How to Waterproof a Basement

Independent homes built during the last decade or earlier usually rest on a sturdy basement, which serves as an efficient storage, utility, or perhaps even a garage. In a few cases, basements also double as a recreation space, or a temporary shelter, if well ventilated. The only problem with basements however is that they tend to become moist, stuffy, and moldy with time as the pressure exerted by weight of building, surrounding ground and ground water take their toll on the structure. Fissures and cracks are common and cause perpetual water seepage resulting in weakening of the structure that makes it unusable. You could however choose to waterproof the entire basement after assessing the damage and extent of repair required to correct it. Here are few steps to guide you along your way to a dry basement.

Complexity Level: Moderate

Time Required: 6-7 hours

Resources Required:

  1. Protective gear ( work outfit, eye wear, dust mask, work gloves)
  2. Tool set ( pointing trowel , cold chisel, chipping chisel, star drill, hammer)
  3. Brushes ( wire brush, light brush, stiff brush)
  4. Garden Hose
  5. Spray Nozzle
  6. Cement
  7. Epoxy or Latex
  8. Waterproofing Mix
  9. Weep Pipe
  10. Hand Cleaner

Instructions:

1. Check for cracks and water seepage in the basement

  • Examine the walls and floor of your basement to check for any visible cracks or water leaks or even discolored patches of paint or mold formation that may be indicative of water seepage.
  • Check closely for any fault lines along the floor, wall joints as they are common areas exposed to high pressure from ground water sources.
  • Alternatively, you could also paste a foil to your basement wall and keep checking it periodically to see if the inner surface gets wet.

2. Check surroundings and nearby water sources

  • Invariably, the surrounding ground is at a higher level than the basement. It will help if the ground slopes away from the foundation of your home, instead of being heaped up against it.
  • Check if drain pipes are clear and downspouts carrying rain water from your terrace land at least 5 feet from the foundation.
  • Clear any shrubs, plants or old trees located too close to the foundation, say within 12 inch distance from it. Water is bound to travel along the root system of such vegetation that may eventually penetrate the structure. Do ensure that new plants are away from the building, preferably on a slope, inclining away from the foundation.
  • Also, scrub out and treat salt and mineral deposits if any before waterproofing.

3. Repair cracks and holes

  • Use a cement mixture to seal all cracks and holes on the walls, or you may go with a DRYLOK Fast Plug to fix brickwork problems.
  • You could also use a ready made, high grade polyurethane or epoxy filling to fill the cracks, especially the ones surrounding water pipes and iron rods in the structure.

4. Treat profuse water seepage

If there is continuous water leakage, you can improvise to drain the water into a sump built into your basement or create a French perimeter drain that runs around the floor of the basement and empties itself into the sump, from which water can be pumped out at periodic intervals.

5. Apply waterproofing

Once all the underlying problems are fixed, you can now apply the waterproofing mix.

  • Using a fine spray of water from the garden hose, just moisten the walls; take care there should no standing water on the wall surface.
  • Scrub the wall well to remove any old paint coatings that may be present. Allow the walls to dry.
  • Apply the waterproofing mix using a stiff brush into the areas affected by water seepage, in a circular motion. Start with the bottom of the wall, and then treat the higher regions. Leave the proofing to dry. Spray a coat of water and leave overnight.
  • Dampen the wall once again the next morning and work on applying the second coat of waterproofing to the same areas, while the wall is still wet.
  • The basement floor can also be treated in the same way. You could a light cement mix to cover the walls and the floor before waterproofing.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q1. Is a wet basement a sign of a poorly built home?

In fact, no. According to the National Association of Realtors, all homes are bound to experience such problems during the course of time.

Q2. How to treat salt and mineral deposits on the basement walls?

Use muriatic acid with a stiff brush to clean salt and other mineral deposits on the walls. Do rinse the area thoroughly and allow it to dry before working on it further. Use protective gear while working with muriatic acid.

Quick Tips:

  1. Enclose the work area using ceiling to floor plastic drop cloths, while chipping of concrete structures.
  2. Sump installations usual require a one-way valve that prevents entry of water from the outlet pipe. Check local plumbing guidelines.
  3. You could also use Xypex instead of DRYLOCK to waterproof small areas. Twice as costly, Xypex absorbs water to derive its crystalline waterproof form while blending with the masonry.
  4. You could make your own custom mortar to fix cracks by mixing two parts of sand with one part of cement and water to make a stiff paste.

Things to watch out for:

  1. Use a dehumidifier regularly to prevent mold growth.
  2. Use protective gear, especially while working with concrete.

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