Waterproofing techniques for basement floors. December 1, 2008
Posted by Pat in : my thoughts on stuff , trackbackIf 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.
After many years drains can become plugged with mud and causes water problems to occur.
If water from the roof is not directed far enough away from the foundation, then the soil becomes too saturated. In the process of the house settling, the walls will often crack, protective coatings which are on the outside biodegrades and drainage systems will be filled in with silt. Leakage in the basement can be caused by all of these problems. Natural pressure from the soil against the foundation will cause flowing ground water to enter through any cracks or crevices in your foundation. The level of pressure is positively correlated with the height of the water level. As water pressure increases, water begins to seep into cracks in the concrete walls and floors. 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. Over time this pressure increases until the moisture is literally pushed through the floor or wall (sometimes termed bleeding). Seepage is often found where the wall meets the floor around the corners and joints.
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. Water vapor passes through porous concrete. A wet or damp basement due to excessive moisture will cause carpeting to rot, allows mold to grow and makes the basement 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:
- getting the floor ready by taking up any materials that are broken up or loose.
- making sure the basement floor is as dry as possible, hiring large fans or heaters if necessary.
- You must seal all joints between the walls and floor.
- Any cracks or joints noticed will need to be filled.
- priming the floor if the product requires use of a primer.
- Use 2 to 3 coats as needed to top coat the floor with the final product.
If you waterproof your basement floor with a good product the results 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. 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!
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