If basement floor waterproofing wasn’t overlooked on such a regular basis, then there wouldn’t be as many problems with seepage and flooding when it was finished. Many people think basements are just concrete storage spaces for things you don’t use very often. These days, many individuals recognize that such an area can be used for other things besides more bedrooms, living rooms and dens.
Many homeowners go years without a water problem and then develop one due to the existing sub-floor and sub-surface drains clogging with mud.
If water from the roof is not directed far enough away from the foundation, then the soil becomes too saturated. As the home settles, walls crack, protective coatings applied to the exterior biodegrades and drainage systems fill up with silt. A leakage in the basement might result from all these problems. It is possible that flowing water on the ground enters the foundation through cracks or other openings; even solid masonry is not free from moisture as saturated soil enters through the walls as well as other openings. This is due to the natural pressure the soil exerts against the foundation. The higher the level of water, the greater the pressure. In turn this water, under increased pressure, seeks entry through cracks and crevices in the walls and floors, and concrete is no match for water pressure. The end results are a water filled crawlspace or basement.
If you want to keep hydrostatic water from getting into your home, pressure relief systems will do the job for you. Primary pumps cannot work if the electricity goes out during a rainstorm. As pressure increases the floor or wall will be penetrated by moisture. (sometimes termed bleeding). Usually you’ll find seepage in corners or in joints where the wall meets the floor.
If you think that water is comming out of an isolated area, you can lower the water table and the underground hydrostatic pressure by using an easy-to-install sump pump below your floor table. However, concrete is porous and allows water vapor to pass through. This moisture makes it feel even colder, causes carpet or other floor covering to rot, allows mold to grow, and causes the basement to smell musty.
One fix for this problem is to use some of the quality sealants now available to the average home owner. It is often possible to paint them with either the roller or spray method.
A typical basement floor waterproofing project might involve:
- preparing the floor by removing crumbly or loose material.
- Use large fans and heaters as needed to make sure the basement floor is as dry as it can be.
- You must seal all joints between the walls and floor.
- Any cracks or joints noticed will need to be filled.
- Find out if it is necessary to use a primer and if it should be, prime the floor as per instructions
Spread two or three coats which is just right top-coating of the final product.
If you waterproof your basement floor with a good product the results should last for a number of years. There exist sealants in the market like PermaFlex which has lasting and durable basement floor waterproofing. This is arguably the only waterproofing system that is suitable for indoor use that will result in the complete sealing of a basement floor, no matter what sort of state it might be in. And it is considerably cheaper than other type of work as it does not involve pipes or pumps!
