Waterproof Baesment Walls

Over half of the homes that have a baesment have problems with excess moisture. The reason that excess moisture is more than a simple inconvenience is it almost always leads to mold growth. Once mold begins growing in your home, it can make it harder for your family to breathe. Because mold can spread so quickly, it can also cause damage to your home's structure. Since it can cost quite a bit to resolve a mold problem, it's much better if you can take preventative action. The best way to do this is by waterproofing your baesment walls.

How to Deal with Existing Baesment Wall Problems

Before you do anything in regards to waterproofing, you need to take care of any wall damage. If you're thinking about skipping this step, keep in mind that doing so will reduce the effectiveness of your waterproofing. Any crack that you see in your wall needs to be fixed. If it's a sizable one, you should patch it with mortar. You can easily create mortar by mixing 1 part cement with a small amount of water and 2 parts fine sand.

In addition to cracks, you will need to look for any holes or leaks in your wall. For holes, you can follow the same approach you used to take care of cracks. If there are any really small holes in your walls, you can use latex cement instead of mortar. If you discover that there are already leaks in your wall, it may take a little more work to fix them. The reason is this likely means there's an issue on the exterior of your home. For a major leak, it's probably best to enlist the help of a professional.

Waterproof Preparation

While a significant leak in your baesment will require professional attention, the good news is you likely don't have this problem. Instead, once you take care of the cracks and holes in your baesment walls, you will be ready to begin prepping for waterproofing. The prep process for waterproofing varies between mixtures.

As a result, you will want to carefully read the instructions on the product you purchased. For example, some need to be applied to a wet wall, while others require a dry one. Although there are differences between most mixtures, one step that's true for all of them is the baesment walls needs to be fully cleaned before the application process begins.

How to Waterproof Baesment Walls

Prior to waterproofing, make sure you've:

  • Patched any cracks in your walls
  • Filled holes in your baesment walls
  • Ensured you don't have a major leak
  • Followed the prep instructions on your waterproofing mixture

If you've done all those steps, you can actually apply the mixture to the walls. In order for the waterproofing to be as effective as possible, you want to make sure that you fully cover the walls. Once you finish the first coat, refer to your product for instructions about how long you need to wait before putting on the second coat.

 

 

 

 

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