Sealing Basement Walls

Basements can be a great place to start off, to create some extra space for your house. Or it can be used as your workplace - where there will be no disturbance. One of my uncles, a Hapkido expert used to conduct Hapkido classes in his basement. However, for doing something like this, you will need to obviously ensure that the basement is in good shape. One of the most vital things is to affirm that the basement is not leaking and is waterproof. Don't despair, if you were planning and could not start something like this, just because your basement is a bit damp. This thing can be taken care of, by sealing basement walls or basement waterproofing. How? Answer coming up in the content to follow.

Sealing Basement Walls from Inside

For basement finishing or just to keep the basement devoid of moisture, sealing the basement is essential. Unless there are no leaks or standing water in the basement, sealing of the basement walls will not be an ordeal.

Supplies/ Tools
The tools you will need for doing this are -

• Safety gear for eyes, hands and so on.
• Wire brush
• Paint brush or roller
• Detergent
• Trowel, hydraulic cement
• Ball peen hammer and chisel
• Waterproofing compound
• Pail and water

Procedure
The procedure for sealing the basement is not complicated, though it will not be done in a jiffy. Here is how.

Cleaning The Wall
The first step in this endeavor is to scrub the walls clean using a detergent. In case you are going to use waterproofing compound, check out the instructions to make sure if special cleaner is required. Make sure you get rid of all the grease stains. Cover the areas you are not going to tape for sealing and insulating basement walls.

Sealing Basement Wall Cracks
After you make sure that the walls are clean, fill the cracks in the wall (if any), using hydraulic cement. Spray the cracks, till damp, before you fill them up with hydraulic cement. Then, using a metal putty knife, allow the hydraulic cement to dry completely. Add another layer once the initial filling dries, for making sure that the crack has been filled. Let this stay till you start working on the walls further.

Apply Paint
Now, after the initial preparation for basement wall sealing, it is the time to paint the wall. So apply a coat of waterproof or water resistant sealing primer to the basement walls. You will have to cut in around the ceiling, floor and corner. To cover the rest of the area of the basement wall, use a paint roller. Before you start work again, wait for 4 hours.

Second Coat
For ensuring the water sealing of basement walls, apply one more coat of water resistant paint over the primer on the walls. Again, let the paint dry before you start working on it again. Then again, use a water resistant paint, this time colored over the primer you have applied previously. The color will be of your choice. A roller will be good to cover large areas and a brush to cut in around obstacles.

When it comes to sealing basement walls and floors you can use a polyurethane based waterproof sealant for protecting the basement flooring against moisture. Along with this, as the coats of paint are going to take time in drying, consider a couple of days or so for this task to be complete. You can run fans to fasten the drying process and keep the area well ventilated.

Last, but not the least, sealing the concrete before finishing basement walls is extremely crucial. That's it! Consult a professional for knowing about which sealants are good, and other related maters! All the best!