Waterproofing your basement can be done by yourself.
Feb 15
Posted: under Uncategorized.
Since a significant amount of homeowners who own basements are also subjected to water leaks, it’s understandable that there is such a great demand for information and products associated with do it yourself basement waterproofing.
The first thing that we have to see is the cause of basement water seepage and flooding. Excess moisture in your basement not only limits your use of the space but it also can cause a number of serious problems structurally as well as ruin or destroy furniture and furnishings.
Basements are the part of a home or building that is wholly or partially below ground level. After the floor and walls of the basement are finished, loose soil is used to fill in the rest of the hole. The loose soil around the basement provides the least resistance to water and it will use this path to seep into that area. So eventually, even though it may take a few years, you will get a build-up of water around and even under, your basement.
This causes water to weigh down, and to exert pressure upon the floor, and upon the basement walls. Without adequate basement waterproofing, water will seep through even the smallest crack which then ruins the outside protective coating. This sometimes happens even with systems that are designed to remove water away from the building because pipes get blocked with silt or heavy rainfalls overload the system.
This is when many people decide to try DIY basement waterproofing in an attempt to avoid the expense of having the basement competely dug up and re-done. 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:
- typical projects involve removing loose material to prepare walls
- before starting, take off prior restoration or foreign substance.
- heaters and large fans can be used to ensure that your basement is as dry as it can be.
- prime walls and floor if the product requires use of a primer.
- repair all easily seen gaps, flaws, seams, or joints.
- a 1″ bead of sealant is used on the wall and floor junctions.
- final products which use 2 or 3 coats are enough.
That’s about it. A sealed basement shoul last for a number of years if the product is good. 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.
