Your Resource For Basement Wall Waterproofing

Basement wall waterproofing is essential, especially if you live in a climate that tends to get heavy rains. You do not want your finished basement to be ruined by water seeping in through the cracks. There are a number of ways you can waterproof basement walls, including taking preventative measures and using paints and equipment. Here is some information to help you when you are waterproofing basement walls.

A Basement Wall Waterproofing Overview

Check your roof gutters and downspouts

Start by checking your downspouts and gutters. When it rains, water runs down your roof, into the gutters and down the downspout. If all that rainwater is deposited right next to the foundation of your house, it may cause some problems. If the water pools next to your house, it can start to seep into the foundation and down into your basement. Make sure that your downspout pours the water at least five feet away from your home. Also, make sure that your gutters are clean so that there will be no leaks onto your house’s foundation.

Plant shrubs further away from the house

Another preventative measure you can take is to not plant shrubs and other foliage too close to the foundation of your home. Roots can rot and make a path for water to flow into the house. Plants should be at least a foot away from the walls and planted on a slight slope if possible. This will help the water flow away from your house.

Repair cracks

Make sure that you repair any cracks in your concrete walls. If there are any cracks that go all the way through to the outside, it is a definite potential cause for leaks. You can use a small amount of concrete or epoxy to patch up cracks or holes that form next to pipes. If the crack does not affect the structure of the basement, you may use Drylok Fast Plug to seal the holes.

Use waterproof paint

You can use waterproof paint for basement walls to help keep water out. Drylok is a paint that is a waterproofer. It expands when it dries and becomes part of the wall, protecting it. Xypex is another paint product. It needs some moisture to bond with the surface and form a concrete-like crystalline structure.

Install a sump pump

If taking preventative measures and using waterproofing paint does not work, you can try using basement wall waterproofing products. A sump pump is basically a hole in the floor of you basement with a pump in it. When the water rises too high, the pump turns on and draws water out of the sump and releases it outside of your home, ideally at least ten feet away.

Get a basement dehumidifier

A humidifier can be useful for basements that tend to get damp. This machine will grab the air in your basement, dry it and push the dry air out into the room. You will need a high capacity unit that is capable of eliminating wetness in a room as big as your basement.

Try a perimeter drain

A perimeter drain, or a French drain, can help if you have serious water issues. It is s continuous piping system that runs beneath the basement floor along the entire perimeter. Installing a perimeter drain requires removing about 12 inches of basement floor along the entire perimeter, digging a trench about 12 inches deep, putting in a drain pipe and filling around it with gravel. Then concrete will need to be poured on top of the gravel to refinish the floor. You will also need a sump and pump to remove the water that fills in the pipe.

Use a waterproofing clay on the outside of your foundation

Hydroclay is a type of bentonite clay that is used to waterproof. It has the ability to absorb a large amount of water. Hydroclay is pumped into the spaces in the foundation that water uses to get inside. The filling is usually done from the outside, resulting in walls that are permanently sealed.

Get more great information on how to finish a basement as well as basement wall waterproofing.