Post 4 of 4
WATERPROOF INSIDE BASEMENT
Waterproof inside basement, involves for separate post, that covers inside and outside information. Repairing your basement adds value to your home. If you were selling your home, you could lose a sale because your basement has water stains. Of course a potential buyer sees water stains, they are thinking mold and mildew, which of course is not always the case. However, a basement that looks maintained and shows no water stains is a huge plus to a potential buyer. Because now they are thinking about how much stuff they can store in the basement. When you waterproof inside your basement the value you create out weighs the cost.
IMPORTANT OUTSIDE PROBLEMS REQUIRE REPAIRS FIRST
It is very important that all the issues on the outside of the home are taken care of before waterproofing the inside. If you do not, you have not fixed the problem, you are only masking it.
See Step 1 at bottom of post
WATERPROOF INSIDE BASEMENT
Before you can waterproof inside basement walls, repairs need to be completed. Because there are certain steps that you need to follow to get the best results. My recommendations are that you read all four posts about sealing your basement. There is also a video on my YouTube channel on sealing your basement. At the end of this post will be links to articles and what tools you will need to do the job.
First, all the residue, like you see in Post 2 photos, (powdery film) on your walls, must be wire brushed. Using a wire brush, simply dry scrub the wall. You may have to scrub quite hard to get off as much of the powder as possible. WEAR A DUSK MASK.
WATERPROOF INSIDE BASEMENT, BRUSH DUST OFF WALLS
When you finish wire brushing, clean all the dust from the walls before you start other repairs. Because if you do not, the mortar and sealant will not stick well, and you will be wasting your time and money. If you have a shop vacuum with a fine dust bag, this is where it will come in handy. You can also use a bristled brush to remove the dust off the walls created by scrubbing.
CHECK AND REPAIR ANY CRACKS IN THE WALLS
See post 2.
Next inspect all the mortar joints for cracks. Also check for any porous blocks. In the photos below, you can see the cracks and porous pit marks.
Same block coated with cement wash first.
Same block coated with cement wash first.
Once you finish preparing wall surfaces you can begin to use a mortar mix to fill cracks and holes. Mix mortar as per instructions. While you can mix your own mortar from scratch, I prefer a product like this Rapid Set Mortar Mix. Because these types of mortar mixes are blended to be stronger and quicker setting. WEAR GOGGLES AND GLOVES because cement dust is fine and gets in the air while stirring the mix.
MIXING AND APPLYING WATER SEALER
You are going to be so happy that you decided to waterproof inside basement walls. When you finish filling in all the cracks and the mortar is dry, this may take a few hours, you can start applying the sealer. We used Drylok basement sealer. The product claims to withstand 10 pounds of hydrostatic pressure (PSI), equivalent to a wall of water 22-feet high. This is not a stain sealer, which is a quite different product. Drylock is for holding back water; stain sealers, like Kilz, are for hiding stains so they do not eventually show through painted walls. The mixing and application instructions are on the container. You will need two coats for proper sealing.
HOW TO MEASURE PRODUCT
To measure out the product while mixing, we used a bathroom scale, which worked great. However, because it can get quite messy, cover the bathroom scale with a clear plastic bag to keep it clean. Weigh out 10 lbs. of the product in a bucket. Next, mix 2 pints of cold water, stirring as you go. When mixed, add another 1 ½ pints of water to heavily coat the wall or 2 pints if you want a lighter coat.
HOW TO USE PRODUCT
Surfaces must be lightly wet down before applying the sealer. Failure to do so would be a waste of your money, as the product may not be as effective. I recommend a good 4-inch synthetic brush to apply the sealer to the walls. Because of the cracks, holes and rough surface you must brush it in well to cover all the imperfections. Pay special attention to the corners, edges, and especially where the floor meets the wall. As this is the most common area where water would enter. You will need to wait 24 hours between coats. I do not recommend a roller for walls like these, with cracks and porous block. However, you may use a roller on the smooth floor.
Above, 2 coats waterproof on walls 1 coat on floor
2 coats of water sealer on walls and flooring.
Once the sealer totally cures, in 30 days, the wall can be painted with regular wall paint. The floor can be painted with concrete paint, making the basement a major improvement to the property. You can do the same with your basement, increasing the value of your home.
Visit my YouTube Channel
YouTube Video. Basement waterproofing
1b Reasons your basement leaks
2 How to seal basement inside walls
3 Repairing cracks and bad mortar joints. Preparing walls for waterproofing
