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Question:
After the recent rains and a first time wet basement from seepage, we still feel a dampness in the basement. We had a few inches, soaking into the carpets, and we were able to suck up or pump out almost as fast as it came up from under the concrete. We pulled up, and threw away the carpet and foam underlay. The basement continues to feel damp, and has a mildew and musty odor. We are spraying with a commercial spray to kill mildew on floors and lower walls. We have fans going every dry day, with windows open. What else might we do to dry it further, and to get rid of the musty smell? Also, suggestions for what to do later when all is truly dried out, to seal the concrete floor, and install ceramic tile would be appreciated.
Question:
I understand carpets are made of different fibres, nylon, wool etc. What type of carpet do you recommend will last longest, especially in high traffic areas?
Answer:
It sounds like you are doing all of the right things ... you may also look into renting or purchasing a dehumidifier to pull the moisture out of the air. To help prevent further problems should we have another monsoon season, you can look into saw cutting a dry well into your slab and installing a sump pump. Also make sure your grade slopes away from the house as well as have gutters and downspouts functioning properly. You may also want to consider having a back water valve installed to prevent future sewer back ups. Your home likely does not have weeping tile but with proper preparation, you should stay dry next time. It is almost impossible to completely seal your slab from moisture penetration. It is better to prevent the water from reaching it. Once you've dried out, you should be able to develop your basement as normal.
Answer:
For high traffic areas I would recommend a nylon. Nylon is very durable against wear and tear, easily dyed so you have a larger color selection than wool and all are stain treated. Wool is also very resilient and performs well in high traffic areas as well - its only real downfall is its stain resistance. Wool does not come with the same stain treatments as synthetic fibers and protein stains like tea and coffee are particularly difficult to remove.
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