Many homeowners ask how to make your basement waterproof. Basement waterproofing is done to prevent water from entering the basement and entering other areas of the house. The process involves cleaning out the basement of any mold, mildew, or cellulite.
In some cases where there is excess moisture, the basement waterproofing may also include adding a French drain to lower the water flow in the basement. The process of how to make your basement waterproof is important because waterproofing basement floors increases the safety of your home.
Why is it Necessary to Waterproof the Basement?
Well, first of all, if there is excess humidity in your basement it can affect the condition of the interior of your home. This can cause your house to be unhealthy. For this problem, you can also take basement waterproof contractors Moberly services. Secondly, if you have a leaky basement, you will discover that your house will lose its resale value. Thirdly, basement waterproofing makes it possible for you to enjoy the great outdoors when you are not using the basement as an attic.
Use Right Tools
A lot of basement waterproofing can be done yourself if you have the right tools, and someone to assist you. However, you should not attempt to make any major structural changes to your basement without the advice and assistance of an experienced contractor. How to make your basement waterproof does not just involve wetting the basement floor and pouring in waterproofing agents.
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Take Proper Process for Basement Waterproofing
When you learn how to make your basement waterproof, you must know what the proper procedures should be to make sure that all of the materials will bond together and remain in place. When you learn how to make your basement waterproof, you should make sure that the basement waterproofing is done properly. One of the ways that you learn how to make your basement waterproof is to have a basement waterproofing contractor install the materials.
Although basement waterproofing contractors do not make the basement waterproof, they are the best people to call when you need to know how to make your basement waterproof. There are a variety of different techniques that can be used to make a basement waterproof, and the proper contractor should be able to tell you which technique to use. A Vapor Barrier In A Basement can also be used to prevent moisture from entering your basement. A vapor barrier is a material used to prevent moisture from seeping through the walls and floors of your basement. This can be especially helpful in areas with high humidity or if your home is built on wet soil.
Remove Any Vegetation from the Basement
To make your basement waterproof properly, the first step involves removing any vegetation from the basement. If there are any trees or plants that are growing on the basement walls, then they must be cut down. The reason why this is so important is that some basement waterproofing compounds are designed to resist rainwater pressure while others resist pressure from the ground.
Even if your basement is surrounded by concrete walls, the waterproofing compound will still eventually work its way through the concrete walls and onto the wood framing if the vegetation is present. Once the vegetation is cut down, the next step is to remove any debris from the basement. This includes old furniture, carpets, drapes, or other items that could cause water damage in the basement.
Seal the Basement Walls
After the debris has been removed from the basement, the next step in learning how to make your basement waterproof is to seal the basement walls. There are many different types of basement waterproofing compounds that are applied to the outside of the basement walls. When applying the compounds, the concrete must be first wetted.
Once the concrete has been saturated, it will be easier for the waterproofing compound to adhere to the concrete. After the concrete has been saturated, it will be easier for the waterproofing compound to dry and harden, making it even more difficult for moisture to get inside the walls of the basement.
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Waterproof Seal from outside
One of the most effective ways of waterproofing is doing it from the outside. This is just like wrapping a box with plastic sheets. The interior will stay safe from external moisture and salts. However, it is not something simple. You have to evacuate the soil from outer space.
Clear all the soil from the external foundations of the basement. After evacuating all the soil, install the drain tile at the base. Afterward, all the walls will be surrounded by a wrapping sheet that will act as a waterproof sheet.
Need of a licensed contractor
But there is another factor that you should mind. It is not possible for you to just randomly evacuate soil from the basement. It affects the surrounding buildings. Because they are going to dig about 7 to 8 feet of soil. This has a serious impact on the foundations of your as well as surrounding buildings. As you evacuate the soil, it will get loosen and even after filling it up again, it will need some time to get tighten up.
Therefore, you will need a permit if you want to practice this method. Furthermore, a random contractor cannot carry out this process. And that is why you will need a properly licensed contractor. Because only he knows the proper method of digging and refilling the soil.
In addition to this, you should also consider the time of year. Because if you are doing construction during the rainy season, it will surely cause problems. That is why it is not a simple method and you need a licensed contractor who knows all about the risks and safe method of carrying out the procedure.
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Drain tile
You have to get rid of water from the foundations of your basement. Therefore, you will need to install a drain tile. And along with this drain tile, you will also need a sump pit. This will help you out in pumping water to the surface through the use of a sump pump.
The location of the sump pit can vary. You can either install it inside your basement or beneath the floor. Or you can choose to have to outside your home, it is usually installed below the window well.
It will take some time to install this sump pit. You can use this time to do the seal work. If your contractor is experienced with this type of waterproofing, he will do the patch and repair work and seal the walls.
Patching and waterproofing
If there are larger cracks in the walls, they will need patches. The contractor will use a mortar-based material to fill up the cracks. When it dries, a masonry sealant is sprayed or rolled on it. This acts as a waterproof layer and prevents water seepage inside the walls.
