Basement Floor Waterproofing Methods

October 7th, 2008 Posted in Bathroom Flooring

Many basement flooding and seeping problems could have been avoided by waterproofing the basement floor when constructed. 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. The possibility of family rooms having extra space are realized.

Water situation was not encountered in the beginning by homeowners, but it later appeared because sub-floor and sub-surface drains clogged 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. Leakage in the basement can be caused by all of these problems. It is possible that flowing water on the ground enters the foundation through cracks or other openings; even solid masonry is not free from moisture as saturated soil enters through the walls as well as other openings. This is due to 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. Without proper preparation,  torrential rains could cause flooding in basements or crawlspaces.

A pressure relief system can eliminate water that leaks into your basement. Whenever there happens to be a power outage due to a rainstorm, it is very likely that the primary pumps will not work, and that may cause somewhat of an inconvenience. Pressure builds up over time and moisture is pushed through the wall or floor. (often called bleeding). Usually you’ll find seepage in corners or in joints where the wall meets the floor.

If water come from an isolated area and is installed a pump below the floor level will lower the water and the underground pressure Water vapor passes through porous concrete. A wet or damp basement due to excessive moisture will cause carpeting to rot, allows mold to grow and makes the basement smell musty.

Using high quality sealants easily found in the marketplace is a good remedy. These can often be painted, rollered or sprayed on.

A typical basement floor waterproofing project might involve:

- preparing the floor by removing crumbly or loose material.
- Use large fans and heaters as needed to make sure the basement floor is as dry as it can be.
- Assuring that the wall/floor junctions are sealed off.
- Filling in all crevices and bends which are especially visible.
- priming the floor if the product requires use of a primer.
Spread two or three coats which is just right top-coating of the final product.

A high quality product will result in basement floor waterproofing that can last for years and years. Permaflex is one type of sealant that will give a complete and permanent waterproofing for a basement floor. 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.