Renovating The Basement Outside Walls- Constructive Suggestions To Make The Project Run Smoothly
Waterproofing basement walls can be done in a number of ways, mostly dealing with the inside and outside of the wall. The best time to make sure your basement is waterproof is during construction when a waterproof membrane can be applied to the outside of the foundation. Poor original work, the home settling, or hydrostatic pressure from changes in the water table around your home could result in leaks and seepage through your basement walls. It is possible to waterproof your basement walls with some work. Of course make sure you have the correct socket wrench set available. The socket wrench sets can be used for many things. If you need help choosing a socket wrench set then find information online that can help you.
First check the walls for any hairline cracks, holes, or other porous areas in the walls. Larger holes must be filled with mortar before they can be waterproofed but just a waterproof mix needs to be applied to smaller holes and cracks. Chisel out a dovetail to allow the mortar to properly take hold from the inside when filling in larger holes. One part cement to two parts sand with enough water to make a stiff mix makes an average mortar.
When applying mortar use an ordinary trowel and make sure there are no air holes or pockets. To help the mortar adhere, use a stiff wire brush to get rid of loose particles before applying it because if the wall is leaking considerably you may need to put in a drainage pipe to a sub pump to help drain the water. Whether this situation is temporary or permanent is dependent on the nature of the water flow. Repair any leaking floor joints in much the same way as the larger holes in the wall.
Start by chiseling out a dovetail joint to help it adhere and make sure to incline the patch slanting it from the floor to the wall to provide strength and drainage. When the wall is completely repaired, the waterproof mixture can be applied. The wall should be sanded to remove any paint before applying the waterproof mixture and the wall misted as the mixture does not adhere to a dry wall, but will not set on a wet wall either. Take care when reading the manufacturer’s instructions since epoxy and latex waterproofing mixtures usually require you to add some water, or, an alternative would be to use your own mix of plain cement and water which should have the consistency of cream when mixed to a slurry. The mixture should be applied at the bottom of the wall with a stiff brush and spread by moving up in a right to left direction.
Feather the edges until the entire area is covered and leave it to dry overnight or until the mixture is not flaky. The next morning, wet the wall down thoroughly again and apply a second coat of the waterproofing mixture in the same manner as the first. If you use one coat instead of two you may have to start over again as this will not do the job. Put this information to us and you will discover that waterproofing basement walls is not as difficult as you initially thought. More importantly, you will finally have that dry basement you have been wanting for so long.
