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.
Let’s first look at why basements are plagued by water seepage and flooding. Serious basement problems due to excess moisture many times cause numerous problems to the basement structurally, as well as limit space, and ruin and or destroy furniture and furnishings.
A large hole is dug in the ground to install a basement. Loose soil, which can be compacted later, is used to fill the reminder of the hole once the walls and floor of the basement are ready. 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 creates hydrostatic pressure on the basement walls and floor. Without adequate basement waterproofing, water will seep through even the smallest crack which then ruins the outside protective 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 most people decide to turn their project into a do-it-yourself basement waterproofing project rather than have someone excavate and re-do it professionally and, usually, at great financial cost. 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:
- prepare the walls by removing all loose or crumbly material.
- 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.
- primer is used to prime the walls and floor if needed.
- patch any particularly noticeable flaws, gaps, seams or joints.
- a 1″ bead of sealant is used on the wall and floor junctions.
- using 2 or 3 coats to top-coat all surfaces
That’s about it. Provided that you are careful about choosing a superior product for this job, on completion your basement will be completely sealed and the waterproofing can be expected to last for several years. The best sealants, such as PermaFlex are assumed to be comprehensive, one-time, solutions for the waterproofing indoor basements. 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.