The Best Ways To Waterproof The Basement

Basements are extremely useful spaces in any property due to the large number of belongings that can be stored there. In other cases, instead of serving as a storage room, they are where the car or other family vehicles are parked. However, despite their practicality, these areas are humid and have water leaks quite frequently when you feel your basement waterproofing.

The main reason why basements are more likely to suffer this type of damage is because they are located below ground level. Also, they usually do not have any ventilation points but are completely surrounded by soil. This releases the water it absorbs from rain or pipes and eventually ends up forming leaks and cracks in the underground space.

If a basement is not properly waterproofed, problems with mold, poor air quality, and peeling or crumbling surfaces are not long in coming. Therefore, before this happens, it is necessary to adopt some solution to insulate both the walls, the ceiling, and the floor. Read on to find out more about ways to waterproof the basement.

Basement Roof Waterproofing

It is essential that the basement be kept watertight to minimize the risks caused by humidity or water. In this task, it is not possible to go over the ceiling of this space, where leaks are most likely to occur.

In this case, the most effective options are polyurethane membranes, asphalt sheets or PVC sheets.

Basement Floor Waterproofing

When the floor rests on the ground, the insulation prevents moisture from passing into the basement. In the case of new constructions, it is advisable to install a waterproofing sheet that acts underneath before laying the floor.

If the only viable option is to be waterproof above ground, one of the most commonly used alternatives is the injection of waterproof resins or the use of a polymer system that resists water pressure.

Waterproofing The Floor Of The Walls

On vertical surfaces in the basement, it is important to undertake waterproofing work on two fronts. On the one hand, an insulating membrane must be placed under the partitions to prevent moisture from the ground from passing through to the walls.

In addition, cementation mortars must be used on the rest of the walls if the waterproofing is done from the inside or with a drainage system if it is possible to do it from the outside. In the latter case, the process is more cumbersome, since it is usually necessary to excavate the earth to install the solution.

Other Ways To Waterproof The Basement

Chemical waterproofing involves drilling holes in the walls to inject a liquid that acts as a barrier against moisture and leaks. Channels and pipes are installed to divert rainwater to another location far enough away from the basement, preventing build-up during the journey. Before any leaks occur inside the basement, all cracks or holes in the walls, ceiling or floor must be repaired. One of the best mixtures for sealing surfaces in this task is epoxy resin and latex cement, although sodium silicate sealant is also worth mentioning.