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Waterproofing Basements
If you are getting water in your basement
in only a few spots or occasions, there are
a numbers of things you can do to correct
the problem without having to hire a professional.
The first step is to identify and remove
any source of surface ground water that might
collect along the outside of your basement
and then seep in. For example, clean clogged
gutters that might cause water to run over the edge
of the eaves in a rainstorm; also, put extensions
on downspouts to direct the collected water farther away
from your foundation. Check the level of
the ground around the foundation relative
to the rest of your yard for areas that might
cause water to puddle beside your house in
a storm. Add filler dirt If necessary to
eliminate any low spots and to make the ground
slope down from the foundation so that the
surface water will run away from the house.
For even more protection, waterproof the
foundation with an exterior barrier of plastic
or rubber and install drains outside the
foundation walls to direct water away from
the house.
Concrete is porous, so you may also need
to treat the walls inside your basement.
If the walls are damp or have mild and occasional
seepage, you might choose to simply treat
the symptoms: use a dehumidifier to help
reduce the dampness and reduce possible mold
problems. Alternatively, you can add an interior
waterproof barrier: after fixing any cracks
in the wall, painting the walls with a barrier
coating or waterproofing compound. Coming
in a variety of colors, they are brushed
on to form a barrier film on the concrete
wall. However, with time, these barriers
can begin to peel away. A more expensive
but more durable treatment is to use a waterproofing
compound that penetrates several inches into
the concrete to provide a thick layer of
waterproofing besides plugging the tiny holes
on the surface of the wall.
If the problem is water seeping
into your
basement where the walls meet
the floor rather
than through the walls themselves,
you can
install a water collection
system made of hollowed baseboards
that catches
the water and carries it to a
floor drain
or sump pump.
Finally, for some, the source of water seepage
is from areas surrounding pipes going through
the basement walls. If this is your problem
seal any of these gaps around the pipes with
silicone caulk. |
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