If your basement floor or walls are often wet or damp, you may need to have your basement waterproofed. A wet basement causes a variety of problems in your home such as foul odors, damage to belongings in your basement, an increase in pests, rust, damage to equipment, and damage to the structure of your home. Talk to a local basement waterproofing contractor about options for keeping your basement dry. They might recommend a wall coating on the exterior wall. Here's a look at the type of coatings they may consider and how they're applied.

Types Of Waterproofing Coatings

Waterproof coatings come in two basic types: liquid and sheet. Both types require excavating the soil away from the basement wall to apply the coating. Liquid coatings are painted on. The thick liquid cures into a single membrane of waterproof protection that keeps water from seeping through the concrete wall and getting your basement wet.

Sheets are applied in sections. These can be self-sticking, or they may be installed with mortar, fasteners, tape, or adhesives. Membranes need to be resistant to hydrostatic pressure so they keep water out of your basement.

A few sheet membrane options are available, such as rubber and plastic. The seams of plastic membranes can be joined with heat welding that fuses the sheets together. Other materials join seams with tape and adhesives. When the sheets are in place, the soil is returned to its original position and the membrane is out of sight.

Installation Process

When the soil is dug away from your foundation, the wall will be dirty, so it has to be cleaned for the membrane to adhere properly. Once the wall is clean, damaged areas can be seen. Cracks and other damage should be repaired before waterproofing the wall. Cracks can be filled so the cracks won't continue to grow.

When the wall is clean and repaired, the membrane can be applied by painting it on or by attaching it to the wall. Some have a peel-and-stick backing that makes application easy. Waterproofing membranes usually require a drain below them to move water away from your house. If water can't get through the membrane, it rolls to the soil.

When a drain is there, it will catch all the water and move it to the street or other safe location. This is usually done by gravity, but if necessary, a sump pump can be installed too. By having a drain in place, water won't puddle up near your house and cause additional problems.