Great Ideas For Waterproofing Basement Walls

Click here to find out more about understanding water damage

For many people, leakage in their basement is a serious problem. Waterproofing your basement walls can solve your problem, if done right

The valuables stored in an unfinished basement can suffer irreparable damage. Not only that, but the moldy odor from standing water can be totally obnoxious.

In a finished basement, it is even worse. If and when mold and mildew begin growing, the furniture and carpeting will be completely ruined. Before you know it, the entire room is destroyed and the monetary loss can be dramatic.

However, a person can avoid this pain and loss by waterproofing their basement walls. Even if your walls already leak water you can waterproof them; with some preparatory repair work first.

Before your start

Before you begin waterproofing, look for any areas where moisture has begun to seep through. Usually, this is in a place where the floor and walls join or along a visible crack. You can safely disregard hairline cracks. They can just be filled with the same mix you use for waterproofing basement walls..

For larger cracks, however, you will need to mix one part cement with two parts sand and add just a little bit of water. This should create a stiff mortar.

You can fill the space with a putty knife or trowel, as long as there is not any outside pressure. Your job becomes more difficult if there is water forcing it's way in. In that case you need to chisel out a dovetail cut that follows the crack and then use the stiff mortar to fill it in.

If water is actively running in through the crack, and not just seeping, you will need to put in a weep pipe to divert the water. Once it has stopped running, the pipe can be removed and the hole filled with a cement plug.

You will begin the task of waterproofing your basement walls after you are sure the cracks have all been filled. This can be done with a commercial epoxy or latex waterproofing mix, or you can make your own with cement and water.

The walls need to be moistened with a fine mist before you start. Make sure there is not any standing water. You must also remove any paint with a wire brush or sandblaster in case they are painted.

Once the walls are ready, apply the waterproofing mixture with a stiff brush, using a circular motion. Soak it down, let it dry overnight, and apply another coat.

Follow directions

If you follow this process, you can keep your basement from leaking, or stop the leakage if it has already begun to appear. Waterproofing your basement walls may take a little bit of work, but it will save a lot of time and money in the long run

When you first notice water leaking into your basement, do not ignore it. This is telling you that you have a problem and it must be fixed, otherwise it will only get worse over time.

Randy Hough has a website: http://fixyourwaterdamage.com/ that talks about waterproofing basement walls.