Do’s And Don’ts Of Basement Waterproofing

What are the do’s and don’ts of basement waterproofing? Basements being the underground portions of the house, face most of the structural problems. Besides the natural difficulties, we as house owners also tend to ignore this area. The repair and servicing of the basement are often skipped owing to many unimpressive excuses. What we do not foresee are the grave consequences of this dire negligence of ours.

Though there are many problems, most of them arise due to excess water in the basements. To keep your basement safe, you should at least get basement waterproofing. This one-time investment will save you from tons of difficulties.

4 Do’s And 3 Don’ts Of Basement Waterproofing

If you plan to get basement waterproofing, here is a list of do’s and don’ts to focus on. It will help you to understand the process more smoothly.

4 Do’s Of Basement Waterproofing

Do's And Don'ts Of Basement Waterproofing 1

Do Check For The Source Of Water

If you are getting basement waterproofing, you indeed have water in your basement. Before moving into the actual process, first cut off the water source. Follow a track of water backward. It will lead you to the ultimate source of water. Cut off the source to avoid any future reversal. There can also exist more than one water source.

Do Apply Waterproof Material To The Interior Walls

This is the most crucial step in basement waterproofing. Most of the water enters your basement through the walls. When the soil around the walls has attained more water than its capacity, it directs the water towards your basement. Once your basement isn’t able to sustain the pressure, water enters through the walls. Hence, it is essential to coat a good quality waterproof paint on the basement walls.

Do Fill The Cracks In The Walls

When waterproofing the basement, do not forget to fill the cracks in the walls. No matter how nicely you have coated the waterproof material, without sealing the cracks, everything will fall apart. Use suitable quality fillers, maybe hydraulic ones, to allow water to seep through the walls again.

Do Use The Basement Weep Holes

Basement weep holes might be a solution if you have a wet basement. A wet basement is sign water is building up in the soil outside the walls of your home with nowhere to go. If the water doesn’t have a way to drain off, hydrostatic pressure will build up and eventually start pushing against the foundation walls. Hydrostatic pressure can cause a foundation wall to bow inward and even crack.

3 Don’ts Of Basement Waterproofing

Do's And Don'ts Of Basement Waterproofing 2

Don’t Start Wall Repair Before Removing Water

As you have cut off the water supply, there won’t be any more water. But do not make the mistake of starting to waterproof unless and until you remove the present water. So, you can either use a sump pump or any other pump to pump out all the moisture. You can move onto the actual waterproofing once you have safely removed all the water.

Don’t Apply Any Sealant To The Painted Walls

Though sealants are beneficial to stop water, they can get useless with a bit of negligence. If you or the previous house owner has painted the basement walls, remove the paint before applying sealers. They do not work when applied on painted walls.

Don’t Forget To Take Precautions For The Future

Once you are done with all the basement waterproofing services, do not leave the work over here. Take precautions for future safety. The best way is to install an internal drainage system to keep the water from getting removed as soon as it enters your basement.

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