Basement Floor Waterproofing
7:44 AM | Posted by
Muy
The following are the steps necessary in waterproofing basement floor.
1. Identify Source of Seepage and Leaks
The common causes of leaks and seepage are- a) poor workmanship of the floors and walls of the basement; b) the house foundation settled causing cracks on the walls and floors; c) and the third cause is that water pressure outside the wall and floor is high enough to force seepage thru the porous portion of the wall and floor. Telltale sign of this is the moisture that appears in the affected areas.
2. Repair of Cracks before Basement Floor Waterproofing
Crack and holes on the floor and wall must be first repaired before applying waterproofing sealants. Very small cracks can be repaired by applying ordinary waterproofing sealant. But large cracks have to be filled up with latex cement or special epoxy for the purpose. For ordinary water seepage, mixture of mortar cement will do as filler for these large cracks. If the water is under relatively high pressure, the crack must be enlarged to accommodate larger cement mortar filler. The same procedure goes to the repair of larger holes.
3. Use of Weep Pipe to Relieve Undetermined Water Pressure
Sometimes it is necessary to install weep pipe thru the wall to remove water pressure outside the wall and floor. Water is drained thru a hose and brought outside by sump pump. In some cases, these weep pipe are just temporary, until outside water pressures are relieved. Removal of these weep pipes must be from top of the wall to the bottom, and then those on the floor. Cement mortar plugs for these weep pipe holes can be tamped in place- after removal of weep pipes.
4. Basement Waterproofing Floor after Patching Job
Waterproofing epoxy mixes are usually water based. Most of these mixes will not adhere to painted walls and floors. Thus, removal of old paint coatings must be done before waterproofing sealant is applied. Two coatings of sealants are usually applied on walls and floors of basement.
5. Repairing Floor-Wall Joint Leakage
Major seepage problems occur at the joint of the wall and floor. Light seepage problem can be solved the application of several coatings of sealants. But if the leakage is large, the problem can only be solved by enlarging the crack, to accommodate a larger cement mortar plug. Then after this plug is dried and cleaned, the waterproofing sealant mix can be applied on the said problem area.
1. Identify Source of Seepage and Leaks
The common causes of leaks and seepage are- a) poor workmanship of the floors and walls of the basement; b) the house foundation settled causing cracks on the walls and floors; c) and the third cause is that water pressure outside the wall and floor is high enough to force seepage thru the porous portion of the wall and floor. Telltale sign of this is the moisture that appears in the affected areas.
2. Repair of Cracks before Basement Floor Waterproofing
Crack and holes on the floor and wall must be first repaired before applying waterproofing sealants. Very small cracks can be repaired by applying ordinary waterproofing sealant. But large cracks have to be filled up with latex cement or special epoxy for the purpose. For ordinary water seepage, mixture of mortar cement will do as filler for these large cracks. If the water is under relatively high pressure, the crack must be enlarged to accommodate larger cement mortar filler. The same procedure goes to the repair of larger holes.
3. Use of Weep Pipe to Relieve Undetermined Water Pressure
Sometimes it is necessary to install weep pipe thru the wall to remove water pressure outside the wall and floor. Water is drained thru a hose and brought outside by sump pump. In some cases, these weep pipe are just temporary, until outside water pressures are relieved. Removal of these weep pipes must be from top of the wall to the bottom, and then those on the floor. Cement mortar plugs for these weep pipe holes can be tamped in place- after removal of weep pipes.
4. Basement Waterproofing Floor after Patching Job
Waterproofing epoxy mixes are usually water based. Most of these mixes will not adhere to painted walls and floors. Thus, removal of old paint coatings must be done before waterproofing sealant is applied. Two coatings of sealants are usually applied on walls and floors of basement.
5. Repairing Floor-Wall Joint Leakage
Major seepage problems occur at the joint of the wall and floor. Light seepage problem can be solved the application of several coatings of sealants. But if the leakage is large, the problem can only be solved by enlarging the crack, to accommodate a larger cement mortar plug. Then after this plug is dried and cleaned, the waterproofing sealant mix can be applied on the said problem area.