A large percentage of homeowners who have basements also experience water leaks, so it’s no surprise that there is a huge demand for do it yourself basement waterproofing information and products.
The first thing that we have to see is the cause of basement water seepage and flooding. Extra moisture in the lower level of your house can make space unusable as well as create structural problems and destroy your belongings.
A large hole is dug in the ground to install a basement. After the floor and walls of the basement are finished, loose soil is used to fill in the rest of the hole. The loose dirt surrounding your basement alows the water to flow easily. So eventually, even though it may take a few years, you will get a build-up of water around and even under, your basement.
Hydrostatic pressure is created by this on the basement walls and floors. This often attacks the outside membrane or protective coating, and/or water finds its way through tiny cracks or larger structural cracks. This sometimes happens even with systems that are designed to remove water away from the building because pipes get blocked with silt or heavy rainfalls overload the system.
This is when most people decide to turn their project into a do-it-yourself basement waterproofing project rather than have someone excavate and re-do it professionally and, usually, at great financial cost. Many people solve the problem by using sealants and similar products inside on the floor and walls.
A typical project might involve:
- prepare the walls by removing all loose or crumbly material.
- previous repair or foreign material must be removed.
- be sure to have the basement as dry as possible, try using large heater or fans if needed.
- prime walls and floor if the product requires use of a primer.
- repair all easily seen gaps, flaws, seams, or joints.
- wall/floor junctions may require a 1″ bead of sealant.
- using 2 or 3 coats to top-coat all surfaces
That’s about it. If the product is a good one you will have a sealed basement that should last for a number of years. PermaFlex is a top sealant, and along with other complete sealants, they offer a permanent indoor basement waterproofing system. It’s quoted as being “the only indoor waterproofing system that completely seals any basement permanently, no matter how wet or deteriorated” and can be brushed, rolled or even sprayed on.
A complete solution would cost the average homeowner hundreds of Dollars for a good-sized basement rather than thousands, is perfect for do it yourself basement waterproofing and is a great budget-conscious solution for a common and potentially expensive problem.
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