![]() ![]() Mildew often appears as a white residue, while mold is usually black, green, or dark brown. A wet basement is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew to grow. Photo: Development of Mold and Mildewīasements are also naturally musty, but a strong smell of mold should alert the homeowner that something is amiss. It takes longer for treated wood to rot, but it ultimately will. Standing water will still eventually warp treated wood members, causing them to swell, become disfigured, and even rot. When constructing a basement today, building codes require wood floor plates-and sometimes wall studs-to be made from pressure-treated wood to help resist water damage, but pressure treating isn’t a cure-all. Still, if water leaks into the basement where the foundation meets the wood framing (sill plate), these leaks can eventually rot out the plate and damage the rim joist and any nearby floor joists. Wood Rot and Water Damageīasements are typically made from masonry (concrete, stone, or block), which holds up well to occasional water damage. ![]() However, a leaky basement is a whole different story-the presence of water, either running down walls or puddling on the floor, is cause for concern. Slight dampness in a basement can be treated by installing fans that exhaust to the home’s exterior and by using only moisture-resistant flooring. Located below grade (ground level), basements are notorious for feeling damp because unsealed concrete walls and floors tend to absorb water from the outside soil and transfer it to the basement’s interior. ![]()
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