When we talk of houses or buildings there are different floors and rooms can be found in them and one of them is the basement floor. A basement also called a cellar can be partly or completely under the ground floor. It’s also every homeowner’s wish that the basement doesn’t become moist or flooded.
What Is Basement Waterproofing?
Basement waterproofing refers to the materials and technical skills used to prevent water from penetrating to the basement floor in a building. The methods that will be used depend on the type of construction of the basement, the depth of the basement floor, and the purpose of the basement (e.g. kitchen use, laundry room, as a store room, etc.)
Basement waterproofing can be costly and overwhelming for homeowners but outsourcing your basement management and construction tasks to the best and affordable professionals can add value to your home and still save you on costs.
Signs You Need Basement Waterproofing
You need to inspect your basement and see if there various signs that indicate that you basement needs waterproofing. The following signs to look for are the following:
- Damp Odor: this is already an indication that water has drained to the concrete walls. There’s also the presence of efflorescence could mean that there’s dampness in the basement that needs to be addressed
- Growth of Molds: this could be another sign that the basement needs waterproofing immediately as this could result in health complications for those living in the house.
- Cracked Walls and Floors: this is a sign for the homeowners to do a proper waterproofing approach as it means there’s a water leakage on the walls.
Homeowner’s Guide To Basement Waterproofing
Basement needs to be taken care of from both the outside and inside and there are two approaches that can guide you. These were the interior basement waterproofing and exterior basement waterproofing methods.
- Interior Method of Basement Waterproofing
Basements need to be taken care of from the inside to prevent moisture and water in pipes from running below it or water seeping in through the windows that causes dampness and microbes in the basement floor. Installing proper drainage systems can help combat this problem. Here are some of the interior basement waterproofing:
- Use of Sealants
It’s one way to prevent moisture and water from causing condensation and humidity in the basement. Sealants act the same way as industrial polymer-based adhesives as they completely cover and close the cracks in the walls. Using products such as resin and urethanes can be pressure injected into the identified cracks on the concrete walls of the basement floor.
Pressure injections on the concrete wall prevents further damage on points that the water seepage has caused to the basement walls and floors. The major purpose of sealants is to keep and lock moisture away, thus, maintaining the atmospheric humidity needed in the basement.
- Interior Basement Water Drainage System
This is another way of preventing drainage of water to the interior part of the basement, especially if you live in a place where flood is a common occurrence. The drainage system works by eliminating water from the house foundation footer to the outside part below the floor of the basement.
- Exterior Methods of Basement Waterproofing
After handling the interior of the basement, it’s equally important to also tackle the water seepage problem from the outside part. Exterior methods are normally suitable for homes still undergoing construction as systems can be installed in place to combat water drainage. For houses that have been completed in terms of construction, water drainage can be eliminated by ensuring regular cleaning and removal of grime and dirty objects around the walls of the basement. Here are some ways of exterior basement waterproofing and this includes:
- Ensuring Proper Drainage
This is the use of pipes like the French drain to ensure your basement has proper drainage. You’ll need the help of the experts since they will dig a water channel and install the pipes from the front part of the lawn and the pipes are dug facing away from the basement as it channels the water further and further from the house. It’s also efficient especially if there has been a heavy downpour or floods as there will be no water stagnating around.
- Use of Coverings and Paints
Using paints and covering can help protect and sustain your basement exterior wall. You can waterproof paints for the outside surfaces of the basement. The waterproof paints also add resistance to the concrete walls and prevent it from suffering cracks due to water.
If there are cracks on the wall, you can use membrane coverings that are normally waterproof and made up of the mixtures of rubber and polyethylene among others. The membrane covers enhance the walls of the basement from suffering water pressure hence the sustainability of the structure walls.
Conclusion
Basement waterproofing is one of the most essential ways in maintaining the durability of the house and improving the living standards of families. This guide will help you with how you can waterproof your basement. By maximizing the exterior and interior approaches, it’s a sure way that water seepage is locked out completely.