Article Logger

Waterproofing your basement can be done by yourself.

by jim on Feb.06, 2010, under Logger

A large percentage of homeowners who have basements also experience water leaks, so it’s no surprise that there is a huge demand for do it yourself basement waterproofing information and products.

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 basically built into a large hole that’s been dug out of the ground. 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. 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.

Hydrostatic pressure is created by this on the basement walls and floors. How you will do it to yourself about basement waterproofing and does it really a protect 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.

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. Many people solve the problem by using sealants and similar products inside on the floor and walls.

A typical project might involve:

  • the walls are prepared by removing all loose or crumbled material.
  • previous repair or foreign material must be removed.
  • heaters and large fans can be used to ensure that your basement is as dry as it can be.
  • primer is used to prime the walls and floor if needed.
  • repair all easily seen gaps, flaws, seams, or joints.
  • wall/floor junctions may require a 1″ bead of sealant.
  • using 2 or 3 coats to top-coat all surfaces

That’s about it. A sealed basement shoul last for a number of years if the product is good. Top sealants such as PermaFlex are supposed to be a complete, permanent indoor basement waterproofing system. The quote says that it is the only waterproofing system which totally seals any basement for all times. It could be very wet and deteriorated though. It can then be brushed, rolled over or even be sprayed on.

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.


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