Damp or wet basements are a magnet for mold

Most basements in Toronto are prone to dampness and are wet, or even flood on occasion, principally because they are built under ground level.  As the earth surrounding the basement puts continual pressure on the basement walls, hairline cracks may start to appear and any underlying water, such as heavy rainfalls, melting snow and ice and sprinklers to close to the house will find its way into a basement.  Mold Busters have found that the
cause of excessive water could come from other problems; for example, blocked or badly installed drains and gutters leading to overflows, or land sloping the wrong way, i.e. away from the house.  It could even be down to water leaks from inside the house via walls that lead directly down to the basement, or condensation from pipes, like air conditioning and hot water pipes. 

You may not even notice that your basement is becoming damp, particularly if you don’t use it that regularly.  But there are some typical signs of damp or wet basements that you need to be aware of.  Water stains along the walls or floor of your basement, particularly in corners and on edges may be due to an overflowing washing machine or it could be more serious. 

There will also be a musty, damp smell and you could also see a white/greyish substance forming on the walls.  This is known as efflorescence; it is the salt deposits that remain as water evaporates.  In some of the more serious cases of wet basements inToronto seen by Mold Busters, they have seen efflorescence in combination with spalling, i.e. flakes or bits of concrete, brick or stone – depends on the construction of your basement – falling away because water has consistently managed to work its way inside the surface of the material.

Another damaging sign of a wet basement Toronto is mold and not only is this serious condition to your property; it is also a major health risk for your family.  Mold loves damp surfaces and warm atmospheres so basement walls are its perfect breeding ground.  It can accumulate quickly but is usually easy to spot.  Mold has been linked with major respiratory conditions, such as allergies, asthma and lung infections, but it has also been linked to headaches, nausea and in some severe cases, cancer. 

As mold spreads, it will creep over any belongings you may have stored in your wet basement and all but destroy them in some cases as it feeds off materials such as paper, cardboard, wood and more.  Most people associate mold with the colour black, but Mold Busters have also seen it as brown, yellow or green, depending on the conditions in its environment and the stage of its growth.  Even if you don’t think it is mold, call us and we can come and carry out an inspection for you.  If your basement was dry, nothing would be growing on its walls so it must be something.

Mold Busters are able to treat and remove any mold that is present, and they can also advice on what preventative measures can be taken to ensure that it doesn’t return.  Above all, it mustn’t be ignored