Basement Waterproofing Best Ways Keep Your Basement Dry

Basement Waterproofing: Best Methods to Keep Your Basement Dry

A wet basement is wasteful, causing mold, allergies, and financial drain. Waterproofing your basement effectively prevents these issues. Dry basements expand livable space and boost home value.

Basement waterproofing starts outside. Prioritize addressing simpler and more affordable issues before dealing with the leaky foundation. This might solve the problem.

The main causes of wet basements include poorly sloped soil, swales, drains, landscaping issues, foundation cracks, faulty sump pumps, or indoor humidity problems.

While you can’t prevent heavy rainstorms or snowpacks, there are ways to keep moisture away from your home.

• Landscaping. Grade your soil to slope ½” every foot for 10 feet from the house and then tamp it to prevent settling. If space limits you to less than 10 feet, consider a swale or French Drain to carry water away.
• Gutters and Downspouts. Ensure gutters are installed and sloped properly. Downspout runoffs should be 10’ long to get water far enough away to prevent wicking back to the foundation. (Note: Any water within 8’ of the house can reach the base of an 8’ deep foundation.)
• Swales or French Drains. Ensure swales and drains are appropriately sloped to move moisture away from the house.

Weeping Tile. Weeping tile is a 4” porous flexible plastic pipe used to collect and divert water away from houses. It is installed at the base of basements during construction and is also utilized in French Drain construction.

Window Wells. Window wells collect and retain water, which can seep around windows or through concrete cracks. It is recommended to have a drain pipe connected to the weeping tile.

Sump Pump. Sump pumps remove excess water from basements, the space beneath the floor, or the surrounding areas. They are designed to pump the water outside the house for drainage. However, sump pumps can sometimes experience backups, adding to the existing problem.

Foundation Cracks. Cracks in foundation walls allow external water sitting against the wall to infiltrate your basement.

Basement Waterproofing: Keeping Water in the Yard

Every drop of water kept in the yard is one less to worry about in the basement. If water seeps into your basement after a rainstorm, examine the slope of your soil, window wells, and drainage system.

Get the Proper Slope

No matter how much you tamp and pack, disturbed soil near the house will settle. Attach a level to a straight ten-foot 2 x 4 and check the slope around your home. Set one end against the house, lift the other until level, and measure the distance to the ground. It should be at least 5 inches.

Add dirt to any area needing more slope. Then, pack and seed it.

Enhance Drainage System:

– Extend downpipes to at least 10′ and drain them into trees or shrubs that absorb water.

– Improve swales and french drains to move moisture away from the house and prevent basement flooding. Keep the system simple and cost-effective.

Deeper Window Wells:

– Consider installing deeper window wells to prevent soil from resting on wood or aluminum siding.

– Wet soil can accelerate the rotting of wood, so it’s important to avoid direct contact between the soil and siding.

– Additionally, be cautious of lawn fertilizers, as they can react with aluminum and cause damage.

Many houses have small window wells that cannot stop heavy dew or were made with 4 x 4s a long time ago. To fix this, install new window wells that extend 2″ below the window frame, 2″ above ground level, and project 2 feet from the wall. Secure them to the wall with caulking or putty tape.

Adding window well covers will prevent most rain or snow from entering the well. These covers, made of clear polycarbonate, can be screwed onto the window well and the wall. While they are not completely waterproof, they will still prevent enough moisture from collecting in the well and leaking through the gaps around window frames.

Please note that if your basement windows need to meet egress requirements, secured window well covers do not meet the code.

Waterproofing Basement Walls from Outside

In my area, exterior waterproofing of basement walls has been a requirement for 50 years. This involves spraying a thick polymer-modified asphalt coating on the entire wall, reaching down to the footing and extending 4 inches above the final grade.

This tar-like substance fills cracks and form-tie holes and can expand and contract up to 1/16 of an inch. Some applications may need multiple coats for added protection.

Another alternative is Blueskin, a waterproof cover that adheres to concrete, concrete blocks, and various other surfaces. These coverings are also applied from the footing to above grade.

Whichever exterior basement waterproofing option you choose will be better than waterproofing from the inside. Hydraulic pressure is the pressure of a liquid against an object. It is always better to continually push the waterproofing towards the wall than away from it–as with interior repairs.

Waterproofing exterior basement walls can cost $15,000.00 or more. While the products can be expensive, the greatest cost involves removing the dirt around the basement and replacing it.

Remove the Flower Beds

It is common to plant flowers next to the house. But, keeping them well watered could be causing a basement leaking problem because the foundation wall is wet.

Moving the bed away from the house can help keep the basement dry. Close trees and hedges can also cause issues, and watering them may worsen the leakage problem.

Before choosing a repair method, identify the source of the water. If the walls are wet, it may be a humidity problem rather than a leak.

Basement waterproofing repairs are more effective when the walls and floor are dry. Wet surfaces make it difficult for products to adhere, and it is unsafe to drag electrical cords through water.

Hydraulic Cement. Hydraulic cement is an excellent product for filling cracks in concrete and replacing mortar in concrete block walls. As hydraulic cement expands, it will push deeper into cracks, providing a solid seal between adjoining material. Follow all of the directions and have the patience to mix small batches. It only has about a 3-minute window of working time once mixed.

Leaking Windows. Even if you have sealed the window frames from the outside, seal the inside. Remove the casing and spray low-expansion window foam into the gaps and cracks. Replace the casing and caulk the wall.

Waterproof Paint. You will find several types of waterproofing concrete paint. It can be rolled on and left to dry. Then apply the second coat. It does not adhere to painted surfaces, so remove the old paint first.

Sump Pump: Ensure your sump pump is in good condition or consider installing one. You may want to hire a professional. Interior Drainage Systems: Many interior drainage systems are available.

They can be expensive, starting around $5000.00.

Terry Schutz is a freelance writer specializing in home renovations, DIY advice, and construction. With over 30 years of experience in the construction industry, Terry has acquired knowledge as an installer, manager, salesperson, and business owner.