Roofing and Building Center

A Guide to Basement Waterproofing

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Samuel Cheeseman ----- Advertisement

Any structure which is sitting at ground level or below will generally require some kind of waterproofing in order to minimize water damage to the foundations or basement areas over time. Water usually enters a basement as a result of hydrostatic pressure building up and eventually pushing it through cracks in the floors and walls of the building foundations. Over time water can cause serious structural damage which will often be extremely costly and time consuming to repair. Mold and damp are also likely to be the result of water permeating basement walls and floors. This can lead to serious health risks to the occupants of the property especially where toxic black mold is growing.

Water can find its way into a basement in many ways. This is usually due to damaged building materials in the foundations which leave cracks in the walls and large gaps where tight joints previously existed. The roots of trees and even small shrubs can also damage the foundations of a building or at least provide an easy path for water to take once they decompose. Damaged or blocked gutters could also be contributing to the problem. If you guttering system is not channelling water away from the roof effectively them much of it will find its way to the base of your property and then down into the foundations. Periodic gutter cleaning and maintenance should be completed once or twice per year to ensure that your gutters remain effective.

Basement Waterproofing Techniques

There are various approaches to waterproofing basements which use either sealants or drainage systems. Sealers are used inside a structure and are designed for waterproofing basement walls and floors against the effects of high humidity levels which could lead to mold and damp conditions and also break down the building materials used to construct the basement. Basement waterproofing paint can be used to tackle minor issues with moisture or damp in your basement. It can be installed by the homeowner and is a cheap way to remedy small problems caused by moisture so it will often be worthwhile to learn how to waterproof a basement using these products. Before painting you should be sure to fill in any small cracks in the basement walls and remove any old paint along with mold that has already formed before you begin repainting. Paint which uses an anti-mold formula is available and this should prevent the appearance of mold in the future as long as water finding its way into your basement is minimal. Paint and other sealants are not effective at waterproofing a basement which is being penetrated by water through cracks in the walls or floors and will only be able to combat small amounts of moisture and damp.

Interior and exterior drainage setups are used to provide more effective basement waterproofing systems which can cope with larger amounts of water. Interior systems will dispose of water which finds its way through cracks or weak joints in basement the structure. Interior drainage systems will often use pipes or French drains to direct water into a sump pump which will remove the water out of the basement and pump it away from the property. They can be purchased as DIY basement waterproofing systems if you would rather undertake the work yourself rather than pay extra to hire plumbers or professional basement waterproofing contractors to complete the installation.

An exterior basement waterproofing system works in a different way by stopping water before it is able to permeate foundation walls through any cracks or joints. This method of waterproofing basement areas is often considered to be the most effective and is the only one which the International Building Code classes as a sufficient solution to preventing water causing any structural damage. The most effective exterior systems will use polymer basement waterproofing products which will last for the entire lifetime of a building. They are capable of providing total protection and will provide basement wall waterproofing that is usually 100% effective. Other lower quality products have been used in the past but are rapidly being replaced. These were often asphalt based materials and would usually begin to break down after a decade and so could only ensure a waterproof basement for a short period of time before they would need replacing.

Costs

Creating a waterproof basement can be an expensive undertaking. The price will depend on the extent of the current problem. Where only minor issues with moisture and small amounts of damp need to be dealt with then paints and other sealants can be purchased cheaply and applied by the homeowner on most occasions. The total cost will often not be any more than £100-£200 or a few hundred dollars. Where interior drainage systems need to be installed costs will start at a few hundred pounds but could be considerably more. The most expensive option by far will be installation of an exterior drainage system. Professional contractors will usually need to be hired to complete excavation work and the total project will often cost a few thousand pounds. You should make sure that you obtain quotations from at least three different companies in order to compare prices. Installing external drainage systems will mean that the basement waterproofing cost will tend to be high with any company you choose to complete the work.