DIY Project: Waterproofing the Basement
Waterproofing the basement may sound scary especially if you’re a newbie but everything will flow smoothly if you have the right information and of course the right materials. Before you do the actual waterproofing job, make sure you check your basement thoroughly for any cracks or leaks. Repairing them at first hand will save you from a lot of troubles in the future.
Once you’re done with that, you are now ready to apply the waterproof mix. The first thing that you have to do is moisten the basement wall with a fine spray before you apply the waterproofing mixture. You can just use a garden hose with nozzle set to a fine spray. While the walls should be damp when you apply the waterproofing mixture, keep in mind that water shouldn’t be standing on the wall’s surface. In other words, it should only be moistened and not watery or floody.
On waterproofing the basement, you can make use of epoxy or latex waterproof mixtures for the treatment of basement walls and floors. Make sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully especially regarding the ratio of water and the compound. A lot of waterproofing mixtures do not adhere well to painted walls. You can remove old paint by sanding, wire brushing or sand blasting and then apply the waterproofing mixture.
If you want to make your own wall coating mixture, you can do this by mixing plain cement with water. The mix should have a slurry consistency just like that of a cream. Make use of a stiff brush in a circular motion to pat the mixture into the wall. Take time in filling every pore in the wall.
When applying the coating, start at the bottom of the wall because this is where the water pressure is likely to be greatest. After that, brush the waterproofing mix to the top and then move back to the bottom while slowly applying additional layers of the mixture. Brush the waterproofing mix only over the areas where there are leakage problems. Once the coating has dried, spray the area with water and soak it thoroughly and let is set overnight. You want to do this to keep it from rubbing off. Spray the area again with water the next day and then go ahead and apply a coat of the waterproofing mixture while the wall is wet. Always use two coats when waterproofing the basement to get optimum results.
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