Basement waterproofing materials can vary significantly in their forms and their uses. Some will be available to the public and some may only be available to the trade. Let’s check whatever the situation is and learn from it for your own home condition.
First of all though, you need to be aware that the area you live in also affects the amount of water that’s likely to be around. Materials that you can use will be influenced by the information you collect.
Simple sealants are the first materials for basement waterproofing that people are looking for. In other words, they have a basement that has already had some form of waterproofing applied to it and are looking to patch small damp areas up. There are top-end sealants such as RadonSeal which will treat poured concrete, mortar in block walls or stone foundations and concrete or cinder blocks.
If the whole basement including the walls and floor are not treated completely with sealant the water is likely to come back in. This product comes with a limited 20-year guarantee so looks like a viable option. The only issue to be aware of here is that the sealant, (not just this one, but all sealants)as water weeping can be avoided from the inside part of the basement. This means there could be a number of water pressing against and through whatever other stuff the basement walls are created with.
You may have to think of other alternatives if you have breaks in the wall. Plaster coating can be used to the existing plaster if that is what the walls are made from. Throw away loose material and refill
Stitching materials can be used as an alternative option. These consist of metal staples which are literally stapled across the cracks, thus preventing or limiting further movement. Cement that doesn’t shrink is used to fill in the cracks.
More serious cracks in the walls or the floor of the basement can be filled with Gunite, a form of concrete that is sprayed on. The special spraying equipment that is required can be rented. The mixture ratio must be correct for the spray to fill any cracks and leave a smooth finish. However it does stick to most surfaces so it’s a good option.
Finally, it needs to be said that basement waterproofing materials are not the ultimate solution. In addition, you should be making sure there is as little water as possible getting into the ground water.
Some things to try:
