Summer is almost here! And what does that mean in Kansas City? High temperatures, high humidity and baseball! OK, nothing we can do but watch the baseball and hope for the best. But there’s plenty we can do to combat the damage that humidity does to our unfinished basements.
Number One: If you have a stone foundation, the stones tend to sweat during the summer, which, along with high humidity, leads to mildew on the foundation walls. Sometimes the mildew adds a musty smell to the entire area. So what do you do? Clean the walls with a solution of 10% bleach/vinegar and 90% water. Then paint the stones white with a product called Dry-Lok, which can be found in any hardware store. The Dry-Lok is a sealant that will prevent the stones from sweating.
Number Two: Buy a dehumidifier from a local hardware store and run it constantly during the summer months. This should be done regardless if your foundation is stone, block or poured concrete.
Number Three: Air out your basement by opening the windows occasionally, trying to obtain some type of cross-ventilation, which will keep the humidity from collecting on the walls and metal supports.
With a little work, you can keep your trips to the basement a little less musty, and a little more pleasant.
-Robert Ladd
Legacy Home Inspections
913.484.4157
www.lhi-kc.com
