Tuesday, September 8, 2009

DIY Tips For Basement Waterproofing

There are only two things you can do when your basement starts to leak. First, you can call experts or contractors that will fix the problem for you which of course it will be a bit expensive. Second, you can do it yourself. The second one is a good choice because you will save money, just be sure you will choose the right product and follow these simple do-it-yourself waterproofing tips.

There are many products out in the market now and these products might help you decide to do it yourself.

Basement dry: For you to use this product you need to drill a hole into your basement floor, a probe will then be inserted. The probe detects ground water and once water is detected, the probe will suck up the water into the self-priming pump. The product is doubly effective because once the water is all suck up, the pressure is also removed. If ever water is not removed, pressure would remain and it result to water being pushed into cracks in the floor or wall. Thus, you will know where the cracks or holes that you will need to repair. Remember it is not easy to look for the cause. Using this product will help you look for the root cause.

Squid Gee Dry: This works on poured and block walls. The water is trapped in the holes of the block. Water is drain simply by drilling small holes on the bottom layer of block. For poured walls which are not hollow, water comes from the crack and goes to the cold joint. Seal the cracks top to bottom. Make sure you will leave the very bottom unsealed for the water to go to the Squid Gee dry.

These two products are not only useful in preventing to waterproof your basement, but most especially if you think it has already has cracks, holes, and leaks.

The easiest and cheapest way to know if your basement has leaks is for you to use foil. By simply taping the foil to the wall of your basement you will know if you have leaks. Wait for some time and check which sides has a moisture on it. If the moisture is on the room side of your basement then you are very luck. All you need to do is to add a humidifier. But if the moisture can be found on the other side, then you really need to waterproof your basement. You might as well use the two mentioned earlier.

There are still a lot of products you can use for DIY basement waterproofing but choose the ones suggested and proven to be effective so as not to waste money. Like if you choose to buy concrete water-proofing products, make sure that you will only by the right one.

It is also advise to start waterproofing the outside part then the inside part. It will double the effect though it will also double the cost. These are just a few great ways to have a waterproof basement. Remember that it's easier to fix a problem before it starts than doing damage control after it's too late.

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