Basement Wall Sealing

Basement walls are made of porous material that naturally absorbs water. When the walls become too damp, they tend to leak. Basement wall sealing is one of the steps homeowners can take to keep water from seeping through the walls. Water seepage through the walls can create flooding in the basement. Flooding in a basement can lead to mold and mildew problems in the future. There are some things to keep in mind before using basement wall sealer.

Reasons for Basement Wall Sealing

1. Leaking is the number one reason people consider sealing the basement. Sealing helps keep the basement dry and free of mold and mildew. Mold is a dangerous fungus that causes serious health issues. That alone is enough reason to consider sealing the basement.

2. Sealer is not just a preventative measure. It can brighten the basement space. Sealer is like a thick paint. Seeing a little color in the basement rather than the drab color of concrete or cinderblock makes you want to stay in the room longer.

3. People sometimes wait to consider sealing their basement until the basement has already flooded. Flooding is an eye-opening experience. If the basement is finished, water can do thousands of dollars in damage. Having the right homeowners insurance may help restore the basement, but it is messy and can cause mold if it is not cleaned up immediately.

Basement Wall Sealing is a Precaution

Basement concrete wall sealer will help protect the walls from leaking through some of the dampness that is natural in a basement. It will not repair the problem of a leaking basement though. Flooding problems in basements begin from the outside. There are several steps homeowners can take to prepare the outside of the home. Once those steps have been taken, sealing the basement from the inside will be more effective.

Steps outside the Home:

1. Dredging around the foundation of the home and sealing from the outside is the first step. Although this is an expensive procedure, it may be the only way to ensure the basement will not leak again.

2. Landscaping around the foundation plays a big role in whether the basement leaks. Make sure the landscaping is higher against the house and rolls downhill away from the house. The idea is to keep the water away from the foundation and the concrete or cinderblock walls. The further the dirt slopes down and away from the house, the better.

3. Drainage is an important factor in keeping the basement dry. Make sure the gutters run as far away from the foundation as possible. Water should not drain close to the walls. The walls will absorb any moisture that stands next to it. It almost guarantees flooding of the basement if there is a torrential downpour. Downspouts should extend away from the house as far as possible.

After the outside of the house is secured, it is time to work on the inside. There are a few things homeowners can do to accomplish the greatest amount of dryness in the basement as possible.

1. Install a sump pump system if one is not already present in the home. Keep the sump pump in good working order. Use one that has a battery backup or purchase a generator in case the power goes out. This will prevent flooding in the basement during heavy storms.

2. Purchase a good dehumidifier that can run most of the time. This will take a great deal of moisture out of the home. The dehumidifier should be one that allows the water to drain into the drainage system in the basement. This prevents having to empty it out manually. There is no need to remember to empty the bucket.

3. Keep a fan or two running in the basement at times. Fans help to circulate air that would otherwise remain stagnate. That also helps keep the basement as dry as possible.

The next step is to seal the basement wall with a good sealer. Be prepared for this task. It takes a long time to do the job properly. Using the proper products makes the job much easier, but it is still time consuming. Hire a professional if the job seems to be too much to handle.

How to Seal a Basement Wall

1. Choose a basement wall sealer that works. It can be purchased from a local hardware store. Keep in mind the price for basement wall sealer is generally high. Do not be concerned about whether it is a waste of money. The cost is worth the final result.

2. Basements are generally large, taking up the entire length and width of the house. That means a lot of painting. Many people will be tempted to use a roller to get the job done. If the walls are concrete, rollers may work well. If the walls are cinderblock, paint brushes may work better. Paint brushes have a tendency to be able to reach the tiny pours in the block better than rollers.

3. Prepare the wall before using the sealer. Brush the walls down and remove any cobwebs that may be lurking. If the walls were painted previously, remove paint where it is chipping and make sure it is smooth before using basement wall sealer. This will help prevent chipping of the walls in the future.

4. Use two coats of the sealer to make sure all the pores are covered. The sealer is very thick, but it easily soaks into porous walls, especially cinderblock.

5. Allow the sealant to dry overnight before adding the second coat. It dries faster with fans blowing in the basement. Allowing the sealer to dry before the second coat keeps it from clumping on the walls.

Mold in the basement presents a danger to the family. It is important to secure the home from potentially deadly molds. Mold loves damp/wet areas. The longer water stands in one spot, the larger the mold grows. Do not let your home be invaded by the dangerous fungus that makes people ill and sometimes kills. If the basement has mold problems, take out all carpeting, furniture or any additional items that have been damp for any period of time. Spray the basement with a bleach solution and wipe away the mold. Bleach will kill mold. Once the mold is dead, it will stop growing, but any further dampness can cause it to come back. Mold can overtake the home if it is not stopped dead in its tracks.

This job can be overwhelming. If it is accompanied by a number of other measures, such as getting the outdoors prepared first, it is a good idea to rely on a paid professional to get the job done right. If there is any doubt as to whether you can accomplish the goals, hire a professional to do it. Basement wall sealing is an important step in keeping the basement dry. If it is not applied properly, it could peel and cause a much bigger mess than flooding would have caused. Do not take a chance. Take some time to learn more about basement wall sealing.