Have an unfinished basement sitting underneath your home? Are you ready to get more use out of that damp space and increase the resale value of your home? Then waterproofing that old smelly, concrete basement should be your next home improvement project. You may be asking yourself, isn’t waterproofing my basement going to be pricey? Sure, any remodel that increases the value of your home is going to be an investment on your part but basement waterproofing is well worth the initial costs.
A waterproofed basement will not only increase your home’s value, but it will give you more living space, help save you money on your energy bills, strengthen your home’s foundation and make your home a healthier place to live. Let’s take a moment to weigh the benefits of a waterproofed basement versus the costs of the project.
What Will Basement Waterproofing Cost Me?
What will it cost you to waterproof your basement? The short answer is, the costs vary widely, so it is difficult to say exactly what this project will cost you. Depending on where you are located, the size of your project, and the scope of work you can expect to pay somewhere between $2,250 up to $7,000+. However, the country average for basement waterproofing cost is a little more than $4,500, says BobVila. Again, several factors contribute to the costs but figure somewhere from $3 to $6 per square foot to waterproof your basement. Older homes or home’s with damage to the foundation may have additional costs but this will be explained to you during the initial inspection and quote process.
Benefits of Waterproofing Your Basement
Now that you have an idea of what it will cost to waterproof your basement it is time for you to decide if the benefits of the home improvement project is worth the money. When choosing to commit to a new renovation project there are several factors to consider, the costs of course, but other considerations include how long the project will take and how disruptive the process will be in your day-to-day life. While these are all valid concerns you may have, the results and benefits of a waterproofed basement are well worth the costs and temporary inconveniences.
Still not sure? It is a big decision, so if you are on the fence, check out these six amazing benefits to waterproofing that old, damp basement.
- More Living Space
Can you use a little more living space in your home? Of course, you could, who wouldn’t want an extra bedroom, family room, home office, a beautiful laundry room, a playroom for the kiddos, or at least some storage space where you wouldn’t have to worry about heavy rain flooding your basement and ruining your valuables. And let’s face it, transforming that old concrete shell underneath your home is much more cost-effective than building a room addition or packing up and moving to a larger home.
Waterproofing your basement will transform a space in your house that is partially unusable into a comfortable room you will want to spend time in. Once your basement is safe from water damage, insects, and those cold concrete walls are a thing of the past, you will only be limited by your imagination when it comes to uses for your new space.
- Stronger Foundation
Many people choose to waterproof their basements for added support to their home’s structure. Did you know waterproofing your basement will protect your home’s foundation from extreme weather? Waterproofed basements will help keep your home standing longer and prolong the need for expensive repairs to your foundation.
- A Healthier Home
An unfinished basement provides a number of health concerns. Mold, mildew, and other harmful allergens are always a present danger in damp conditions. Does your basement have a musty smell? That smell can signal some kind of biological growth. Not to mention rodents, spiders, and insects are found in unfinished basements, especially if it’s typically dark and has plenty of hiding spaces.
A waterproof basement will ease your health concerns. You would no longer need to worry about biological growth building up in your basement, rodents leaving droppings all over the place and the musty smell would become a thing of the past.
- No More Worrying About Rainy Days
When you live with a basement that is not waterproof, any heavy rainstorm poses a major concern. You can find yourself trying to focus at work and then look out the window to see severely heavy rains. Then you have to spend the rest of the workday, worrying about how much water damage and flooding has occurred in your basement.
Those worries will no longer exist with a properly waterproofed basement. Instead of jumping out of bed, run downstairs and look for flooding every time it storms outside. Imagine getting to lay in bed at night, enjoying the sound of a rainstorm as you drift peacefully to sleep. A waterproofed basement will provide you with peace of mind.
- Cut Energy Costs
Ever wondered how you could cut down on the costs to cool your home in the summer, without sacrificing your comfort? The humidity levels in the summer are a major concern and these levels tend to increase in the damp setting of an unfinished basement. This high humidity can escape into the rest of your home, forcing your HVAC system to work longer and harder, and raising your energy bill. Basement waterproofing would prevent these damp conditions, cut the costs on your energy bill, and has an added benefit since your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard, you would prolong its life.
- Higher Home Value
There are no shortage of advantages to waterproofing your basement if you are planning on living in your home for a prolonged period of time. But let’s say you are wanting to move and sell your home in the next few years, is the cost of waterproofing your basement worth it? And the answer is yes, absolutely.
If you are wanting to increase the resale value of your home, a waterproof basement is a fantastic way to do that. A new home buyer will see a damp basement as a major hassle they would have to deal with when buying your home. Walking into a musty basement, with water damage and that may have signs of biological growth, is going to be a major turnoff. Waterproofing your basement now will help eliminate these concerns for potential home buyers and you get to spend your remaining time in your home, enjoying that clean, waterproofed basement.
Next Steps
Are you ready to ditch that smelly concrete hole under your home? Then it is time to turn to a professional to get the ball rolling on waterproofing that basement. Call a local company in your area to determine basement waterproofing costs. You could be enjoying the peace of mind, added space, and health benefits that come along with a waterproofed basement sooner than you think!