How to Waterproof Basement Walls

For every ten homes with a basement, six have issues with moisture accumulation. If you currently have a moisture issue in your basement, you know that mold growth is the biggest problem that goes along with it. When mold starts growing in your home, it can cause your family to experience issues with respiratory irritation. Mold can also cause serious damage to your home. Although it's possible to remove mold on your own, many homeowners find that it begins growing again in no time. Because it's very expensive to hire professional help to solve this problem, a much better option is take action before mold growth starts by waterproofing your basement walls.

How Do You Begin Waterproofing Your Basement Walls?

Prior to waterproofing the walls in your basement, it's important to fix any current damage. The reason you need to do this first is because it will ensure your waterproofing is as effective as possible. The type of wall damage that you want to fix are holes and cracks. If there are holes in your wall, you will be able to fill smaller ones with an epoxy solution and larger ones with mortar. The same is true for cracks.

The other type of repair you may need to do is sealing off any leaks. If there are leaks in your basement walls, you will want to:

  • Identify the source of the leaks
  • Find out if you've done anything to waterproof the walls' exterior
  • If not, use clay or a membrane to stop water from entering from the outside

While fixing exterior leaks can be slightly more time consuming and expensive, it's not a step you want to skip. If you don't resolve this issue prior to waterproofing, the exterior leaks will ruin any work you do on the interior.

How to Prepare for Waterproofing

Once you've taken care of any major repairs that need to be done, you will be able to begin the actual waterproofing prep. Regardless of the specific waterproofing product you are using, it will need to be applied to a clean wall. For minor dirt and residue, you'll be able to use soap and water to clean it off. If there is more stubborn grime on a wall, you can use a cleaner to get rid of it. Once the wall is clean, you will want to consult the product's instructions to see whether it needs to be applied to a dry or moist wall.

Waterproofing the Walls in Your Basement

The key to getting the best results from waterproofing is to ensure you completely cover the walls in your basement. There are two main tips for accomplishing this goal. First, use a sprayer or roller to do most of the walls, and then a brush to finish off their corners. Second, start at the bottom of the wall and carefully work your way to the top of it. Using a structured approach to painting will make it easy for you to confirm that you've fully covered the walls.

 

 

 

 

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