Waterproofing Basement Walls?

There are a number of ways of waterproofing basement walls, mostly dealing with the inside and outside of the wall. A waterproof membrane can be applied to the outside of the foundation during construction so this is the best time to make sure your basement is waterproof. There could be leaks and seepage through your basement walls as a result of poor original work, the home settling, or hydrostatic pressure from changes in the water table around your home. You can waterproof your basement walls with some work.

Any hairline cracks, holes, or other porous areas in them should be identified. With just a waterproof mix, smaller holes and cracks will be fine but larger holes will need to be filled with mortar and then waterproofed. A dovetail should be chiseled out when filling in larger holes to allow the mortar to properly take hold from the inside. An average mortar is one part cement to two parts sand with enough water to make a stiff mix.

No air holes or pockets should be present and an ordinary trowel should be used to apply the mortar. Using a stiff wire brush to get rid of loose particles is also a good idea before applying the mortar to help it adhere because if the wall is leaking considerably you may need to put in a drainage pipe to a sub pump to help drain the water. The nature of the water flow may mean this is just temporary or it could be a permanent measure. Leaking floor joints and larger holes in the wall should be repaired in much the same way.

Help it adhere by chiselling out a dovetail joint and make sure to incline the patch slanting it from the floor to the wall to provide strength and drainage. After repairing the wall we are ready to apply the waterproof mixture. The wall should be sanded to remove any paint before applying the waterproof mixture and the wall misted as the mixture does not adhere to a dry wall, but will not set on a wet wall either. You could use your own mix of plain cement and water which should have the consistency of cream when mixed to a slurry or you may prefer to purchase a waterproofing mixture ake care when reading the manufacturer’s instructions since epoxy and latex types usually require you to add some water. Use a stiff brush to apply the mixture at the bottom of the wall and move up in a right to left direction.

Every crook and crevice should be filled in. Feather the edges until the entire area is covered and leave it to dry overnight or until the mixture is not flaky. Once the wall has dried, wet the wall down thoroughly again and, in the same manner as the first coat was applied, apply a second coat of the waterproofing mixture. Two coats are necessary as as one coat will not do the job and you may have to start over again. Put this information to us and you will discover that waterproofing basement walls is not as difficult as you initially thought. More importantly, you will finally have that dry basement you have been wanting for so long.

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