Waterproofing Your Basement

That leak in your basement is really driving you so crazy, but the price estimates that you have been given might just be the thing that pushes you to admit to yourself into one of those psychiatric hospitals. You are between a rock and another hard place so you go on and decide to just get out of it and take on the job on your own. If you are reading this then your mind has already been made up and you have ignored the negative views of your family and friends regarding your inexperience in waterproofing your basement. You can do it on your own, you do know you can. So it does not help if this article will also say that basement waterproofing is done best be the experts. But if you choose to waterproof your basement on your own then you might end up spending more on your mistakes..but I am off the point.

How is waterproofing your basement done?

Look for the source of the leak

This is done by thorough evaluation of your gutters, downspouts, and other house drainage systems, as a broken drainage system can cause infiltration of water into your basement. The soil around your foundation could be the problem as well, as the grade of the soil and its direction, which should be sloping away from your foundation, can cause infiltration as well. Slopes ought to be a minimum drop of two feet away from your foundation, the top layer of dirt, at least six inches under the sill plate to not only avoid ground contact but also to ensure that building materials are preserved. All plants should be relocated to a distance of 12 feet or more, to avoid water collection.

Your downspouts should drain the water a minimum of five feet away from the foundation of your house, and your gutters should be kept spotless. Maintenance of draining systems is important.

Take care of wall defects

When basement waterproofing, taking care of crack and crevices in the wall, by the use of sealants, can be a quick fix. Epoxy and polyurethane injections can be used with these types of repairs as they penetrate deep inside the opening from the inside out. There are also rubber based sealants, that when dried, form a thick layer over the wall cracks. Various products are available on the market, it is best to do some searching for one that is perfect for your basement waterproofing situation.

Installation of a sump pump

This is another method, which homeowners use to get rid of basement leakage. The concept is really quite simple, when the level of the water reaches a certain point the sump pump activates, and redirects the water outside your home. The tricky part however is its actual installation, which involve jackhammering through your basement floor, lining around it, wiring it up and connecting it to an outlet, and most importantly making sure the drainage is more than ten feet away from your foundation. If you're planning to do this. Don't. Get an expert.

There are many other methods being used today, by do-it-yourself, basement waterproofing home owners. These are the popular few. Do-it-yourself home repairs give homeowners a sense of pride, especially when the ending is successful. However, if waterproofing your basement becomes too difficult, call in an expert, don't let pride take more money out of your pockets.

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