Bright Notion

Waterproofing basement walls can be done in a number of ways, mostly dealing with the inside and outside of the wall. During construction is the best time to make sure your basement is waterproof as a waterproof membrane can be applied to the outside of the foundation. Reasons for leaks and seepage through your basement walls include poor original work, the home settling, or hydrostatic pressure from changes in the water table around your home. However with some work you can waterproof your basement walls. Always make sure you have the correct socket wrench set available. Your socket wrench sets can be used for a variety of situations. If you need help choosing a socket wrench set then find information online that can help you.

First check the walls for any hairline cracks, holes, or other porous areas in the walls. Larger holes will need to be filled with mortar and then waterproofed but smaller holes and cracks will be fine with just a waterproof mix. Chisel out a dovetail to allow the mortar to properly take hold from the inside when filling in larger holes. Mortar is usually one part cement to two parts sand with enough water to make a stiff mix.

Use an ordinary trowel when applying mortar and check there are no air holes or pockets. If the wall is leaking considerably you may need to put in a drainage pipe to a sub pump to help drain the water and before applying the mortar, use a stiff wire brush to get rid of loose particles which will help it adhere. This may only be temporary or permanent depending on the nature of the water flow. Repair any leaking floor joints in much the same way as the larger holes in the wall.

Chisel out a dovetail joint to help it adhere and make sure to incline the patch slanting it from the floor to the wall to provide strength and drainage. Once the wall has been repaired it is time to apply the waterproof mixture. Remove any paint and mist the wall before applying the waterproof mixture as the mixture does not adhere to a dry wall, but will not set on a wet wall either. You could use your own mix of plain cement and water which should have the consistency of cream when mixed to a slurry or you may prefer to purchase a waterproofing mixture take care when reading the manufacturer’s instructions since epoxy and latex types usually require you to add some water. Use a stiff brush to apply the mixture at the bottom of the wall and move up in a right to left direction.

Feather the edges until the total area is covered and leave it to dry overnight or until the mixture is not sandy. Once the wall has dried, wet the wall down thoroughly again and, in the same manner as the first coat was applied, apply a second coat of the waterproofing mixture. One coat will not do the job and may result in you having to start over again so always use two coats. Waterproofing basement walls is not as difficult as it might first appear if you use this information. Better yet, you will finally have that dry basement you have been wanting for quite some time.

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