Is Your Basement Ready for Spring's Severe Weather?

I spent my morning commute driving into darker and increasingly lightning-filled territory, which made me remember that this week is Michigan’s official Severe Weather Awareness Week.

“Cool,” you might be thinking. “I’m aware of severe weather. I have windows.”

But I want to focus on - surprise - your basement and severe weather. Whether it’s a hassle or a refuge, it’s likely to come into play, and keeping it in good shape is a vital part of severe weather preparedness.

Water

As proven by the past few weeks, strong storms lead to water in your basement. If your basement is prone to water problems, installing a sump pump is necessary, but a full perimeter waterproofing system is better. This keeps water off the floor and sends it back outside, preventing everything from ruined possessions to mold problems.

Power

Along with severe weather comes the possibility for power outages, and depending on how widespread they are, it could be days before electricity is restored. In addition to necessities like lights and your refrigerator, sump pumps run on electricity. We offer multiple sump pump models with battery backup, but a Kohler standby generator can also keep your house - and sump pump - running.

Comfort

If you’re in an area where tornadoes are common, you might be used to taking shelter in your basement - why not make it nicer? Once your waterproofing is in place, you can add pre-finishing products like floor tiles and wall panels to a part or all of your basement. Waiting out a tornado might not feel so scary if you have a nice space to do it in.

Michigan in the spring is always a grab bag of weather, and it can get pretty bad out there. Call us today to make sure your house is ready.