Written by Most ways of waterproofing basement walls deal with the inside and outside of the wall. Make sure your basement is waterproof during construction as a waterproof membrane can be applied to the outside of the foundation. Poor original work, the home settling, or hydrostatic pressure from changes in the water table around your home could result in leaks and seepage through your basement walls. You can waterproof your basement walls with some work. Have your socket wrench set handy. The socket wrench sets can be used for a variety of situations. If you need help tips for choosing a socket wrench set then find information online that can help you.
First check the walls for any hairline cracks, holes, or other porous areas in the walls. Larger holes must be filled with mortar before they can be waterproofed but just a waterproof mix needs to be applied to smaller holes and cracks. Chisel out a dovetail to allow the mortar to properly take hold from the inside when filling in larger holes. One part cement to two parts sand with enough water to make a stiff mix makes an average mortar.
Use an ordinary trowel when applying mortar and check there are no air holes or pockets. It a good idea to use a stiff wire brush to get rid of loose particles before applying the mortar to help it adhere because if the wall is leaking considerably you may need to put in a drainage pipe to a sub pump to help drain the water. This may only be temporary or permanent depending on the nature of the water flow. Repair any leaking floor joints in much the same way as the larger holes in the wall.
To help it adhere, chisel out a dovetail joint and provide strength and drainage by inclining the patch slanting it from the floor to the wall. After repairing the wall we are ready to apply the waterproof mixture. Before applying the waterproof mixture the wall should be sanded to remove any paint – then mist the wall, as the mixture will not adhere to a dry wall, but will not set on a wet wall either. The manufacturer’s instructions should be read carefully since epoxy and latex waterproofing mixtures usually require you to add some water, but you could also use your own mix of plain cement and water which should have the consistency of cream when mixed to a slurry. Use a stiff brush to apply the mixture at the bottom of the wall and move up in a right to left direction.
Feather the edges until the total area is covered and leave it to dry overnight or until the mixture is not sandy. Once the wall has dried, wet the wall down thoroughly again and, in the same manner as the first coat was applied, apply a second coat of the waterproofing mixture. One coat will not do the job and may result in you having to start over again so always use two coats. Waterproofing basement walls is not as difficult as it might first appear if you use this information. Better yet, you will finally have that dry basement you have been wanting for quite some time.
