Water Damage

Waterproofing Basement Walls To Avoid Water Damage

For many people, water damage in their basement is a serious problem. Waterproofing basement walls can solve your problem, if done right.

If the basement is unfinished, it can cause irreparable damage to any items stored there. In addition, the musty basement smell that is created by standing water can be overwhelming.

In a finished basement, it is even worse. Carpet and furniture can be ruined, and mold can develop, which causes financial loss and can render the room unusable. Getting rid of mold and mildew is not that complicated, but can take a lot of work.

However,a person can avoid this pain and loss by waterproofing their basement walls. This can be done even if the walls have already started to leak, but it may require some repair work first.

Before your start

Before you begin waterproofing, look for any areas where moisture has begun to seep through. Usually, this is in a place where the floor and walls join or along a visible crack. If the cracks are only hairline, they do not need to be repaired. They can just be filled with the same mix you use for the walls.

For larger cracks, however, you will need to mix one part cement with two parts sand and add just a little bit of water. This should create a stiff mortar.

If there is no outside pressure, you can correct the leak by forcing the mortar into the hole with a trowel or putty knife. If the water is being forced in from the outside, the job is a little bit more complicated. You will need to chip out a dovetail cut along the length of the crack and fill it with the mortar.

If water is actively running in through the crack, and not just seeping, you will need to put in a weep pipe to divert the water. Once it has stopped running, the pipe can be removed and the hole filled with a cement plug.

Once all cracks have been filled, you can begin the job of waterproofing. This can be done with a commercial epoxy or latex waterproofing mix, or you can make your own with cement and water.

Before you begin, moisten the walls using a fine spray, but make sure not to soak them. There should not be any standing water. If the walls are painted, you will need to remove the paint by sanding, wire brushing or sandblasting.

Once the walls are ready, apply the waterproofing mixture with a stiff brush, using a circular motion. Soak it down, let it dry overnight, and apply another coat.

Follow the procedure

If you follow this process, you can keep your basement from leaking, or stop the leakage if it has already begun to appear. Waterproofing basement walls may take a little bit of work, but it will save a lot of time and money in the long run.

There are a number of excellent commercial products on the market that have worked for thousands of people. Sani-Tred Permaflex is a waterproofing system that uses negative hydrostatic pressure to keep the water out.

The B-Dry Waterproofing system is nationwide and has a good reputation. They have a wet basement analyzer tool that helps you determine how severe your problem is and what you should do about it.

Advantages of waterproofing your walls

Some of the very real advantages of following this advice are: the end of the musty basement smell, healthier living environment, your basement is much more available for your storage and family to use, the wood and carpet damage is gone, and the value of your home dramatically increases.