Basement Waterproofing Information
Most people aren’t entirely sure what to do when it comes to waterproofing their basement. In fact, it isn’t one of the first things that come to mind, at least until a problem arises. Luckily, there are various sources of information available, whether it be through the internet, your library, a home improvement contractor, or even your local home improvement store employee.
Prior to waterproofing your basement, it’s imperative we understand the “what” and the “why” behind waterproofing. Essentially, waterproofing your basement refers to preventative measures made that prevents water from seeping through into your basement. You might not know when it’s necessary to waterproof your basement, but the answer, in a nutshell, would be any time a structure is built at or below ground level. Groundwater is pretty much the culprit here. When it builds up in soil and, consequently, raises the water table, you have two options: 1)Waterproof the structure 2)Drain it. The hydrostatic pressure caused by the higher water table is what creates the cracks and openings in your basement, pushing the water against the walls and forcing it through these weak points. These weak points become stressed over time and can compromise the overall structure, contribute to mold and mildew due to the water, and put your entire house at risk, as the walls are a major supporting structure to your house
There are many ways to prevent water damage from compromising your basement walls. One way involves using sealers that seal the inside of your wall and your floor. Drylox and Xypex come to mind when thinking about some great, solid sealers. You can easily find this at your local Home Depot or Lowe’s. These, however, are only for minor patch ups, and it’s important to note that Drylok is a water proofer not a sealer, because when you first put it on, it expands to fill the cracks and dries in order to completely prevent water from coming through. Xypex acts similar to waterproof concrete and will easily mesh with your wall.
As stated earlier, those solutions are only for minor fixes, and for more severe problems, you’ll need to understand three types of systems that tackle your problem differently. The first is a barrier system, which helps physically block moisture and water from the outside. You can either have the system put in place on the interior or the exterior of your walls. The second is a drainage system. A drainage system is set up so that when water comes close to your basement, it’s quickly collected and diverted from ever coming in contact with your walls. The last system, but definitely not the least, is called a diversion system. You can only use these externally, and they are placed on the roof of the structure so that rainwater will be diverted away from the house. These systems prevent, drain, and divert water from ever coming in contact with your basement walls.
When hiring a company to do the work for you, it can be expensive if you don’t know what exactly it is you need. That’s why it’s important to do as much research as you can and understand that because of factors like your house’s design, you availability, and, of course, your budget, what you need for your house and basement varies from person to person.
