Foundation Contractor’s Guide to DIY Basement Waterproofing

According to the American Society of Home Inspectors, more than half of the US homes have a wet basement. Overlooking a damp and leaky basement for a long time will not only cause serious damage to the floor, walls and the valuable items stored but also adversely affect the foundation of the house.

So, if your home also has a wet basement, you can either undertake the DIY approach to fixing the problem as soon as possible or simply contact Tony’s Masonry to seek professional assistance to waterproof your basement.

Some essential steps you need to follow to waterproof your basement are-

Survey the Exterior

The first step is to cautiously assess the exteriors of your home foundation to evaluate the plausible causes of water leakage. The area around the foundation are graded with backfill to promote better water drainage but backfill soil usually settles lower than surrounding soil causing the ground to slope towards the home.

Therefore, it is imperative that the ground around the foundation should be inclined away from the house to prevent the water from flowing towards the foundation. Do make sure that all drainage channels are clean and are discharging water at least 5 feet away from the foundation.

Furthermore, if the plants around your premises are not regularly watered, it might result in roots’ underground overgrowth for seeking moisture disturbing the foundation of your home. You should plant trees at a safe distance from the foundation and regularly water them.

Waterproofing the Walls

Once you have taken care of all possible exterior defects, it’s time to thoroughly inspect the interior settings of your basement. Look for the cracks in basement walls and floor to track down the possible entrance points for water inflow.

While hairline cracks can be filled using expandable masonry caulk, corner cracks require much greater attention and effort. You need to carefully clean and dry the cracks first to make sure that the cracks are properly sealed or the repair would not last longer.

The next step is to waterproof the basement walls and floor using products such as Drylok or Xypex in case of minor, intermittent leaks. However, if the leaks are large enough to damp the foundation of the house, it is recommended to seek the professional and creative services of foundation contractors like Tony’s Masonry.

Installing a Sump Pump

Sump pump refers to the built-in pump within the floor of your basement that will automatically pump out any excess water out of the house. A damp basement will eventually result in the overgrowth of mold and mildews posing serious threats to the foundation of your home.

A sump pump not only prevents the gradual build-up of water in the basement but also reduces the chances of any major flooding in future. Nonetheless, installing a sump pump requires a considerable amount of skill and experience, and should not be attempted by DIY beginners.

The best action you can undertake to ensure a dry, solid and stable foundation for your home is to hire the assistance of professional foundation contractors like Tony’s Masonry.