The basement is one of the parts of a building that sees the least attention, but that doesn’t mean that it has to stay that way. Just in case you need to repurpose the room or store items in there such as old furniture, you have to make sure that it won’t pose any health and safety risks. The following are common basement issues that you need to address as soon as you encounter them.
Pests
A poorly maintained room will start to attract some unwanted guests. Pests will thrive in the darkness of the area, and with your staff only checking it a few times in a year, they get a chance to breed and spread diseases. Contact commercial pest control services in Caguas if you start seeing animal droppings or other signs that point toward these vermin.
Water Accumulation
The last thing that you want to have in your building’s basement is water leaking through the walls. Not only does it ruin various objects that you might have stored there; it also weakens the foundation and damages the structural integrity of your property. This can also lead to other serious problems, such as mold growth and diseases that come from water-borne pests. The moment you or your staff notice damp spots in your basement wall, you should start getting in touch with companies that offer water damage restoration.
Mold and Mildew
Whenever there’s moisture gathering in any part of your building, expect that mold and mildew will start to grow in that particular area. You’ll begin to notice it once you take a whiff of that characteristic odor, but you shouldn’t wait until your basement gets to that point. It can get even worse if you’re unfortunate enough to acquire toxic black mold because inhaling it can be fatal. Cleaning it up immediately is the way to go; just make sure that your people are wearing ample protection on their bodies and faces to avoid direct contact. If you don’t want to endanger your employees, you can also call professional cleaning companies.
Asbestos
This is present in older structures due to their fire retardant properties, but nowadays they are banned because of the health hazards that they pose. If your property dates back to a couple of decades ago, it’s best that you call on the professionals to both inspect your building and remove it. While you’re at it, you might want to ask them to check for other dangerous substances and have them taken care of. This can be quite expensive, but the investment is well worth it.
Clutter and a lack of proper maintenance are the primary reasons for most problems that you’ll encounter with your basement. Organizing your goods can significantly help, not just in preventing these hazards but also in inventory taking and storage. Clean the place regularly as well. Remember, spending money to keep these problems at bay is better than having to pay for an expensive repair and hospital bill.
