Waterproofing Basement Floors

Many basement flooding and seeping problems
could have been avoided by waterproofing
the basement when constructed. Many
people think basements are just concrete
storage spaces for things you don't use
very often. Now, people realize the potential
of this space for something much more such
as extra living space, family rooms and
bedrooms.

Water situation was not encountered in the
beginning by homeowners, but it later appeared
because sub-floor and sub-surface drains
clogged with mud.

The soil will become too wet and saturated
if water from the roof isn't directed far
away enough from the foundation. As the
home stabilizes, wall fissures appeared,
exterior paintings decayed and the drains
filled with sand or silt. A leakage in the
basement might result from all these problems.
Flowing ground water enters through cracks
or other openings in the foundation; moisture
in saturated soil enters through solid masonry
as well as through cracks and other openings
because of the natural pressure the soil
exerts against the foundation.

The higher the level of water, the greater
the pressure. If water is pressurized, concrete
cannot withstand it, concrete will surely
break because the water will seek all cracks
or crevices in the walls and floors. The
end results are a water filled crawlspace
or basement.

If you want to keep hydrostatic water from
getting into your home, pressure relief
systems will do the job for you. Primary
pumps cannot work if the electricity goes
out during a rainstorm. Pressure builds
up over time and moisture is pushed through
the wall or floor. (sometimes termed bleeding).
Corners and joints that connect the floor
and the wall are the most likely candidates
for seepage.

If water seems to be coming in from an
isolated area, installing a sump pump below
floor level can lower the water table and
underground hydrostatic pressure in that
area. However, concrete is porous and allows
water vapor to pass through. 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.

Here are some examples of what a regular
project might entail:

- First the floor of the area being worked
on must be prepared to make it smooth and
remove any excess material

- Care has to be taken to see that the floor
of the basement is absolutely dry,and for
this one may need to hire large fans or
heaters.

- You must seal all joints between the walls
and floor.

- filling any particularly noticeable cracks
or joints.

- Priming the floor when the product calls
for the use of a primer.

- Use 2 to 3 coats as needed to top coat
the floor with the final product.

A high quality product will result in basement
floor waterproofing that can last for
years and years. There are sealants on the
market such as PermaFlex which offer complete,
permanent 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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