How To Have A Waterproof Basement

We all want a waterproof basement, but how many times do we find ourselves faced with a wet or leaky basement, moisture coming in through the basement walls, or worse yet, a completely flooded basement during heavy rainstorms? Unfortunately, it happens all too often to most every homeowner.

In many cases you can do your own waterproofing and save a lot of money. However, if you have severe cracks in all your basement walls or have other serious foundation damage, you should call a waterproofing contractor to come out and take a look. They are the professionals and best assess how serious the problem is. But, if you only have a few minor cracks or holes, you can easily do the work yourself. Here are some tips to help you get a dry basement that you can finally utilize into livable space.

Repairing Cracks In Basement Walls

Wet basements are almost always caused by having cracks or holes in the walls or basement floor. If you find cracks in the walls you'll want to repair them and make them waterproof as soon as possible.

- Use a wire brush and clean the area of the crack thoroughly

- Fill the crack with a waterproof cement or filler

- For larger cracks you will want to fill them with mortar first before applying a waterproof coating

Waterproofing The Basement Walls

Once you have the cracks repaired you can begin to apply a waterproofing product to the walls. You will find waterproof epoxies, coating and paints at your local Home Depot, Lowes, or other home improvement store. Dry-Lock works very well in most cases.

- Read the manufacturers directions for applying the product to your walls

- Be sure the walls are dry before starting

- Work from the top down in applying the coating

- Let the coating dry completely and then apply a second coating. Even if you don't feel it is necessary, do it anyway.

After you have completely waterproofed your walls you can then apply a waterproof paint to all surfaces. Again, you will find all types of paint for basement walls at any home improvement store. Be sure to put at least 2 coats of paint onto the surface to get the best coverage and protection. When you are finished you should have a waterproof basement that will stay dry for years to come.