My Basement Floor Is Rising

This pressure can also cause the basement floor and walls to crack.

My basement floor is rising.

If the water in your basement seems to be only near the exterior foundation walls then the problem is likely surface water that isn t draining away properly. If your basement is in the way and there are structural deficiencies or cracks in the concrete then your basement becomes the path of least resistance and the groundwater goes there. Most traditional laminates are made with a waterproof surface layer a decorative layer and then fiberboard backing this backing is what is susceptible to moisture and if it comes in contact with liquids it can warp twist rot and start to grow mold and mildew. Rising groundwater causes hydrostatic pressure and that causes soil to push on your basement walls and floor.

Seepage is when your basement floor gets some little rivulets and puddles of water usually no deeper than 1 4 to 1 2 deep which soaks and ruins the carpet in the finished portion of a basement. Water near exterior foundation wall or stains on foundation wall. Some causes have easy fixes such as replacing certain parts of the flooring. Seepage usually occurs when there are cracks in your basement s concrete foundation walls or if you have an old house when the brick cmu or stone foundation leaks.

In one case the homeowner drilled a hole in this floor and water shot upwards through the hole to hit the ceiling. The paint seals the concrete and prevent rising damp while providing your basement floor with a non skid surface. Heaving can cause cracks in the basement floor slab and uneven floors which can make finishing a basement much more difficult. Painting your basement floor waterproofs your home and protects it from mold and fungal growths.

If the cause of the lifting is determined to be acclimation removing or lifting the baseboards is one solution that can help to relieve this pressure and allow the floor to return to normal. When the soil heaving really gets invasive is when interior framed walls load bearing and or non load bearing get pushed upwards affecting the main floor framing system. Painting your basement floor ensures that the foundations remain waterproof and you don t have to deal with any musty odors in the. As the water table rises the amount of hydrostatic pressure increases.

Water pressing up underneath the floor in cases such as this there can be an extremely high amount of pressure pushing upwards on the basement floor from the water that actually lifts the floor upwards. If you notice humps bumps ridges or bulges in your basement floor these could be signs of serious damage beneath the surface. Make sure to not only contact your laminate flooring retailer but also the flooring manufacturer as well as your flooring installer if you didn t do the installation yourself. If there are gaps in the concrete floor such as cracks or where the basement floor meets the foundation wall the cove joint or seam between the foundation and the floor slab ground water is forced up through them and into your basement.