Understanding 3 Common Basement Waterproofing Methods

There are several ways to address the issue of waterproofing where your basement is concerned. Each method is designed around specific circumstances that can befall your basement and compromise its protection from outside water. In this brief explanation of the most common waterproofing methods, we’ll discuss:

• Internal waterproofing
• External waterproofing
• The use of drainage systems

Which one should you be concerned with? Which will help your situation best? With this information in mind, you should be able to make a more informed choice when waterproofing your own basement.

Basement Waterproofing Location

Internal Waterproofing

This refers to waterproofing techniques that are performed/installed on the interior of the home. Most of the time, internal waterproofing is used once the cause of a basement leak has been identified – such as a crack or gap of some kind. An internal sealant specialized for waterproofing can be used to fill any gaps or cracks that are letting water into your basement.

These sealants not only keep water out, but they prevent condensation and moderating humidity as well. Most of the time, an internal sealant is all that’s needed to correct a problem – at least for a very long time. But this isn’t always the case.

Unfortunately, an internal sealant is usually not enough to fully address the reason for your leaking basement. The problem usually stems from outside.

External Waterproofing

A sealant inside of the home might have put an end to the leak for now, but it won’t fix the main culprit that caused it in the first place. Unfortunately, external waterproofing is a very laborious and expensive process. The soil around the home’s foundation will have to be excavated, so you’re looking at heavy machinery as you move forward. With the soil displaced, a waterproofing compound can be applied to the problematic foundation

If you’re considering taking this step, call up a professional basement waterproofing expert to assess your situation. This is not something that you can take a do-it-yourself approach to.

That is only one type of external waterproofing, however. A home’s gutters, while often overlooked, are an important waterproofing feature. They keep rain waters from affecting your foundation – but that’s only if they have been installed properly and are still in good shape. A homeowner should inspect their gutters every now and then to clear them of debris and ensure that they are where they’re supposed to be.

Drainage Systems

The single best thing that you can do to prevent a leaky basement is to ensure that the home has adequate drainage. The first line of defense against unwanted moisture in your basement? The soil surrounding your home. The type of soil your house is surrounded greatly impacts the kind of drainage you can expect. This is because different soil types drain differently.

The foundation’s position relative to the ground is also important. The ground should be angled in such a way that water rushes away from your home, not toward it. If the ground slopes downward and toward your foundation, some landscaping work may need to be done to safeguard your home from leaks.

There is an interior drainage system that you can install, though it is quite an undertaking: a sump pump. Sump pumps take water away from the foundation and pump it away from the home. If you cannot landscape enough to compensate for a yard that slopes toward your house, this may be a necessary step to take.

If you’re worried that your house isn’t receiving adequate drainage, you should defer to a professional in waterproofing. They will be able to tell you what steps must be taken to keep your basement safe from intrusive water.