Basement Waterproofing – Items & Purposes
Materials used to waterproof basements can differ a lot in their forms and applications. Some will be available to the public and some may only be available to the trade. Let’s assess the situation and see how we can apply it to your home.
Basically, you need to keep in mind whre you reside and the amount of water that is present. Materials that you can use will be influenced by the information you collect.
When most people look for basement waterproofing products they usually think of simple sealants. They did waterproofing at the basement already; however, some areas are moist so they need restoration. It is easy to find a sealant that can be used to treat the concrete once it has been poured, or indeed the mortar that is found in block walls. One type of sealant which is recommended for this is RadonSeal.
You have to coat all of the basement walls and the floor with sealant or else the water will still seep in around the edges of the treated area. The product has a 20-year limited guarantee. Sealant is a potential problem to be aware of, (not just this one, but all sealants), will only prevent water seepage on the inside skin of the basement. Putting this another way, there can be a large quantity of fluid pushing against and through the materials from which the cellar walls are constructed.
You may have to think of other alternatives if you have breaks in the wall. Plaster coating can be used to the existing plaster if that is what the walls are made from. Chip away any loose material from around the crack and simply refill with the plaster.
Another option may be to use a stitching materials. Metal staples are used to seal the cracks preventing or restricting movements. Cement that doesn’t shrink is used to fill in the cracks.
More serious cracks in the walls or the floor of the basement can be filled with Gunite, a form of concrete that is sprayed on. You’ll need special spraying equipment to do this which you can hire. The resulting spray will fill cracks and leave a smooth finish, but you need to get the mixture ratio right. But it is still a good choice, because it adhere to most surfaces.
Ultimately, it must be remembered that basement waterproofing materials are not the final, only or the best solutions. You should also be looking at making sure there is as little water getting into the ground around the basement as possible.
So also consider:
