When it comes to waterproofing, there is a time for the best results. When the best time is might heavily depend on your specific needs. One common question in Boston is whether or not basement waterproofing can be completed in the wintertime.
And the answer to this question is…it depends.
There are several factors that will impact whether or not you can waterproof in the winter. Some things can be done with no issues in the winter, while other things may be better suited to waiting for springtime and warmer months.
Do You Need Waterproofing in the Winter?
The truth is that leaks, cracks, and other moisture issues don’t always happen only in the spring and summer, which means you could be dealing with flooding issues any time of year.
Boston experiences its own rainy seasons, and plenty of snow and cold weather as well. Snow is moisture; as snow or ice melts during the winter, this could cause extra moisture in the ground, which leads to water in the basement.
When that happens, water comes in through cracks and other weaknesses in the basement. In terms of the things you can handle in the winter, this will help prepare your structure for those spring months that also bring a lot of moisture in.
How Winter Can Affect Your Basement
When winter hits, you have freezing nights and sometimes warmer days. This leads to the ground freezing, thawing, and then repeating the process multiple times. This freezing and thawing leads to expansion and contraction in the soil and around your foundation.
The soil surrounding your home or property takes on excess water. The expansion and contraction can also cause cracks in your foundation or cement. It might also make cracks that are already present get worse.
In places where we see a lot of snow and ice, it’s not unusual for properties to have ice dams. This is another common cause of excessive moisture that might lead to issues or unexpected water damage for your home.
The cracks in your foundation are the most common cause of leakage or seepage into the basement.
Foundation Crack Repair in the Winter
Foundation crack repair is one process that you can typically take care of in the winter. Doing so can help prevent water from coming through the cracks and effectively seal up leaks in your foundation.
In the winter, these cracks often expand and then contract. If you can fill them or inject them when they are expanded, this better seals the space when they contract again. These cracks don’t require a minimum temperature to be filled. Even when it’s incredibly cold outside, you can have cracks filled and repaired.
This is an effective Boston basement waterproofing technique to accomplish in the winter.
Additional Ways to Protect Your Home
If you have cracks in the foundation, you should have these repaired right away to protect your home. There are some additional steps that you can take as well:
- Ensure your downspouts extend well away from the foundation
- Keep gutters clean and maintained
- Check out the water drainage system in place
- Have cracks filled and repaired quickly
When you have Boston basement waterproofing needs, be sure to work closely with a professional waterproofing company to help you determine the best solutions and implement them on your property.