How to Waterproof the Basement Walls

Waterproofing the basement walls requires about three to four days to complete, depending on the size of the basement. The most popular form of application these days is latex-based waterproof paint. Most brands of paint have a five to ten year guarantee, which is reassuring. Since the foundation of the house is made of concrete, the bricks are porous and they allow water to seep in, which leads to problems such as mold, mildew, and salt deposits. Although the best procedure would be to waterproof the outside of the foundation, before the area around it is filled in, not many homeowners have this opportunity. Therefore, this article will only cover waterproofing the walls inside the house.

DAY ONE

Since there is no ceiling that requires waterproofing in the basement, moving furniture, shelves, etc. into the center of the basement should allot enough room to paint. After you have cleared everything away from the walls, inspect them for any holes, cracks, dirt, or salt deposits. You need to get rid of these before you apply the paint, otherwise the paint will end up peeling, and the paint brush may not be able to penetrate deep holes and cracks. Most waterproofing paint brands also make crack filler to apply before the waterproof application, and this should be used at the end of the first day, and allowed to dry overnight. Before filling the cracks and holes, it is best to use a steel wire brush to remove the salt deposits that usually appear along the bottom of the wall. With adequate lighting, you can see that most of the dirt, salt, loose concrete that needs to be removed before painting.