Waterproofing 101
8:54 PM | Posted by
Muy
Basements serve different purposes depending on the need of the house’s owner. It can be used as a damp space for keeping vegetables, fruits, and other items that needs to be cool, a storage area to store items that are no longer needed on the main floor of the house, an extra living space, a recreational room where the family can get together, or a place for guests to stay. But whatever purpose it serves, the basement like any part of the house should be properly maintained. One way of doing so is by basement wall waterproofing. Basement wall waterproofing helps in the prevention of the occurrence of leaks. Leaks can create all kinds of problem from unpleasant smell due to standing water that causes molds and mildews to appear to damages in the basement’s floorings and walls. Before waterproofing is done, make sure the walls are smooth and clean. Clean any dirt and remove excess concrete in the walls. The first step that is to be done in basement wall waterproofing is to inspect for leaks or possible places for leaks. The most common cause is through cracks in the basement’s walls and foundation, but there can be other reasons. Some other reason that causes basement walls to leak is the settling of the house and underground water pressure.
The next step in order to properly waterproof the basement’s walls is the restoration of cracks. Small cracks in the basement walls can be filled in with a waterproofing compound while larger cracks should be patched by quick dry cement designed for basement walls prior to the application of the waterproofing compound. If there are no cracks found, a waterproofing compound is directly applied to the wall. But remember that before applying any waterproof compound, the wall should be polish with a sandpaper to remove any paint. Then spray the wall with little water, since the waterproofing compound will not stick on to a dry wall, but will also not set on a wet wall. Begin applying the waterproofing compound with a brush at the bottom of the wall moving up in a right to left direction. Let the compound dry overnight. After the wall has dried, spray the wall again and apply a second coat of the waterproofing compound in the same way as the first. Always use two coats to keep the moisture out, as one coat will not do the job and may result in starting over again.
The next step in order to properly waterproof the basement’s walls is the restoration of cracks. Small cracks in the basement walls can be filled in with a waterproofing compound while larger cracks should be patched by quick dry cement designed for basement walls prior to the application of the waterproofing compound. If there are no cracks found, a waterproofing compound is directly applied to the wall. But remember that before applying any waterproof compound, the wall should be polish with a sandpaper to remove any paint. Then spray the wall with little water, since the waterproofing compound will not stick on to a dry wall, but will also not set on a wet wall. Begin applying the waterproofing compound with a brush at the bottom of the wall moving up in a right to left direction. Let the compound dry overnight. After the wall has dried, spray the wall again and apply a second coat of the waterproofing compound in the same way as the first. Always use two coats to keep the moisture out, as one coat will not do the job and may result in starting over again.