Basement Waterproofing Materials and Uses
Posted: February 6th, 2010 | Author: author | Filed under: General | No Comments »
Basement waterproofing materials can vary significantly in their forms and their uses. The general public may be able to purchase some, while other will only be for professionals. Let’s assess the situation and see how we can apply it to your home.
First of all though, you need to be aware that the area you live in also affects the amount of water that’s likely to be around. Think about that since it will have an impact on what materials you will be able to use.
Simple sealants are the first materials for basement waterproofing that people are looking for. In other words, they have a basement that has already had some form of waterproofing applied to it and are looking to patch small damp areas up. There are top-end sealants such as RadonSeal which will treat poured concrete, mortar in block walls or stone foundations and concrete or cinder blocks.
You need to treat the whole basement, walls and floor, otherwise it’s likely the water will simply find a way around the sealant. As it comes with a limited 20-year guarantee, this product is a practical option. The only issue to be aware of here is that the sealant, (not just this one, but all sealants), will only prevent water seepage on the inside skin of the basement. In other words, there could be lots of water pressing against and through whatever materials your cellar walls are made of.
If you have cracks in the wall, you may need to consider other options. Plaster coating can be used to the existing plaster if that is what the walls are made from. All you need to do is chip away any loose material from around the crack and then fill the area back up with plaster.
Another option may be to use a stitching materials. These metal staples are stapled across the cracks to prevent or limit further movement. The cracks are then filled with any cement that doesn’t shrink.
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. The special spraying equipment that is required can be rented. 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.
It has to be mentioned that the key to basement waterproofing is not only the substance but its proper application as well. In addition, you should be making sure there is as little water as possible getting into the ground water.
Some things to try: