Basement Floor Waterproofing Methods

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. Now,
people realize the potential of this space for something much more
such as extra living space, family rooms and bedrooms.

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. Flowing ground
water enters through cracks or other openings in the foundation;
moisture in saturated soil enters through solid masonry (as well as
through cracks and other openings) because of the natural
pressure the soil exerts against the foundation. The higher the
level of water, the greater the pressure. In turn this water, under
increased pressure, seeks entry through cracks and crevices in the
walls and floors, and concrete is no match for water pressure. The
result is a flooded crawlspace or basement.

Pressure relief systems are a good way to prevent hydrostatic
water from entering your home. However when the electricity goes
out, most likely during a rainstorm, primary pumps cannot work.
Over time this pressure increases until the moisture is literally
pushed through the floor or wall (often called "bleeding"). Usually
you'll find seepage in corners or in joints where the wall meets the
floor.

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. However, concrete
is porous and allows water vapor to pass through. This moisture
makes it feel even colder, causes carpet or other floor covering to
rot, allows mold to grow, and causes the basement to smell musty.

One solution is to use one of the high-grade sealants that are
available on the market for the home-owner. These can often be
painted, rollered or sprayed on. A typical project might involve:

- preparing the floor by removing crumbly or loose material
- making sure the basement floor is as dry as possible, hiring large
fans or heaters if necessary
- making sure wall/floor junctions are sealed
- filling any particularly noticeable cracks or joints
- priming the floor if the product requires use of a primer
- top-coating floor with the final product, using 2 or 3 coats as
appropriate

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 href="http://www.msbasementremodeling.com/waterproofing-
basement-floor.html">basement floor waterproofing. Quoted
as being "the only indoor waterproofing system that completely
seals any basement floor permanently, no matter how wet or
deteriorated" seems a good, easy system that costs a few
hundred dollars as opposed to thousands for considerable manual
work, pumps and pipes.