Methods for Basement Floor Waterproofing

Why is basement floor waterproofing so often overlooked, when if it was done when the basement was built, there would be fewer problems with seepage and flooding? Basements are often thought of as just places for storage that have concrete floors and walls where you can store old toys, tools and other stuff. The possibility of family rooms having extra space are realized.

Many homeowners go years without a water problem and then develop one due to the existing sub-floor and sub-surface drains clogging with mud.

If water from the roof is not directed far enough away from the foundation, then the soil becomes too saturated. As the home settles, walls crack, protective coatings applied to the exterior biodegrades and drainage systems fill up with silt. All of these problems can lead to leakage in the basement. It is possible that flowing water on the ground enters the foundation through cracks or other openings; even solid masonry is not free from moisture as saturated soil enters through the walls as well as other openings. This is due to the natural pressure the soil exerts against the foundation. The level of pressure is positively correlated with the height of the water level. 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. Without proper preparation,  torrential rains could cause flooding in basements or crawlspaces.

If you want to keep hydrostatic water from getting into your home, pressure relief systems will do the job for you. Whenever there happens to be a power outage due to a rainstorm, it is very likely that the primary pumps will not work, and that may cause somewhat of an inconvenience. As pressure increases the floor or wall will be penetrated by moisture. (usually called bleeding). Seepage is often found where the wall meets the floor around the corners and joints.

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 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. 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.
– You must seal all joints between the walls and floor.
– Filling in all crevices and bends which are especially visible.
– Priming the floor when the product calls for the use of a primer.
Spread two or three coats which is just right top-coating of the final product.

With a good product you will have a waterproofed basement floor that should last for a number of years. There are sealants on the market such as PermaFlex which offer complete, permanent basement floor waterproofing. 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!