Educator's Choice

Why is basement floor waterproofing so often overlooked, when if it was done when the basement was built, there would be fewer problems with seepage and flooding? A basement can be so much more than just a convenient place for storing junk! The possibility of family rooms having extra space are realized.

Water situation was not encountered in the beginning by homeowners, but it later appeared because sub-floor and sub-surface drains clogged with mud.

If water from the roof is not directed far enough away from the foundation, then the soil becomes too saturated. As the home stabilizes, wall fissures appeared, exterior paintings decayed and the drains filled with sand or silt. Leakage in the basement can be caused by all of these problems. Flowing ground water enters through cracks or other openings in the foundation; moisture in saturated soil enters through solid masonry as well as through cracks and other openings because of the natural pressure the soil exerts against the foundation. A high water level can create a great amount of pressure. If water is pressurized, concrete cannot withstand it, concrete will surely break because the water will seek all cracks or crevices in the walls and floors. The end results are a water filled crawlspace or basement.

A pressure relief system can eliminate water that leaks into your basement. Primary pumps cannot work if the electricity goes out during a rainstorm. Pressure builds up over time and moisture is pushed through the wall or floor. (usually called bleeding). Usually you’ll find seepage in corners or in joints where the wall meets the floor.

If water come from an isolated area and is installed a pump below the floor level will lower the water and the underground pressure Water vapor will go right through concrete since it is porous. A wet or damp basement due to excessive moisture will cause carpeting to rot, allows mold to grow and makes the basement smell musty.

One solution is to use one of the high-grade sealants that are available on the market for the home-owner. It is often possible to paint them with either the roller or spray method.

A normal basement floor waterproofing job may entail:

- preparing the floor by removing crumbly or loose material.
- making sure the basement floor is as dry as possible, hiring large fans or heaters if necessary.
- making sure wall/floor junctions are sealed.
- Filling in all crevices and bends which are especially visible.
- Find out if it is necessary to use a primer and if it should be, prime the floor as per instructions
- Use 2 to 3 coats as needed to top coat the floor with the final product.

A high quality product will result in basement floor waterproofing that can last for years and years. There exist sealants in the market like PermaFlex which has lasting and durable basement floor waterproofing. Quoted as being the only indoor waterproofing system that completely seals any basement floor permanently, no matter how wet or deteriorated, seems a good easy system that costs a few hundred dollars as opposed to thousands for considerable manual work, pumps and pipes.

You should always make sure to waterproof basement walls when you are finishing it. Basement walls are the entry point of most moisture creating a high level of moisture in them. The most common reasons for water build-up problems in basements are caused usually by cracks, leaking windows and pipe condensation. Too much or prolonged water retention in the basement can cause a variety of problems.

Basement Wall Options

There are numerous ways of waterproofing basement walls and these include:

- French Drains
- Hollow Baseboard Molding
- Sump Pumps
- Waterproofing
- Damp Proofing

French Drains

You do not have to stick to one particular method when it comes to waterproofing the walls of your basement. Among the available methods are French Drains, which involve the insertion of drainage systems underneath the basment floor to collect water leakage.

A trench is dug round the inside perimeter of the wet basement floor. A pierced plastic drain tile pipe is placed and encircled by stones and pebbles. Some wet basement waterproofing and repair contractors re-cement the floor over the French drain system leaving a 1 inch to 2 inch gap in the floor along the walls to allow the web wall seepage to drain below the floor into the French drain system. Sump pumps are used in French drainage systems.

Hollow Baseboard Molding and Cove Systems

what might be the possible use of the Hollow Baseboard Molding.is it good enough to adhered or joint for epoxy use? The hollow molding collects wet wall seepage and water rising at the cove area. In most cases linked to the sump pump.

Sump Pumps

Installed in a plastic or fiberglass tank below the wet basement floor. The sump pumps through perforations in the sump well located close to it, can collect underground water. Sump pumps can also act as a good floor drain or be used to drain a variety of underground drainage pipes.

Wall Sealers

Varieties include spray applied basement wall sealers, brush or roller applied basement waterproofing sealers, or panel type basement waterproofing sealers for wet basement walls.

The truth is even with a good drainage system, it can’t assure a dry basement wall. We need to evaluate the most economical method to stop moisture from getting in the basement walls and this may be damp proofing and waterproofing.

What is Damp Proofing?

The majority of waterproofing products are comprised of a tar based substance in a solvent base.  They are cheap to apply but their effectiveness is limited because they are only to designed to ‘retard’ moisture penetration, not prevent it.  Unfortunately as curing takes place it is possible for it to become brittle. This is a result of the settling of the foundations and can result in the spontaneous appearance of cracks in the walls. The walls will then unfortunately lose their waterproofing as the coating will not be able to cover the cracks.

Find out the meaning of waterproofing.

The water proofing products are such that they stop water penetrate into wet places as well. Because hydrstatic pressure in the soil after heavy rain or spring starts thawing.  The rubber used in Advanced Water Proofing Technologies products provides superior waterproofing protection and allows the product to remain flexible even after drying.  The concrete or block has a waterproof coating that stretches to make the foundation completely waterproof.

Application instructions:

There is not much price difference between waterproofing and damp proofing which show that waterproofing as the right alternative considering that oftentimes it goes with a 25 to 30-year guarantee

In the earlier days builders often did not consider waterproofing the basement walls as important. At this point you have the opportunity to put this situation right with convenient products that have easy to follow instructions The products available in the market are easy to apply and mostly they are do it yourself types.  They come ready to use in for example, 5 gallon pails or 55 gallon drums and do not require heating or special application equipment, anyone who can use a brush or roller can apply them.  Commercial airless sprayers can be rented by the day to waterproof basement walls.  In 2 or 3 hours, a couple people using rollers can waterproof an average-size basement (about 1,000 square feet) without difficulty. So get started and begin to enjoy your basement space without the dampness.