Basement Floor Water Damage -Drying out, Repairing & Causes

Depending on the characteristics of the home that you live in, your geographic location, and the kind of flooring that you have in the basement, any water damage that your basement floor sustains will present different dangers and will require different remedies to counteract.

In this handy guide, we will take a deeper look into the kinds of dangers that flooded and water-damaged basement floors present to homes and how to remedy any negative impact that this water damage may have presented based on its origins.

Throughout this article in different sections, we will Cover Water Damage due to:

Groundwater Seepage,Leaks, After Flood, After Heavy Rain & Due to Drainage issues.

Water Damaged Basement Floors from Seepage/Groundwater

Since the basement is generally located underground, it is one of the principal places that seepage and groundwater gets into. The water that comes from seepage is especially detrimental to basement floors because it usually contains soil and other sediment that damages flooring.

Why Does water Come up my Basement Floor – Common Causes

Water damaged basement floors that originate from seepage and groundwater usually have one of three culprits to blame:

• Your drainage
• Leaking pipes,
• Unusually high amount of rainwater pouring down on the streets.

Specifically, problems that arise from poor drainage can usually be traced to the fact that they are clogged.

Common causes of clogged drains include an abnormal amount of hair from family members or pets, an accumulation of toilet paper, natural disintegration, or even tree roots growing into pipes and bursting them.

Leaking pipes underneath the flooring are perhaps one of the most obvious causes of water damaged basement floors. Also, a home’s piping system is usually connected inside the house and the problems of a leak can rear its ugly head onto your basement floors.

Causes of a pipe leak can be more mysterious than discovering what caused a pipe to become clogged. Common causes of a pipe leaks include broken seals, corrosion, excess water pressure, and even loose water connectors, among many others. 

Lastly, a season where there is an abnormal amount of rain is another common cause of water damaged basement floors. This is especially true in areas where there are seasonal amounts of heavy rainfall.

Some seasons can be worse than others, and many city drainage systems may not be equipped to handle it.

After heavy rainfall, a street will be flooded and there is nowhere for this water to go other than the dry areas of your basement. In areas that are particularly hilly and mountainous, more rainfall can force its way into your basement because of the momentum it picks up by rushing downhill.

Extent of Damage/Further Problems it can cause

Water damage coming from groundwater and excess seeping presents many issues for homeowners. On one hand having a large amount of water flooding into your basement can lead to valuable electronics being damaged.

Basements are usually places where people keep their gaming systems and televisions in, and they could easily become damaged thanks to excess groundwater and seepage being placed in your basement.

Aside from damaging your property, seepage and groundwater could lead to water damaged basement floors. Water damaged basement floors are breeding grounds for mold and foul odors stemming from your basement.

Having basement floors that are severely water damaged can also present a massive expense for homeowners as they may need to replace the flooring and piping system.

How to Clean Water Damaged Basement Floors due to Seepage.

• Be prepared- do not handle any electronics and wear appropriate clothing when you are repairing your water damaged basement floors.
• Determine the cause of the groundwater and increase in seepage- whether this be problems with drainage, leaking pipes, or water coming from the streets.
• Remove the water from your flooring using a hand pump or wet-dry vacuum, depending on the severity of the flooding in your basement.
• Lastly, remove materials that attract mold like leather, paper, fabric, and wood from the basement.

Continue Reading: How to Absorb Water In Basement

How to Repair Water Damaged Basement Floors

• Identify and resolve the sources of water.
• Select which sections of the flooring need to be replaced/repaired.
• Remove the flooring to reveal the subfloor and check for damage.
• If damaged, replace the subfloor.
• Once the subfloor is dried, refinish the damaged flooring or purchase new tile/wood panels.

Preventing Future Water Damage from Groundwater and Seepage

To prevent future water damage to your floor from groundwater and seepage use the following methods:

• Raise the basement floor/house.
• Install a sump-pump.
• Convert the basement into a crawl space by filling it with concrete.

One of the most common causes of water damage in homes through leaks originating in the basement area. There are many causes for leakage within a basement. Although they are preventable, they can prove tough to spot and control.

The most common causes are issues stemming from a home’s foundation to the window well covers that are prone to accumulating water during rainy periods.

Despite the problems these leaks can cause, there are many solutions and preventative measures that one can take to fix and prevent leaks that started in their basement.

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Water Damaged Basement Floors?

