Types Of Basement Water Proofing

If you live in a home with a basement or if you are currently building a home and planning on including a basement, there is going to come a time when ever you need to look into basement water proofing. Unfortunately, this often comes as a matter of dire need because our basement becomes flooded and many times, ruins anything that is in it. There may be other times, however, when we are able to do the basement water proofing in advance and head off any major problems that may come our way.

Basement water proofing is done in several different ways. The easiest way for it to take place is before the area around the foundation is backfilled. Whenever the walls are still exposed on the outside, there can be some water proofing that is spread on the walls which will serve as a barrier against any moisture coming into the basement. There may still be a little bit that gets in but because they are able to put on a very thick layer since it is not able to be touched, it does a fairly good job.

Another type of basement waterproofing comes in the form of a french drain. This is also something that is added before the area around the foundation is backfilled but it can also be added later, with a little bit of additional work. A french drain is simply a drain pipe that has holes in it which allow the water to seep in and be sent off into another area. If you have a problem with a lot of water accumulating around your foundation, a french drain is going to be the best choice for you.

If you are dealing with an existing basement and would like to get rid of some of the moisture that is coming through the walls, there are some basement water proofing paints that are available. These do a fairly good job of sealing the walls and keeping the water from coming through. They typically also have some chemicals included which help to keep down on any mold and mildew that may show up as a result of the moisture. They will not stop flowing water from coming into the basement but it will help if there is just a little bit of moisture that is appearing on the walls.