Fixing Up The Basement Walls; Functional Advice To Make The Waterproofing Run Smoothly

Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 | local info

Methods of waterproofing basement walls mainly deal 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. Waterproofing your basement walls is possible with some work. Have your socket wrench set available. The socket wrench sets can be used for many things. If you need help comparing  socket wrench set then find helpful information online will be of valuable service.

Any hairline cracks, holes, or other porous areas in them should be identified. Larger holes must be filled with mortar before they can be waterproofed but just a waterproof mix needs to be applied to smaller holes and cracks. Chisel out a dovetail when filling in larger holes as this will allow the mortar to properly take hold from the inside. An average mortar is one part cement to two parts sand with enough water to make a stiff mix.

When applying mortar use an ordinary trowel and make sure there are no air holes or pockets. To help the mortar adhere, use a stiff wire brush to get rid of loose particles before applying it because if the wall is leaking considerably you may need to put in a drainage pipe to a sub pump to help drain the water. Whether this situation is temporary or permanent is dependent on the nature of the water flow. Repair any leaking floor joints in much the same way as the larger holes in the wall.

To help it adhere, chisel out a dovetail joint and provide strength and drainage by inclining the patch slanting it from the floor to the wall. After repairing the wall we are ready to apply the waterproof mixture. Before applying the waterproof mixture the wall should be sanded to remove any paint - then mist the wall, as the mixture will not adhere to a dry wall, but will not set on a wet wall either. The manufacturer’s instructions should be read carefully since epoxy and latex waterproofing mixtures usually require you to add some water, but you could also use your own mix of plain cement and water which should have the consistency of cream when mixed to a slurry. 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 entire area is covered and leave it to dry overnight or until the mixture is not flaky. After the wall has dried overnight wet it down thoroughly again and apply a second coat of the waterproofing mixture in the same manner as the first. If you use one coat instead of two you may have to start over again as this will not do the job. You will find waterproofing basement walls is not as difficult as it first appeared if you use this information. Even better, you will have that you have been wanting for so long, a dry basement.

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