One of the most common problems for owners of old houses is a damp basement. In many houses, the basement parts have not been repaired since the very moment of construction. Over the years of operation, the walls of the basement and the basement become very damp, and mold or fungus may appear on such a surface in many places. The problem can go so seriously that it will not be possible to save the situation on your own, you need to seek help from specialists. What do you need to start with?
Many experts recommend starting with an examination. Only a thorough examination of the entire basement will help to accurately identify the specific state of affairs, help determine the condition of the walls – which of them require opening from the outside, which can be repaired from the inside, and which are completely dry. Only conducting an appropriate examination will help identify the type of mold or fungus, find the best ways to solve this problem.
In addition, an objective assessment of the condition of the house will help you get rid of unnecessary expenses associated with the “treatment” of “healthy walls”. The right choice of antifungal agent for effective removal of mold and mildew on basement walls depends solely on the specific type of microorganisms. Only microbiologists can accurately determine the type of microorganisms. So, for example, in Ukraine, this issue is dealt with by the testing laboratory of fungus resistance and microbiological research at the Institute of Microbiology and Virology. D.K. Zabolotny National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
Having reliable information about the condition of your basement, you will be able to determine the scope and stages of work, as well as save money on purchasing a specific antifungal agent that is effective in your case. This will help save not only money, but also time and effort. In order to begin to effectively fight for dryness in the basement, you first of all need to eliminate the cause of its occurrence. Where could the dampness in the basement come from? The reasons for its occurrence can be many. So one of the most common is the destruction of external waterproofing, cracks in the basement and foundation slab.
The process of destruction can take years, quietly and not noticeable. First, small cracks appeared, then water entered them and during the period of severe frosts destroyed the wall even more, and finally it penetrated through the walls into the interior of the room. Every year, winter contributed to the increasing destruction of bricks, plaster and waterproofing layer. In basements, where we rarely visit, and especially near cluttered walls and behind racks, raids and efflorescence begin to form. Poor ventilation, almost constant temperature and high levels of humidity contributed to the emergence and development of colonies of mold and fungus.
We sounded the alarm only when the musty smell began to be felt inside the living quarters, when the issue of combating mold and fungus had already become acute. Depending on the degree of wall moisture, individual measures are developed to eliminate it. So if the wall has a low degree of humidity (humidity 2.5-5%), then it is enough to protect it from the inside, it is not necessary to dig it out from the outside. On damp areas of the wall, it is necessary to remove the old plaster, clean the wall with a jet of water under pressure, and then open it with a special antifungal disinfectant. After that, it is necessary to apply a layer of penetrating waterproofing, restore the plaster, paint the surface and protect it from further mold or fungus.
Internal work is quite simple, but requires strict adherence to technology and diligence, which takes a lot of time. If the wall is very damp and has high humidity (from 8% to 12%), then in addition to carrying out a number of internal works, it will be necessary to restore the waterproofing layer on the outside of the wall. In order to drain such a wall, it is necessary to dismantle the concrete blind area, dig it out to the entire depth of the basement and carefully remove all external plaster. The entire surface of the wall is treated with a special antifungal agent, followed by insulation with expanded polystyrene at least 8 cm thick. A fiberglass mesh is attached on top (to protect against various rodents) and covered with a solution. It is best to line the basement of the building with clinker tiles. For effective removal of moisture in the foundation area, it is necessary to install a drainage tray.
After the high-quality implementation of the entire complex of planned work, you will not only get rid of dampness in the basement, but also get a beautiful and well-groomed basement and basement of the house. Inside the room it will become drier, warmer and the unpleasant musty smell will disappear. The restoration work carried out will help you to extend the life of the basement and the foundation of the house for a long time, and, consequently, the entire building.