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Common Causes of Basement Leaks

• Hydrostatic (water) Pressure is a common culprit of basement leaks. During rainy periods the soil surrounding the foundation of a home can become oversaturated, causing it to spill into the basement when the soil has reached capacity.
• Cracks in a basement’s floor no matter how insignificant in appearance can cause some of the worst leakage. The water will seep through these cracks should it rain and allow it to pour in through these cracks.
• Window wells are practically designed to hold water for periods of time. An improperly secured window well can allow seepage during periods of heavy rain.

Potential damage to Flooring and Issues caused by Basement leaks

Basement leaks are conducive for water damage to basement floors.

This damage will eventually lead to rot and mold to set in causing significant damage to one’s home and floor.

Mold will similarly affect personal items stored in the basement; if it is around a basement leak you can count on mold and rot ruining it.

Waiting too long before fixing a basement floor leak can lead to irreparable damage that can cost serious amounts of money; getting ahead of the problem is the best action one can take. Waiting for the problem to get worse will only rack up damage and costs to a homeowner in this situation.

Cleaning Basement Floor leaks and damage

• Getting rid of excess water: a mop and bucket can do the job but when serious leakage has occurred the best tool is a water capable vacuum or pool pump.
• Items damaged by water should be removed immediately. Allow these items to dry away from harm for roughly two days before evaluating damage. Rot and mold will take time to set in.
• If a covering such as a carpet is in the basement, remove it immediately. Doing this will allow the basement floor the space to dry which will take several days; opening windows and other openings will help accelerate this process.

How to repair a basement floor leak

• Plugging cracks in a basement floor will help stop leakage if it’s the source of the leak. Using cement or caulk to plug in cracks will create a new barrier between your basement and the outdoors.
• Doing some landscaping work to redistribute the soil around your basement should open the pressure points in the sediment. Having more “breathing room” around your house can prevent future leaks from occurring.
• Properly securing a water well window. This action will make sure that the window does not allow more water to leak in if done properly.

Preventing Future Damage to your floors In basement

Although at home solutions can prove to solve a problem immediately, they are not necessarily the best or even permanent solution.

Contacting a water damage restoration professional is the best course of action a homeowner can take. Their expertise and specialization in the field will allow them to provide the best possible solution to this common problem.

Water Damaged Basement Floors From Flooding

Depending on the area that you live in, flooding may be a real concern. This is especially true in places that are close to water and experience bouts of extremely poor weather.

Learning where the flood originated from can give you special insight into how to repair any basement floor water damage that may have been caused by a flood.

Common Causes of Flooded Basement Lloors

Obviously, the most common cause of a flood is inclement weather.

Living next to a large body of water like a lake, canal, or river usually translates to an increased probability of flooding in your basement when hurricanes or periods of extreme weather occur.

Even though living next to a large body of water that has undergone a period of rough weather is the most common cause of basement flooding, it is not the only one.

Homes that do not have functional gutters can see flooding thanks to rainwater not being able to effectively leave the home.

Homes that are in areas that experience periods of heavy rain need to make sure that their gutters are functional to avoid flooding from rainwater.

Extent of Damage/Further Problems it can cause to your Floors

Flooding is especially damaging because it can carry elements from the outdoors into your basement. Dirt, oil, mud, and other debris can easily make their way into your basement and destroy your basement floors.

The more varied the debris that finds itself in your basement, the more difficult it will be to clean your floors. Further, the presence of mud, soot, and moisture create a perfect breeding ground for mould to slowly take over your floor.

How to Clean & Repair basement Floors after Flood

1. Shovel mud and other debris away from the basement.
2. Rinse walls to get rid of stains with a high-pressure hose.
3. Clean any remaining stains from walls using a bristle brush and household detergent.
4. Dry basement as soon as possible using dehumidifier.
5. If you have wood floors, Discover which floorboards need the most repair (some may not be as damaged as they appear)
6. Once you have found the most damaged floorboards saw them off with a saw or crowbar.
7. Dry sub floor and replace floorboards.

Preventing Future Water Damage to floors after Flood

Basements that are in areas that are notorious for flooding will need to be prepped accordingly. One of the most pertinent ways to do so is to install hurricane proof windows in the basement if applicable.

Also, making sure that your gutters and septic tanks are in mint condition can prevent flood water from making its way through these avenues.

For something as serious as preventing basement floor water damage, it is best to rely on the expertise of a water restoration professional.

Rain is also a common direct cause of flooding. Large quantities of water accumulating on a person’s home is one of the obvious reasons for flooding, but the causes of the flooding may be more complex than people have been led to believe.

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Basement Floor Needs Rescuing?

