Don’t Forget About Your Crawl Space
Do you suspect that you may have a drainage problem? If the answer to this question is yes, it’s possible that the thought of attempting to repair the issue on your own may have crossed your mind. After all, plenty of home projects are great DIY opportunities. And doing it yourself can save you a ton of cash. While things such as painting, landscaping, and refinishing cabinetry all make great do-it-yourself projects, repairing drainage problems does not fall into the category of home repair and improvement tasks that can be completed without the use of a qualified professional. Continue reading →
Your basement is a paradise for disgusting mold and mildew. Mold is a fungus that feeds on moisture. And your basement is one of the most moisture prone areas in your entire home. Mold and mildew are not only gross, they can also have a serious impact on your family’s health. In addition, unchecked mold and mildew growth can damage your possessions and lead to pricey home repairs. If you want to control mold and mildew in your basement, the first step is to control moisture build up. By taking the right precautions, you can banish basement mold and mildew from your basement. 
A French drain is a simple drainage solution that is often mistaken for something far more complex. One factor affecting this perception could be the French drain’s many aliases. A French drain is also called a weeping tile, a blind drain, a rock drain, a rubble drain, a drain tile, a perimeter drain, a French ditch, a land drain, a sub-surface drain, a sub-soil drain, or an agricultural drain. With so many different names, it can be easy to get confused about what it is that is actually being installed in your basement. 
Having your home tested for mold is always a good idea. You can never be too careful when it comes to the potentially damaging effects of unchecked indoor mold growth. But what do you do if mold testing reveals the presence of harmful or toxic mold in your home? If there are only small amounts of harmful mold present in your home, you can easily clean up the problem yourself. All it takes is a bit of bleach, some dish detergent, and a whole lot of elbow grease. Don’t forget to wear thick gloves and ensure adequate ventilation during any mold clean up project. 
Basement water damage can be a real hassle. The mess, the clean-up, the costly repairs. A consistently damp or wet basement can lead to skyrocketing humidity levels and excessive mold growth. In a sense, water is your basement’s worst enemy. If excess moisture, leaks, standing water, and other water-related issues are not promptly and adequately corrected, you could be looking at long-term damage and extensive (not to mention expensive) repairs. 
If you live in Maryland, you probably don’t think of snow as being the biggest weather-based threat you have to worry about from year to year. We’re as far north as it gets for the American South, and like the rest of the South our biggest concern is the heat and humidity of summer. However, we’re still far enough north that we can expect regular snowfall, especially as you move farther inland. 
Every form of life on Earth needs water in order to survive. Some organisms can go without water for centuries or even longer, but only in a dormant state which doesn’t allow for growth or reproduction. Thus, the only way to guarantee freedom from the following infestations is by preventing moisture from creeping into your basement. 
Do you suspect that you may have a drainage problem? If the answer to this question is yes, it’s possible that the thought of attempting to repair the issue on your own may have crossed your mind. After all, plenty of home projects are great DIY opportunities. And doing it yourself can save you a ton of cash. While things such as painting, landscaping, and refinishing cabinetry all make great do-it-yourself projects, repairing drainage problems does not fall into the category of home repair and improvement tasks that can be completed without the use of a qualified professional. 
There’s a lot more to your house or apartment than just the areas you normally see. There are spaces between every wall, spaces above and below your furniture, cabinets, and large appliances, and air ducts in every room. Just because you can’t see mold growing anywhere doesn’t mean it’s not there, and in fact most professionals expect a certain amount of harmless mold growth within just a few years of a building’s construction. 
Concrete has us all fooled. When we look at the solid stone of concrete walls and floors, we see the inextinguishable power and weight of stone, the unbreakable castles of Medieval Europe multiplied by the expertise and efficiency of modern technology. But not only is it easy for concrete blocks to crack and break apart over time, it’s practically a given.