Look, this stuff isn’t fun or sexy.  Water proofing is boring and we’d probably all be better off if we never had to deal with it, but guess what we do.  You need to know about waterproofing your basement even if someone else is “taking care of it”.  Why?  Because you need to know if they’re really doing the job they’re supposed to.  If they aren’t you could be stuck with a ton of structural damage from water seepage or leaking.

One thing you need to know about right off the bat is concrete is penetrable by water and can be weakened by water.  So the first rule of waterproofing is don’t think you’re in the clear once you’ve got a slab and walling poured (or just see a clear basement in the home you’re going to buy).  The way this happens is water builds up outside of the foundation walls.  With the build up against the concrete foundation comes hydrostatic pressure.  This pressure becomes intense over the course of months, maybe even years and eventually moisture shoves it’s way through the foundation wall.

The resulting seepage will typically show in the corners of your basement because they are the weakest areas.  At first, a water leak in your basement seems like no big deal.  A small puddle of water, so what, right?  Wrong, although nothing major happens at first besides the presence of water and/moisture, eventually your foundation’s integrity will be compromised (cracks and bowing) and along with that comes overwhelming molding.

You need to prevent this water accumulation from happening.  The effects and costs of not taking action beforehand are devastating and numerous.  To properly water proof your basement, there are a few easy recommendations:

1. Soil should slope away from the foundation walls so water has an escape.
2. Water drains should release water at least 10 feet away from the foundation
3. The wall fo the foundation should be coated with a rubber membrane or other water proof material.
4. All cracks in the foundation should be repaired first.
5. All water should be discharged far away from the basement’s foundation walls.
6. During construction, keep the area free of moisture by ventilating properly.

This is about as easy an to understand guide on waterproofing for dummies as I can make in this first blog.  Basically, keep your basement’s foundational walling dry and free of water pressure.  If you do find water seeping into your basement, immediately call a professional water proofer to assess the damage and repairs.  Get multiple quotes from reputable contractors to ensure a fair price.

We’ll continue next time with more tips and talk about repairing a leak in your basement.

Tagged as: water proof, water proof your basement, water proofing, water proofing for dummies, waterproof, waterproofing, waterproofing basics, waterproofing guide