If your basement leaks I am sure you are tired of the headaches it causes. But what can you do? You have basically 2 choices: either call an expensive contractor, or do it by yourself. Do it yourself basement waterproofing can be a simple task if you choose the right product, and it will help you save time and most importantly, money.
Don’t let waterproofing your home without the aid of professionals intimidate you. There are many different products out on the market to assist you in waterproofing your basement. Here are some of the choices to help you decide:
Basement Dry: To use this product a hole is drilled into the basement floor, a probe is then inserted into the hole. The probe is essential for detecting ground water. Once water is detected, the probe will suck up the water into the self-priming pump. What makes this product effective is, when the water is removed from under the floor, the pressure is removed also. If the water was never removed, pressure would still be present, resulting in the water being pushed into any crack in the floor or wall.
Aqua-Stop Crystalline basement waterproofing. Used all over the world for many years, brought to North America for residential use by Aquasealusa.com. Highly effective as it penetrates deep inside your walls/floor where the crystals expand over the years sealing it permanently! Withstands extremely high pressure. Can be applied to any concrete surface. Comes as a powder in bucket, you just mix it with water and apply with roller or brush according to instruction. What can be easier than that?
SquidGee Dry: This fabrication works on poured and block walls. With block walls water is trapped in the holes of the block. To drain the water simply drill small holes on the bottom layer of block, using the SquidGee Dry. It is not necessary to drill in every single block. Once the water is released it goes to the SquidGee Dry. With poured walls the process is also simple. Unlike block walls, poured walls are not hollow. Water comes through the cracks and goes to the “cold joint?(where the floor and wall meet.) Seal these cracks from top to bottom. But leave the very bottom unsealed, so the water can then go to the SquidGee Dry.
Another alternative is to go to your town’s hardware store, and buy some Concrete Water-proofer. This method may be the least expensive route to do it yourself waterproofing, but also the least reliable. The process is also quite easy, but this is where the time consuming part comes in to play. Depending on how many cracks you have or wish to fill. To prepare the floor or walls when fixing and mending cracks you would want to follow these four steps:
1. Chisel a rectangular "U" shaped groove along crack.
2. Remove debris from groove by flushing with water and scrubbing with a brush.
3. Fill groove with a fast-setting hydraulic cement compound available at building supply stores.
4. Apply the cement water-proofer, over the repaired area, as directed on the product.
Well, here you have some choices on How to waterproof you basement by yourself. Just pick one of the options above, and your home should be dry in no time.
?Dagmar Rakos
Waterproofing-foundation-guaranteed.com
Dagmar Rakos is the site Administrator for Waterproofing-Foundation-Guaranteed.com
Highly effective, easy to apply foundation, basement and specialty waterproofing products for ICF and standard construction. For home owners, builders and waterproofing contractors.
Available at http://www.waterproofing-foundation-guaranteed.com