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.

Most homeowners will often have water leaks in their basements, if they have one, so it is almost a guarantee that they will look to purchase basement waterproofing products and gather information on how to best resolve their leaks.

Let’s first look at why basements are plagued by water seepage and flooding. Extra moisture in the lower level of your house can make space unusable as well as create structural problems and destroy your belongings.

A large hole is dug in the ground to install a basement. Loose soil, which can be compacted later, is used to fill the reminder of the hole once the walls and floor of the basement are ready. The loose dirt surrounding your basement alows the water to flow easily. The end result of this is likely to be that you will find that there is an accumulation of water either surrounding or even underlying your basement.

This creates hydrostatic pressure on the basement walls and floor. Without adequate basement waterproofing, water will seep through even the smallest crack which then ruins the outside protective coating. No system is foolproof, because even those that remove water from the building, can’t always prevent silt and heavy rainfalls from blocking pipes and causing system overload.

It’s at this point that many people turn to do it yourself basement waterproofing rather than have the basement completely excavated and re-done, usually at great expense. The often-used solution is to tackle the inside rather than the outside, by utilising products such as sealants on the inner walls and floor.

A typical project might involve:

• the walls are prepared by removing all loose or crumbled material.
• before starting, take off prior restoration or foreign substance.
• make sure the basement is as dry as possible, hire heaters or large fans if necessary.
• use a primer coat on the floors and walls if the product requires this to be done.
• repair all easily seen gaps, flaws, seams, or joints.
• wall/floor junctions may require a 1″ bead of sealant.
• final products which use 2 or 3 coats are enough.

That’s about it. If the product is a good one you will have a sealed basement that should last for a number of years. The best sealants, such as PermaFlex are assumed to be comprehensive, one-time, solutions for the waterproofing indoor basements. This indoor waterproofing system claims to permanently stop basement leaks and can be applied by brush, roller, or spray system.

A complete solution would cost the average homeowner hundreds of Dollars for a good-sized basement rather than thousands, is perfect for do it yourself basement waterproofing and is a great budget-conscious solution for a common and potentially expensive problem.