Basement Floor Waterproofing Methods
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. Now, people realize the potential of this space for something much more such as extra living space, family rooms and bedrooms.
Water situation was not encountered in the beginning by homeowners, but it later appeared because sub-floor and sub-surface drains clogged with mud.
The soil will become too saturated if water from the roof is not directed away from the foundation. As the home stabilizes, wall fissures appeared, exterior paintings decayed and the drains filled with sand or silt. All of these problems can lead to leakage in the basement. Natural pressure from the soil against the foundation will cause flowing ground water to enter through any cracks or crevices in your foundation. A high water level can create a great amount of pressure. If water is pressurized, concrete cannot withstand it, concrete will surely break because the water will seek all cracks or crevices in the walls and floors. The result is a flooded crawlspace or basement.
Pressure relief systems are a good way to prevent hydrostatic water from entering your home. However when the electricity goes out, most likely during a rainstorm, primary pumps cannot work. Over time this pressure increases until the moisture is literally pushed through the floor or wall (usually called bleeding). Usually you’ll find seepage in corners or in joints where the wall meets the floor.
If water seems to be coming in from an isolated area, installing a sump pump below floor level can lower the water table and underground hydrostatic pressure in that area. Water vapor will go right through concrete since it is porous. Because of moisture it feels even more cold, and rots carpet and other floor coverings. Even the mold starts to grow and basement smeels musty.
Using high quality sealants easily found in the marketplace is a good remedy. These can often be painted, rollered or sprayed on.
A normal basement floor waterproofing job may entail:
- 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.
- Assuring that the wall/floor junctions are sealed off.
- Filling in all crevices and bends which are especially visible.
- Find out if it is necessary to use a primer and if it should be, prime the floor as per instructions
- top-coating floor with the final product, using 2 or 3 coats as appropriate.
With a good product you will have a waterproofed basement floor that should last for a number of years. Permaflex is one type of sealant that will give a complete and permanent waterproofing for a basement floor. Quoted as being the only indoor waterproofing system that completely seals any basement floor permanently, no matter how wet or deteriorated, seems a good easy system that costs a few hundred dollars as opposed to thousands for considerable manual work, pumps and pipes.