What Materials Are Typically Used For Basement Waterproofing?

When it comes to waterproofing your basement, you’ll find that there are a lot of different materials on the market which you can use. By taking the amount of moisture you get in your basement into account, you’ll be able to find materials which are better suited to your type of problem than others would be.

The best thing you can do to make any basement drier is to have dirt built up higher around the foundation so that the water will run away from the house. The rule of thumb here is to grade the ten feet nearest the house so that it starts 10-inches above the rest of the lawn and then drops 1-inch per foot. This will help remarkably in draining the water away from your house.

One method of basement waterproofing is to use French drains (aka land drains). They consist of a system of gravel, ditches, and pipe that will move groundwater away from your home. Although these systems work quite well, they are subject to clogging which means they will need a lot of preventive maintenance in order to keep them running smoothly.

Drainage systems in the basement itself work well in removing water from the basement. Floor drains should be installed when the basement is built. Pipes are run under the floor before the concrete is poured so that you can hook up a sump pump which works to remove water that comes up in a pit in the basement floor. The water is pumped away from the house through the pipes and into an area where it will no longer bother the house.

Most sump pumps run on electricity, but more and more are coming out on the market that have back-up battery packs in case you should have a power failure. A battery model will cost a little more initially, but if you’ve ever had to bail water by hand during a power failure, you’ll know that unit is worth every penny you pay. Every year you should do some routine maintenance on your sump pump, especially if you live in an area where you rely on it heavily. Other things you need to check regularly are drainage system pipes, gutters, and downspouts so that you make sure they’re kept free from debris.

Sealants are another type of waterproofing material you’ll need for your basement. These work especially well in areas where you don’t get a lot of moisture, and they seal the concrete in order to prevent water seepage. You paint it onto your basement floor and part way up the walls. It’s expensive, so you don’t want to use it any higher than you have to. It will keep water from seeping in up to the point you stop painting, but it’s advisable that you don’t use this as your only method of water control. Using it in conjunction with exterior grading and drainage methods works well, though.

Another waterproofing method that has been used successfully consists of channels that are installed around the edges of the basement walls. Making small holes in the walls near the floor will route water into the channels. Once the water is in the channel, it is carried away from the house using a sump pump. You can install a system like this and then cover it up when you finish the basement.

No matter what method or methods you use to waterproof your house, they’re going to be well worth your effort. They will help you maintain the value of your home and make your basement dry and usable again.

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