INTERIOR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING

Interior Basement Waterproofing For Wet Basement

The work is usually done for the floor and walls. A concrete coating is applied in this case. The cost of this work is almost the same as the cost of the exterior waterproofing excluding the price of soil excavating. That can be rather costly. If you hire an expert company, such as Tornado Plumbing & Drains, you may be offered some additional options for the interior waterproofing to double the protection against the water. The suggested variants include a vapor barrier, filling cracks with an epoxy injection, installing silicate sealers, or applying special water-protective paint. Our company will readily help if you are still doubtful about what to do with your wet basement.

Methods Of Interior Basement Waterproofing

The first step to pick out the water proofing method right for your basement is identification of the problem. You may need some specific work to prevent condensation, or just coatings and sealants to be applied to keep water away from the basement. All these methods are applied from the inside.

Method 1. Concrete Waterproofing and Foundation Coatings

The water may sometimes seep through any external protection barrier. In such cases, a special coating made from the concrete mix can be applied from the inside. It is especially beneficial when the concrete on the walls is unpainted. After drying out, it looks like a sort of bristled stucco. There are some other basement waterproofing materials that are normally applied for protective coatings. Crystalline (elastomeric) is among them. The coating can also be applied to the foundation. It is made from non-fibrous bitumen and used for footings, abutments, foundation and retaining walls, culverts, and wing walls. * The low temperature formula can be applicable as well.

Search also: Waterproofing Foundation Walls From Outside

Method 2. Silicate concrete sealers

It is really possible to dry out a basement simply by sealing the walls. Silicate is widely used for sealers when your coating needs densification. This penetrating sealer consists of small particles which interact with the concrete pores. Silicate reacts chemically and makes up SCH (calcium silicate hydrate). This mineral can be encountered in nature, and it provides additional strength to the surface.

Method 3. Waterproofing Paint

The acrylic waterproof paints are widely used from the exterior for keeping the basement dry. These paints are denser than the common ones. They stick tight to the walls and protect them from moisture. However, if the technology is not used properly, the paint can break down and it won’t stand more than six months since the moment of applying it to the walls.

Method 4. Crawl space waterproofing

The interior basement waterproofing membrane is often used when you need to protect your crawl space. It is also called a vapor barrier. The base of this material is plastic. The sheet is 20 mm thick and it helps prevent moisture and pests from penetrating into your house. This membrane is applied either on your small space floor or up the walls. It will be better if in addition to this barrier, you can have insulation, drainage mats, and vent covers in your cellar.

Method 5.  Epoxy injection crack repair

Cracks can be of different shape and width. Epoxy injections are applied in this case. The range of viscosity varies for them – it can be either ultra-thin or paste-like, or something in between. The advantage of most epoxies is their compressive strength. It can reach 12,000 psi or more, and that exceeds the strength of concrete. If the basement cracks need some structural repairs, application of epoxies is the only option. Though, remember that these substances can harden for a long time, and it may take hours to complete the cure. That can be explained by the epoxy characteristic feature that lets it flow into and repair even the tiniest crevices. So, allowing much time for that is a big advantage. 

Interior Waterproofing Systems

When water has already penetrated inside your home, you should start installing an internal basement waterproofing system which helps redirect this water away from your basement. This technique is not so expensive as some others used for waterproofing. For example, if you waterproof the basement from the outside, it will cost you much more. After the water has been redirected, the internal sealants are applied. This blocks further moisture penetration and possible damage caused by it.

Waterproofing interior basement walls

You can get the walls covered with some concrete coatings. They stick perfectly either to concrete or masonry when they dry out. To create a permanent sealer, densifiers, or silicate-based sealers are applied. They react chemically with wall to make the coating thicker.

In case of serious problems with water in your basement, the installation of an interior drainage system is needed. The system collects the water leaking into the home from the basement walls. You may also use a vapor barrier. It is made of waterproofing materials, such as aluminum sheeting or plastic.

The barrier is installed in crawl spaces or next to the basement walls. While such barriers are mostly used in crawl spaces, they can also be applied along the total length of the foundation walls. That forms a permanent vapor barrier. When there is a need to combine interior drainage systems and basement waterproofing, plastic panels and sheets are required. They are not meant for blocking water that leaks through the walls. They are rather used as a preventive measure against the water coming from the floor. Install waterproofing plastic sheets and panels to support your basement drainage system. The walls will remain dry even if a serious leak occurs. They will just help the water to flow to this drainage system. Such a technique may seem rather expensive. Though you can protect your interior from any sufficient damage by applying it.

Drainage

In fact inside basement water proofing is not commonly meant for prevention. It is more like a water management measure meaning that it deals with all the water that has already penetrated into your home.

• Your house may be situated on the slope or it may be built in an area prone to floods. In this case, you will need to get a backwater valve installed to protect your basement from severe water leaking and flooding. When there is a heavy downpour, such a valve will not allow the sewer water to flood the basement from the sink or toilet. It is always better than to restore the water damage because the outcomes of sewer flooding can be disastrous.
• There is one more solution used for the internal waterproofing. It is very complex though effective. The basement drainage system installation can solve many issues. It depends on the materials and approached used. One of the most common approaches is a French drain with a sump pump. The technique also implies installation of rubber walls, a drainage membrane, and/or water weeping tiles (interior weeping system). When all these methods are applied, water runs away smoothly from the basement without causing any damage to its walls.
• If you have a sump pump system already installed, remember that it needs thorough maintenance at least once a year. Try to inspect it on the regular basis to avoid its failure in case of emergency.
• If the windows in your basement are below-grade, they need sealing. Consider that requirement when you plan the interior waterproofing. The fact is that many basements get a lot of moisture through the windows that are improperly installed.
• Of course, you cannot manage drain cleaning and replacementon your own. When you smell mildew or probably notice a clog, address this issue to the professionals.

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