Sponsored Content
Basements are one of the most important although underrated parts of a house. They’re like the Brussel sprouts that are often pushed aside but are essential for big homes. Basements can be used in so many ways. It is most commonly used as office space for those who predominantly work from home.
You can graciously create enough space by neatly organizing everything that you need for your office activities. Residents with a basement have ample space to store everything they need for later or items that have no immediate, everyday use. Learn more here if you want to explore basement renovations and associated costs:
Basement Repair
Having seen firsthand that basements have multiple uses, certain downsides to them become evident over a certain period. Your house rests on top of the basement, making the basement a part of the foundation.
This means that the basement bears the entire weight of the house and is likely to suffer more wear and tear due to the increased weight and pressure. Moreover, the concrete walls of the basement are likely to crack due to expansion during the summers coupled with the constant pressure of the house that sits on top of it.
Your basement problems could also have other environmental causes that are not related to the house itself. This includes excessive rain slipping through the crevices from outside the house and leaking into the basement walls can lead to additional problems.
Any growth from the outside such as trees can also affect your basement as their roots add to the overall pressure the basement walls face. That being said, let’s take a look at some of these problems in detail.
1.Sinking Caused by Erosion
This is a common problem some households face with their basement. Often, the floor beneath begins to sink as they notice signs of uneven floors or asymmetrical angles in the slant walls.
This is caused by the degradation of the soil underneath the house due to water run-off, which can be fixed by installing a new column into the uneven areas of the floor.
2. Fungi
Fungi are one of the leading causes of basement problems in houses all over the world. It is often the result of the residents’ ignorance in keeping the basement sanitized and well ventilated.
Moreover, households may also have to deal with mould formation, which can cause respiratory problems for the residents as the basement’s air vents are connected to the entire house, causing discomfort for people living in them.
3. Wall Cracks
Another common reason for basement repair is wall cracks that are caused by any force penetrating the surface area of the wall from the outside. This phenomenon is most evident in stormy areas that have grounds that are highly permeable to water.
This, in turn, leads to an enlargement in the total volume of the soil—and the basement walls are the first to experience the effects of this expansion. This can cause cracks in the walls and can even lead to more severe problems if left unchecked.
4. Floods Caused by Bursts
It is common knowledge that various pipes run through the walls of our house–some that carry clean and drinkable water and others that carry waste from our bathrooms. These pipes run from the top to the bottom of the house and go deep into the ground to join the sewer system.
An unfortunate incident would be if the pipes burst due to metal expansion or any other reason. A bigger problem would be if the basement wall cracks go unchecked. This could cause the waste from the pipes to seep through the cracks and, based on the severity, could even cause flooding in the basement.
Cost of Repairing Basements in Canada
Basement repair needs are common all over the world, but the costs aren’t. They differ based on the region and the geographical construction of the area. Houses on moving tectonic plates are more likely to have basement problems than the ones that are not. This is one reason why the costs are likely to differ.
Also, basement repair costs are usually higher in developed countries where the cost of living is also high. The prices also depend on how the companies provide their services. Within the same territory, different businesses can charge differently according to their expertise.
Generally, quality basement repair jobs in Toronto cost around $12,000 to $15,000 and can also cost more depending on the company and their services. The average cost of basement repairs in Canada starts from $8,000 and can reach a maximum of $25,000.
Basement cracks are the most sought-after repair demand. On average, the cost of fixing a basement wall is around $500 but can even go into a few thousand if there’s a more extensive foundation problem to deal with.
Pipe bursts causing flooding into the basement will likely cost around $2,000 to fix the leakage. This also includes the damaged pipe’s plumbing costs.
If you want to remove moss and further stop fungi buildup, you’ll need to request thorough waterproofing. The entire waterproofing system would cost you around $5,000 to $10,000. However, you’ll only have to shell out $2,000 if sealing a few cracks here and there.
Both the services and the basement repair costs are very similar in the US and Canada. This is due to the commonality in building planning and layouts of the two countries.
A complete turnaround of the basement features owing to severe damage can fall heavy on your pocket. On the other hand, minor repairs will almost always be affordable to an average household.
Various businesses offer basement repairing services and it is up to you to choose the most suitable one based on your price and quality expectations.