Waterproofing A Basement – What You Need To Know

Wet basements are more than just a headache for millions of homeowners everywhere; they are also a source of major problems from basement mold to foundation cave-ins. This is why waterproofing a basement that leaks are extremely important. One of the main reasons for such wet basements is the wet bathroom. The sub standard quality toilets will create this problem forever. You need to buy a great quality toilet based on some detail toilet reviews as a precautionary measure.

Being able to utilize your basement has never been more popular with homeowners. It’s basically “free” square footage that can greatly enhance the value of any home, as well as give your family added rooms to live in.

When it comes to waterproofing a basement, you have a couple of different options:

-You can do it yourself.

-You can hire a professional waterproofing contractor.

Waterproofing A Basement - What You Need To Know

Do It Yourself

Going the do-it-yourself route may work with minor basement leaks in the walls. But if you are experiencing a flooded basement whenever it rains or have water coming in through multiple cracks in the walls or foundation, and then doing it yourself will not be a good option.

If you are going to do the job yourself, be sure to prepare the walls first. Brush off loose mortar, dirt and other contaminants.

Next, take a wire brush and get rid of old paint. Then patch cracks with a concrete patch designed for basements. You can check your toilets fitted in the basement as if you are not having some best toilets in your basement then there may be a problem of excessive leakage.

Finally, get a good quality waterproof coating to apply on the surfaces. You will need to apply a minimum of 2 coats and in some cases 3 coats. Don’t just apply one coat. The basement will undoubtedly begin leaking again with a heavy rain.

Some of the extra humidity caused due to wet basements can be removed with the help of a good basement dehumidifier.

Hiring A Waterproofing Contractor

If your basement leaks in several places or floods during a rain, you will need to hire a professional contractor to waterproof the basement for you.

The thing to keep in mind here is that not all waterproof companies are the same, and the lowest bid may not always be the best option. I talk about this in detail in another article on the website.

Waterproofing a basement and eliminating the problem isn’t as difficult as it may first appear. Once you assess the problem and determine how extensive the leaks are, you can then take the necessary steps to fix it and have a completely dry basement.

Here’s a video that shows an awful job from a contractor whose basement waterproofing skills were terrible.

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