Waterproofing Techniques for Basement Floors.

Many basement flooding and seeping problems could have been avoided by waterproofing the basement floor when constructed. A basement can be so much more than just a convenient place for storing junk! The possibility of family rooms having extra space are realized.

Water situation was not encountered in the beginning by homeowners, but it later appeared because sub-floor and sub-surface drains clogged with mud.

The soil will become too wet and saturated if water from the roof isn't directed far away enough from the foundation. In the process of the house settling, the walls will often crack, protective coatings which are on the outside biodegrades and drainage systems will be filled in with silt. Leakage in the basement can be caused by all of these problems. Flowing ground water enters through cracks or other openings in the foundation; moisture in saturated soil enters through solid masonry as well as through cracks and other openings because of the natural pressure the soil exerts against the foundation. A high water level can create a great amount of pressure. If water is pressurized, concrete cannot withstand it, concrete will surely break because the water will seek all cracks or crevices in the walls and floors. Without proper preparation,  torrential rains could cause flooding in basements or crawlspaces.

If you want to keep hydrostatic water from getting into your home, pressure relief systems will do the job for you. Whenever there happens to be a power outage due to a rainstorm, it is very likely that the primary pumps will not work, and that may cause somewhat of an inconvenience. As pressure increases the floor or wall will be penetrated by moisture. (sometimes termed bleeding). Usually you'll find seepage in corners or in joints where the wall meets the floor.

If water seems to be coming in from an isolated area, installing a sump pump below floor level can lower the water table and underground hydrostatic pressure in that area. Water vapor will go right through concrete since it is porous. A wet or damp basement due to excessive moisture will cause carpeting to rot, allows mold to grow and makes the basement smell musty.

Using high quality sealants easily found in the marketplace is a good remedy. It is often possible to paint them with either the roller or spray method.

A normal basement floor waterproofing job may entail:

- getting the floor ready by taking up any materials that are broken up or loose.
- making sure the basement floor is as dry as possible, hiring large fans or heaters if necessary.
- Assuring that the wall/floor junctions are sealed off.
- Any cracks or joints noticed will need to be filled.
- priming the floor if the product requires use of a primer.
- top-coating floor with the final product, using 2 or 3 coats as appropriate.

With a good product you will have a waterproofed basement floor that should last for a number of years. There exist sealants in the market like PermaFlex which has lasting and durable basement floor waterproofing. This is arguably the only waterproofing system that is suitable for indoor use that will result in the complete sealing of a basement floor, no matter what sort of state it might be in. And it is considerably cheaper than other type of work as it does not involve pipes or pumps!