great St. Patrick’s Day flood of 1936 to the recent floods in July 2012, flooding, caused by heavy rains, has proved to be a menace and Waterproofing Pittsburgh PA homes has become a matter of importance to dwellers.
What waterproofing entails
Waterproofing is a process of preventing water from penetrating a building. Water can penetrate a building though windows, roofs, basement, and cracks on the walls.
How to know that your house needs waterproofing
- When there is dampness on areas where water penetration is suspected.
- When there is discoloration of walls and ceilings.
- A musty odor emanating from the areas you suspect may be leaking water.
- Fuzzy, white crystalline deposits that appear on the floor or ceiling of the home.
Why waterproofing is important
Waterproofing is important in buildings, because lack of proper waterproofing may gradually weaken the structure of your house and eventually making it collapse.
In addition, it protects the people who live and work in the building from health effects of mildew, mold and cold brought about by poor waterproofing. Houses that are not properly waterproofed are also not energy efficient, leading to significantly to high energy bills.
Things to look out for when choosing a waterproofing contractor in Pittsburgh
- Make sure that he or she is a specialized contractor and not a general repair person. This is because waterproofing a home is a complex task that requires expert knowledge.
- Make sure the contractor knows what he is talking about by asking questions relevant to the work he is to do. Also, ask the contractor to give you a list of options on how the work can be carried out. This will enable you to create a rapport as well as to gauge further his expertise.
- Find out if they can provide a warranty for the work done. This is because it can take a while to know if the job was done effectively.
- Professional plumbers always offer extra services such as Foundation Stabilization.
- Lastly, ensure that the appropriate licensing authorities have licensed the contractor.
There are several Waterproofing Pittsburgh PA contractors, ensure that you take your time in selecting one since an unqualified one will end up making the situation worse.