Call 844-488-0570 for a Risk Free estimate from a Licensed Water Damage Restoration Specialist in your area.

We Can Help Dry out & Repair Your Basement Floor

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Common Causes of Water Damaged Basement Floors After Rain

Cracks in the roofs and walls of homes can and will lead to water seepage in times of rain. These cracks in homes do not need to be any larger than a hair strand for water to begin seeping in, this makes them hard to spot and plug.

Chimneys are also a factor in rain-caused flooding. This one is pretty self-explanatory, a hole on the outside of your home which directly leads to the inside of your home will allow rain to pour inside and ruin your basement floor.

Damage Rain Leaks can Cause to your Basement Floor

The damage to your basement floors caused by rain leaks is very similar to the damage one would experience through any other form of leak with one added element, ceilings.

The damage to basement floors and personal property inside one’s home would be roughly the same as previously stated.

Ceilings however offer another element for a homeowner to worry about; if rain is causing leaks in your house, it is safe to assume that the roof of a house is taking damage and making the situation even worse.

Cleaning & Repairing Rain Damage to Basement Floors

• Drying sections of roof that have become water damaged. Most rain leaks seep in through one’s roof so cleaning this area is a must for instant cleaning.
• Getting all damaged personal property out of the rain leaks vicinity will prevent further water damage. This will also prevent mold and bad odors from setting in.
• Drying the wet basement floors under the leak’s source will also do good to preserve the floors of the home.
• Cosmetic damage can be repaired by painting over wet spots on the roof. Most leaks do not result in just cosmetic damage so this fix is rather limited.
• Removing sections of roof and flooring damaged heavily by the rain leaks will be necessary to prevent mold and rot from setting in and ruining a home’s roof and floor.
• Finding and patching the issue that caused the leak. Be it a pipe or a crack this should be done as early as possible to nip the issue in the bud and be done with it.

Getting the Help You’ll Need.

Although these issues are fixable on your own it is always recommended to get a professionals’ help or at the very least advice. Blindly going into fixing a leaky roof or water damage to your basement floors can result in making the issue worse.

One should always contact a professional in situations they are not completely trained in.

Modern homes have a system of pipes and drains going through the underside of the home or even inside the walls. Since they transport water throughout the home at relatively high pressure, pipes and drains are common causes of water damaged basement floors.

Below, we identify the common causes of drainage issues and how to remedy any problems so homeowners can fix water damaged basement floors and avoid any future issues.

Common Causes of Water Damaged Basement Floors Due to Drainage Issues

The most common causes of drainage issues are drains being clogged with materials like toilet paper, baby wipes, or paper towels.

When this happens, water that was supposed to be dumped from your home instead gets redirected into your basement and damages your floors.

Cat owners also have a higher risk of developing problems with their basement floors through clogged drains thanks to cat litter.

Cat litter is commonly flushed down toilets or sinks, which could result in problems with the drainage of the homes. 

Looking after the amount of waste that you flush down the toilet and your pet’s activity is key in avoiding drainage issues.

Extent of Damage/Further Problems it Can Cause

Problems with basement floors stemming from drainage issues vary in severity. Small leaks can manifest in the form of small puddles or even humid walls, while a more severe drainage issue can cause significant damage to your floorboards.

Further, any amount of moisture left without direct exposure to sunlight will be a breeding ground for mold.

Mold could be a health hazard and extremely difficult to remove once a significant colony is formed. Asthmatics and people with respiratory issues are the most at risk for mold-related health issues.

How to Clean & Repair Water Damaged Basement Floors from Drainage Issues

1. Identify cause of drainage block
2. Remove materials that have caused the block
3. Dehumidify basement
4. Dry water damaged basement floors
5. Gauge extent of damage
6. If light, dehumidify floors
7. If severe replace floor and subfloor

Preventing Future Water Damage to your basement floors

Preventing water damage from clogged drains entails making sure that you do not flush anything other than toilet paper down the toilet.

If you do happen to notice any signs of a drainage issue, using products like Drano that dissolve matter is the best way to mitigate it before it gets out of hand.

If you do notice that your drainage has caused significant problems to your basement floor, do not hesitate to call a professional to assist you.

When Should I Call a Professional?

Homeowners should use the services of a professional when they find that water-damaged basement floors are infested with mold or inundated with water.

A Water damage Restoration specialist will have the experience and expertise necessary to deal with damage incurred from leaks, drainage, flooding, or any other source.

We have Water Damage Restoration Technicians that can help Find the Source of the Water In your Basement,Dry out & Restore your Basement Floors

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