Why is basement floor waterproofing so often overlooked, when if it was done when the basement was built, there would be fewer problems with seepage and flooding? 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. A leakage in the basement might result from all these problems. Natural pressure from the soil against the foundation will cause flowing ground water to enter through any cracks or crevices in your 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.
If you want to keep hydrostatic water from getting into your home, pressure relief systems will do the job for you. However when the electricity goes out, most likely during a rainstorm, primary pumps cannot work. Pressure builds up over time and moisture is pushed through the wall or floor. (usually called bleeding). Seepage is often found where the wall meets the floor around the corners and joints.
If water come from an isolated area and is installed a pump below the floor level will lower the water and the underground pressure However, concrete is porous and allows water vapor to pass through. This moisture makes it feel even colder, causes carpet or other floor covering to rot, allows mold to grow, and causes the basement to smell musty.
Using high quality sealants easily found in the marketplace is a good remedy. It is often possible to paint them with either the roller or spray method.
A typical project might involve:
– getting the floor ready by taking up any materials that are broken up or loose.
– making sure the basement floor is as dry as possible, hiring large fans or heaters if necessary.
– You must seal all joints between the walls and floor.
– filling any particularly noticeable cracks or joints.
– 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. There exist sealants in the market like PermaFlex which has lasting and durable basement floor waterproofing. 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.
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