A large percentage of homeowners who have basements also experience water leaks, so it’s no surprise that there is a huge demand for DIY basement waterproofing information and products.

The first thing to examine is the reason why basements are affected so much by water seepage and flooding. Serious basement problems due to excess moisture many times cause numerous problems to the basement structurally, as well as limit space, and ruin and or destroy furniture and furnishings.

A large hole is dug in the ground to install a basement. After the floor and walls of the basement are finished, loose soil is used to fill in the rest of the hole. The loose soil around the basement provides the least resistance to water and it will use this path to seep into that area. Though it might take a few years, it is eminent that there will be a build-up of water around and under your basement.

This causes water to weigh down, and to exert pressure upon the floor, and upon the basement walls. This often attacks the outside membrane or protective coating, and/or water finds its way through tiny cracks or larger structural cracks. No system is foolproof, because even those that remove water from the building, can’t always prevent silt and heavy rainfalls from blocking pipes and causing system overload.

This is when most people decide to turn their project into a do it yourself basement waterproofing project rather than have someone excavate and re-do it professionally and, usually, at great financial cost. Frequently used method is to handle the interior rather than the exterior, by utilizing materials like sealants on the inner walls and ground.

A typical project might involve:

removing loose material to prepare walls
Previous repair or foreign material must be removed.
- make sure the basement is as dry as possible, hire heaters or large fans if necessary.
Use a primer coat on the floors and walls if the product requires this to be done.
- patch any particularly noticeable flaws, gaps, seams or joints.
The requirement at the floor/wall is 1″bead of sealant.
- using 2 or 3 coats to top-coat all surfaces

There’s nothing more to it. If the product is a good one you will have a sealed basement that should last for a number of years. PermaFlex is a top sealant, and along with other complete sealants, they offer a permanent indoor basement waterproofing system. This indoor waterproofing system claims to permanently stop basement leaks and can be applied by brush, roller, or spray system.

A full solution would cost homeowners a fraction of the cost and is perfect for do-it-yourself basement waterproofing. It’s also a wonderful solution for those with budget concerns with common and often expensive problems.

Tags: General //