Despite the fact that the basement offers plenty of usable space, many people have to deal with leaky or damp basements. This would make these basements unsuitable for a new bedroom or a rec room. Before you can utilize your basement, you need to learn how to waterproof your basement.
Start by evaluating the perimeter of your home
Before you can start waterproofing your basement, the first thing to do is make sure that the ground surrounding the foundation of your home is sloping away from your house rather than towards it. You do not want there to be direct ground contact, because it may cause building materials to rot later on.
Waterproof the walls
If you have minor, intermittent leaks, you could try to use products such as Xypex and Drylok to waterproof your walls. Drylok is not a water sealer, but a waterproofer. As it dries, it becomes a part of the wall. Unlike some of the other options, it is more like adding some waterproof concrete on the surface.
Meanwhile, Xypex needs moisture to generate its waterproof crystalline structure. The Xypex applied to the walls is going to seal itself with small areas of water leakage. Xypex is a lot more expensive than Drylok. Keep in mind that these are for minor water intrusion, leaks, not for major issues at the bottom of your walls or your basement floor.
Repair defects in the wall
If there are cracks in your poured concrete walls, you want to repair those defects as quickly as possible. Especially if the crack in the wall goes all the way around the wall and to the outside – this could be a possible source of water damage.
Even though it is possible to make repairs with construction-grade epoxy, it would be better to have an qualified crack repair technician make the repairs for you. Even though do-it-yourself kits of polyurethane and epoxy systems are available, these are far less reliable.
Consider installing a sump
One final possibility is using a sump pump. If the water level in the sump pit rises too quickly, it is going to draw the water out of the sump pit. This will bring the water out of the home, at least 10 feet or more from your foundation. Because you are going to be creating a hole in the concrete floor of your basement, it requires at least a moderate degree of skill and experience. Again, if this were what you are planning to do, it would be far better to have a professional do this for you.
