Basement Wall Waterproofing Tips

A lot of people are finding out that the basement of their homes can be so much more than a space for their laundry or for storage space. It is a common home improvement nowadays to convert the basement area of the home into a comfortable living area.

Converting your basement into a comfortable living area can be very rewarding. If done properly, you can considerably increase the living area of your home and make new space where you and your family can gather together and have fun. However, before the fun begins, you will have to deal with some work first.

If you have a basement in your home, this is something that you should look into. Of course, ensuring that your basement walls are waterproof will help to ensure your investment doesn't get damaged.

Perhaps the biggest job in converting your basement is waterproofing your basement walls. Waterproofing your basement walls is a necessity. Since your basement sits well below floor level, it is susceptible to water seepage. Here are a few tips which you might find useful for basement waterproofing.

To avoid water seepage into your basement walls, you do not want water flowing down the walls of your home. This happens when the gutters get clogged up and the water overflows instead of flowing down the spout. Make sure to clean your gutters regularly. Also, the spout of your gutter should deliver the water well away from the walls of your home. You should also check that the water flowing out of the spout is actually being drained away from your home.

It is very important that the soil or dirt around your home slopes away from the walls of your home. Basically, you want the water to flow away from the walls of your home so that there is less water seepage going into your basement walls.

Sometimes there will be cracks on your basement walls where water can get into. You can solve this by putting cement into those cracks or injecting construction grade epoxy materials into it and letting it harden. It is very important to seal the crack not only on the surface of the wall but also inside the wall where it really matters.

To fix water seeping through the basement walls, apply water sealers or water proofers on the walls. Of the two, water sealers are the more powerful and more effective solution. However, they are also more costly and needs more expertise in application.

For more information on how to waterproof your basement, visit our basement waterproofing HubPage.