Waterproofing Basements: Why It’s Important To Do So

Basement waterproofing often involves the use of specialized materials and techniques to keep water out of a building or a home below ground level. Waterproofing a basement usually involves the installation of special sealant mixtures, the application of specific drain cleaning materials, and even more extensive measures. While waterproofing might seem like an expensive proposition, it can actually save money in the long run by reducing potential damage to the foundation of the home.

A complete waterproofing of the basement includes two steps: the external waterproofing of the outside foundation by means of a layer of plastic membrane or some other similar material, and the interior waterproofing of the basement by means of an exterior drain membrane system. External waterproofing can be accomplished with the simple application of plastic sheets to the interior walls or floors of the house. The interior system, which will often require the employment of plumbing pipe joints, drains, sump pumps and so on, is more invasive but can also be extremely effective. Interior waterproofing also has the added advantage of reducing the infiltration of mold and mildew into the basement. Finally, both types of waterproofing can reduce the chance of water damage to the foundation of the house itself, as well as to surrounding buildings and homes.

One type of waterproofing often applied to basement walls and floors involves the application of a thin plastic membrane across the interior of the walls. The membrane is painted with a color to match the exterior color of the house and is typically blended into the wallpaper. The purpose of this type of application is to make sure that no gaps exist between the interior floor of the basement and the exterior walls of the house itself, so that the water will stop leaking from the basement walls and floor before it gets inside the house through these cracks. This type of application also has the added advantage of sealing out noise and allowing for better acoustics in the home.

Another type of waterproofing often applied to basement walls involves creating tiny air holes in the cement surrounding the holes. Air holes are small enough that they allow some air circulation but are large enough that moisture cannot pass through them. This method can prevent water damage to the interior of the walls, although it may not prevent the accumulation of mold and mildew on the exterior surfaces of the cement walls.

Waterproofing can also be achieved in a different way. In order to create tiny air holes in the cement, two people need to enter the basement while standing waist-high in a pair of rubber boots. Then, someone should blow a whistle from the hip pocket of one of the men, while another worker holds the other end of the rubber boot over the top of the man’s head and then strikes an invisible hole in the man’s skull. As the air escapes, this invisible force field acts like an electrical storm door, which seals off the cement holes and prevents moisture from entering the basement. This is a more expensive method, because it requires at least four people and a lot of equipment. However, it has a much better effect than simply sealing off the cracks with waterproofing paint.

Another way that you can waterproof your basement walls is to paint them. Although painting your basement walls will make any existing moisture problems disappear, it will also make the existing cracks appear larger, which can make them stand out even more. The paint also has the advantage of acting as an insect repellant, eliminating mosquitoes and other pests from entering inside your home. However, painting is also very difficult and labor intensive. Plus, you have to keep replacing paint every few years, which costs a lot of money.

A third alternative for waterproofing basements is to install a sump pump, which removes excess floodwater from the interior drainage system. Unfortunately, installing a sump pump is not something that most homeowners are capable of doing by themselves, as this usually requires more than one floor and a wide area of concrete to be destroyed. This is why wet basements often have the look of an open pit, because most basement walls have no means of attaching the sump pump to the main sewage pipe. Therefore, it is recommended that you contact a professional in order to install a sump pump.

After you have found the source of the leaks, then you can decide on what you want to do about them. If you are able to fix the actual source of the leaks, then you should simply waterproof the walls and drains before you install the drainage system. If you find that none of these methods work, then you will have to repair the foundation of your house in order to stop leaks from happening in the first place. To learn more about waterproofing visit https://www.weathertitewaterproofing.com