Sick Building Solutions News
Summer is Early This Year
Summertime looks to arrive early this year in Toronto and that means that we're more likely to see a lot more rain than we normally do. And all this water can end up in your basement. Damp basements are a fact of life for many people and with it comes the resulting mould problems. So, how do you deal with the problem?
First off, there are a number of different issues that can contribute to water in the basement. One of the most fundamental issues is simply that basement floors and walls tend to be colder than the inside air, especially in the summer.
This difference in temperature leads to condensation and then eventually to mould growth. The mustiness people complain about so often? This is usually the reason, especially if rugs or wood flooring have been laid down without consideration for waterproofing.
One of the best ways to ensure that the floor is dry is to use a commercial subfloor product. There are a few on the market, but they all ensure that moisture is kept away from the wooden decking. Some even incorporate insulation on the underside of the decking and in Canada, that's a good thing!
Walls can have the same problem as floors; condensation and mould growth. There's a few ways to deal with this. The best is to ensure a solid barrier that's impervious to moisture. There's nothing better for the job than spray foam. A coating of this material combined with metal studs will go a long way to ensuring that mould will not start growing.
Basement walls can be built with wood studs, batt insulation, and vapour barrier, but you need to ensure that moisture cannot infiltrate through the vapour barrier. It takes more work than spray foam insulation, but can be cheaper. Careful sealant application and thorough coverage with vappour barrier plastic is essential if you want to use wood studs. The less moisture that can move through the wall, the less mould growth that can grow.