Basement Waterproofing Materials and Uses

Basement waterproofing materials can vary significantly in their forms and their uses. The general public may be able to purchase some, while other will only be for professionals. Let's take a look at what is around and how you can apply it to your home situation.

Basically, you need to keep in mind whre you reside and the amount of water that is present. Materials that you can use will be influenced by the information you collect.

When most people look for basement waterproofing materials they usually think of simple sealants. Their basement has previously had waterproofing done to it, so they are simply wanting to patch up some small damp portions. RadonSeal being one of the top-end sealants treats poured concrete, mortar in block walls or stone foundations and concrete or cinder blocks.

If the whole basement including the walls and floor are not treated completely with sealant the water is likely to come back in. As it comes with a limited 20-year guarantee, this product is a practical option. Sealant is a potential problem to be aware of, (not only this one specifically, but with all sealants)as water weeping can be avoided from the inside part of the basement. In other words, there could be lots of water pressing against and through whatever materials your cellar walls are made of.

You may have to think of other alternatives if you have breaks in the wall. If your walls are plaster, then you can simply replace the plaster coating. All you need to do is chip away any loose material from around the crack and then fill the area back up with plaster. 

Another option may be to use stitching materials. These consist of metal staples which are literally stapled across the cracks, thus preventing or limiting further movement. Any type of cement that is not prone to shrinkage can then be used to fill up any cracks.

Gunite (a form of concrete) can be sprayed on bigger cracks in basement walls or floors. You'll need special spraying equipment to do this which you can hire. The mixture ratio must be correct for the spray to fill any cracks and leave a smooth finish. But it is still a good choice, because it adhere to most surfaces.

It has to be mentioned that the key to basement waterproofing materials are not only the substance but its proper application as well. In addition, you should be making sure there is as little water as possible getting into the ground water.

Also think about:

- keeping rain gutters in perfect repair.
- the soil is graded so that it slopes away from the foundation of the house
- grass can be seeded around the foundations once the flower beds, bushes and trees have been removed
- filling up driveway cracks
- put in some curtain drains to move water from the surface away from the base of the home
- installing dry wells for rainwater downspouts at least 10 ft. from the house.
- installing sump pumps.
- water can be routed to a floor drain through the use of interior gutters in the basement walls