WHICH BASEMENT WATERPROOFING SYSTEM IS BEST?

There are several basement waterproofing methods available to homeowners hoping to prevent flooding and water damage from disrupting their home. However, the answer to which system is best is…complicated.

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The short answer is: installing a combination of waterproofing methods, as well as effective landscaping and drainage, so that your home is prepared for anything. If you are still in the process of building a house, pre-construction planning will allow you to fairly easily include external waterproofing while the foundation is being laid. Exterior sealing involves digging below the grade, exposing your home’s foundation, and coating it with a waterproof membrane; while interior sealing requires coating the inside of basement walls with a waterproof sealant.

If your funds are limited and you’re looking for more of a quick fix, interior waterproofing with acrylic paint and a waterproof sealant is a potential DIY project. However, interior waterproofing methods coupled with exterior waterproofing is always ideal. Especially when accompanied by drainage and landscaping work, like an effective gutter system pointing away from the foundation and a French drain with a battery-operated sump pump in case of power failure.

INTERIOR WATERPROOFING

Interior waterproofing, more accurately termed water drainage, involves a sealed French drain being installed beside footing, beneath a concrete slab floor. When used in conjunction with a sealed water vapor barrier, the sealed drain tile system directs water vapor to the drain tile while keeping the basement free from mildew, mold, and soil gases. Regardless, make sure that your drainage system utilizes a sealed sump pump basin, in order to keep the basement dry.

You can also reinforce the pumping system by applying a waterproof sealant to your interior basement walls in order to keep humidity levels down and minimize condensation. However, this type of system alone does not completely stop water from entering your home.

EXTERIOR WATERPROOFING

There are generally two types of waterproofing that can be performed on home exteriors. One is known as “damp-proofing,” a spray-on asphaltic layer typically applied to the exterior of a new foundation just after the home is built. While it does not stop water and water vapor, it does slow the seepage of water through bare concrete.

The second type is complete exterior waterproofing and requires full excavation around the exterior frame of the house, followed by a spray-on polymer sealer. The sealant is then covered with a dimpled membrane that waterproofs the wall and directs water down to a drain tile system. These, in combination with a sealed sump pump and deliberate landscaping that slopes the soil away from your home’s foundation, should be successful in preventing any water from permeating your basement.

If you are unsure which type of waterproofing would be best for your home, contact My Foundation Repairs and one of our consultants will get back to you to discuss options. Whatever you do, don’t let a small problem turn into a bigger issue. Call us today!