Renovating The Basement Side Walls- Easy Tips To Make The Project Go Smoothly
The inside and outside of the wall are dealt with mostly when waterproofing basement walls. The outside of the foundation can have a waterproof membrane applied to it during construction so this is the best time to make sure your basement is waterproof. Leaks and seepage through your basement walls could result from poor original work, the home settling, or hydrostatic pressure from changes in the water table around your home. Some work is required in order to waterproof your basement walls. Have your socket wrench set nearby. The socket wrench sets can be used for a variety of things. If you need help buying a socket wrench set then find information online that can help you.
First check the walls for any hairline cracks, holes, or other porous areas in the walls. Larger holes will need to be filled with mortar and then waterproofed but smaller holes and cracks will be fine with just a waterproof mix. Chisel out a dovetail to allow the mortar to properly take hold from the inside when filling in larger holes. Mortar is usually one part cement to two parts sand with enough water to make a stiff mix.
No air holes or pockets should be present and an ordinary trowel should be used to apply the mortar. If the wall is leaking considerably you may need to put in a drainage pipe to a sub pump to help drain the water and before applying the mortar, use a stiff wire brush to get rid of loose particles which will help it adhere. Depending on the nature of the water flow this may only be temporary or it could be permanent. Leaking floor joints and larger holes in the wall should be repaired in much the same way.
Chisel out a dovetail joint to help it adhere and make sure to incline the patch slanting it from the floor to the wall to provide strength and drainage. Once the wall has been repaired it is time to apply the waterproof mixture. Remove any paint and mist the wall before applying the waterproof mixture as the mixture does not adhere to a dry wall, but will not set on a wet wall either. You could use your own mix of plain cement and water which should have the consistency of cream when mixed to a slurry or you may prefer to purchase a waterproofing mixture take care when reading the manufacturer’s instructions since epoxy and latex types usually require you to add some water. Use a stiff brush to apply the mixture at the bottom of the wall and move up in a right to left direction.
Every nook and cranny should be filled in. Once the wall has dried, wet the wall down thoroughly again and, in the same manner as the first coat was applied, apply a second coat of the waterproofing mixture. Always use two coats, as one coat will not do the job and may result in you having to start over again. You will find waterproofing basement walls is not as difficult as it first appeared if you use this information. Ultimately, the dry basement you have been wanting for quite some time will be ready.