Basements typically absorb water because they are constructed below grade. During the rainy season, you might observe wet basement walls, water puddles, or, the worst-case scenario, flooding. Paint that is peeling, the growth of mold and mildew, rotted wood, and damage to stored items can all occur in basements that are humid, damp, or downright wet. We will look at some of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to waterproofing your basement.
Steps to Take to Waterproof Your Basement
Determine the Cause of Leakage or Moisture in Your Basement
Concrete is porous, so you can frequently see wet streaks that indicate where the water is entering. For cement block walls, look for streaks along cracks, at window corners, between mortar joints, and around pipes where they enter or exit, like a water supply line or a sewer pipe. However, you will need to conduct additional investigation if the walls as a whole are soaked. Use duct tape to adhere a 1-foot-square piece of aluminum foil to the wall and dry an area of the wall for a condensation test. After 24 hours, remove the foil and feel the underside to see how it feels. Water is entering the room through the wall from the outside if it is wet. If the basement is dry, the moisture is coming from somewhere else in the basement, most likely from a shower there. Vent fan installation in the bathroom to vent steam outside is an easy solution if that is the case. Getting a basement wall waterproofing system is highly recommendable.
Fill the Cracks With Hydraulic Cement
The bottom of the basement walls is another common location for cracks. The foundation is poured first, and afterward the walls are poured on top after footings solidify. Even though this is a common construction practice, it can result in a “cold joint,” a weak spot found in the foundation between the footing and the wall where cracks can form due to lateral pressure from the soil and foundation shifting and settling. Fortunately, filling cracks with hydraulic cement is an easy DIY method for sealing them. Hydraulic cement is made by mixing water with additives that make the cement expand and set quickly to form a heavy putty consistency. It’s then squeezed into cracks with gloved fingers or with a clay blade. However, because it sets so quickly, only mix as much as you can use in three minutes.
Try to Prevent Water From Entering Your Basement
Sometimes, wet basement walls can be fixed easily. For example, eliminate foundation plantings and flowerbeds that require watering, since that water could seep into the basement. Make sure that your downspouts and gutters are directing water away from your house by inspecting and fixing them. Install an exterior drain tile system. To install a drain at the footing level, you must remove soil from around your basement’s exterior. Most of the time, a waterproof membrane is put on the outside of the basement wall. The system also needs to have a buried sump pump so that water can collect there and be pumped to the surface. This is totally a task for a contractor, however it could greatly decrease basement water issues.
Seal Interior Walls of the Basement With a Waterproofing Product
You should begin waterproofing your basement walls from the inside if your foil test reveals that water is soaking through the walls and leaving them wet. Use a high-quality waterproof paint to cover the walls’ interior. Pre-mixed, this kind of interior basement sealant can be applied like a coat of paint. While using them to waterproof the basement walls, brush the paint on thickly enough to fill every one of the little surface openings, then permit it to dry completely prior to applying a subsequent coat. At the point when totally dry, the sealant frames a watertight cling to hold any more dampness back from leaking through. If you don’t want to go through these hassles, get a basement wall waterproofing system.
Install Interior Drainage Channels
Installing a drainage channel beneath the basement floor is another way to achieve dry basement walls. The drain is just inside the basement walls, unlike the exterior drain tile; then, new walls are built inside so that the basement walls are not visible. Another job for a foundation contractor, this one will cost around $5,000 at the very least. You will have new dry walls when it is finished, and any water that still seeps through the old basement walls will be pumped out through the drain channel.
Don’t Apply Sealant on Painted Walls
Before applying the sealant, which only sticks well to bare masonry, you will need to remove the paint from the basement walls if you or the previous owner painted them. In older homes, multiple coats of paint are common, which professional blasting contractors use to remove with a sandblaster. On the other hand, it can be taken out by wire brushing, a difficult but economical Do-It-Yourself task. It’s additionally important to eliminate efflorescence, or white deposits that form on the outer layer of concrete walls subject to consistent dampness, prior to applying sealant.
Conclusion
Most people realize that a defective basement can be a difficult issue that can frequently require an expert’s mastery. Water can harm assets and may cause a health hazard, however it can also cause primary structural issues with a home. Waterproofing your basement walls is one of the most important things you have to do to protect yourself and your family, especially during the monsoon season.
