A product that claims to waterproof basement walls may be of interest to you if you have a damp or musty basement. Is it really possible to waterproof basement walls to dry out the basement?
The right choice depends on whether the moisture comes from the outside or whether it condenses on the walls of your basement.
Find Moisture Cause
For 24 hours, place aluminum foil against the inside of the basement walls.
If there is condensation on the foil in your basement, it indicates high humidity. Use a whole-house humidifier or a portable dehumidifier instead of waterproofing products.
If it has condensation on the inside surface (next to the wall), the foil could be naturally damp around your house due to the water table or poor soil drainage. Basement walls can be waterproofed in such a situation.
You may be able to solve the problem by waterproofing only the interior walls. Alternatively, you could consider crawl space encapsulation, a more cost-effective option.
Types of Interior Waterproofing
Concrete WaterProofing
Concrete and masonry walls become permanent adherents as soon as the coating dries. The coating is applied using natural fibers, namely Tampico bristles. In order to finish the wall, swirl the brush after application.
Concrete surfaces that have previously been painted cannot be coated with a waterproof coating. Read the label carefully. Five-gallon buckets of dry mix cover 100 square feet for $30 to $40. per square foot.
Silicone Bae Sealers
An unpainted or unsealed wall must be sealWith a silicate-based sealer, you can apply it easily by brush, roller, or sprayer.ed with a sealer based on silicates, known as a densifier. Sealants penetrate concrete or brick and chemically react with the ingredients to form a hard, waterproof surface.
It’s possible to paint over penetrating sealers since they won’t flake off or peel (but read the label first). A silicate-based sealer can be applied easily with a brush, roller, or sprayer.
Acrylic Formula
Waterproof paint is made of acrylic instead of ordinary paint. In contrast to standard paint, it is applied much thicker. One gallon covers just 75 square feet instead of the 300 square feet typical of standard paint.
It is possible to apply waterproof paint yourself. You can paint over it after it has cured (1 gal./$35).
Plastic Sheets
The use of plastic sheets and panels as wall waterproofing can only be applied to basement drainage systems. Although they are not waterproof, they prevent water from getting through the wall and causing damage to the basement.
Water drained from the floor enters the wall through a drainage system in the floor. A sump pump removes water from the basement. The entire system costs between $3,500 and $5,000 for a room 20 feet by 20 feet in the basement.
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