Many basement flooding and seeping problems could have been avoided by waterproofing the basement when constructed. A basement can be so much more than just a convenient place for storing junk! Now, people realize the potential of this space for something much more such as extra living space, family rooms and bedrooms.
Water situation was not encountered in the beginning by homeowners, but it later appeared because sub-floor and sub-surface drains clogged with mud.
The soil will become too saturated if water from the roof is not directed away from the foundation. In the process of the house settling, the walls will often crack, protective coatings which are on the outside biodegrades and drainage systems will be filled in with silt. Leakage in the basement can be caused by all of these problems. Flowing ground water enters through cracks or other openings in the foundation; moisture in saturated soil enters through solid masonry as well as through cracks and other openings because of the natural pressure the soil exerts against the foundation. A high water level can create a great amount of pressure. If water is pressurized, concrete cannot withstand it, concrete will surely break because the water will seek all cracks or crevices in the walls and floors. Without proper preparation, torrential rains could cause flooding in basements or crawlspaces.
A pressure relief system can eliminate water that leaks into your basement. However when the electricity goes out, most likely during a rainstorm, primary pumps cannot work. Pressure builds up over time and moisture is pushed through the wall or floor. (often called bleeding). Usually you’ll find seepage in corners or in joints where the wall meets the floor.
If water seems to be coming in from an isolated area, installing a sump pump below floor level can lower the water table and underground hydrostatic pressure in that area. However, concrete is porous and allows water vapor to pass through. This moisture makes it feel even colder, causes carpet or other floor covering to rot, allows mold to grow, and causes the basement to smell musty.
One fix for this problem is to use some of the quality sealants now available to the average home owner. These can often be painted, rollered or sprayed on.
Here are some examples of what a regular basement floor waterproofing project might entail:
- preparing the floor by removing crumbly or loose material.
- making sure the basement floor is as dry as possible, hiring large fans or heaters if necessary.
- You must seal all joints between the walls and floor.
- filling any particularly noticeable cracks or joints.
- Priming the floor when the product calls for the use of a primer.
- top-coating floor with the final product, using 2 or 3 coats as appropriate.
With a good product you will have a waterproofed basement floor that should last for a number of years. Permaflex is one type of sealant that will give a complete and permanent waterproofing for a basement floor. This indoor waterproofing system claims to permanently seal you lower level floor at considerably less cost than other systems.