| One of the things that is key to a finished | | | | or several of the following items. |
| basement is a dry interior. Many have sump | | | | You may have a waterproof paint applied to the |
| pumps and drains to remove excess water from | | | | outside of your concrete block wall. This |
| their basements. However the optimum situation | | | | waterproof paint should have been applied to your |
| is to posses a waterproofed basement. | | | | wall at the time that your house was built. Many |
| The waterproofed basement will prevent many | | | | times the color of the basement waterproof |
| of the common issues associated with failed | | | | substance will be black. This waterproofing is |
| pumps and removal systems. So the question for | | | | more than likely a petroleum based product. Over |
| you is does your house posses a basement that | | | | this substance you may find a plastic sheeting. |
| is waterproofed. To answer that question you can | | | | The plastic sheeting is a second barrier designed |
| do several tests. | | | | to keep the water away from the cement block |
| The first thing to look for in a waterproofed | | | | walls. This basement waterproofing method |
| basement is standing water along the edges of | | | | however has only about a ten year lifespan as |
| the basement wall and floor. Many times there will | | | | the material will become brittle and damaged as |
| be a small spill way that removes the excess | | | | roots and soil movement attack it. Outside of this |
| water to a sump pump or a drainage line. | | | | the house may posses a french drainage system. |
| If you are lucky and don't find standing water in | | | | The waterproofing allowed by a french drainage |
| you basement area you can perform a simple | | | | system is absolutely critical if you have a seepage |
| test to see if your basement waterproofing is up | | | | problem through your as built basement |
| to standards. More than likely you will have a | | | | waterproofing system. The french drain is |
| cement block wall that protects your basement | | | | typically a corrugated plastic tube with one inch |
| area from the soil surrounding it. To see if you | | | | holes drilled around it. This pipe is buried 4-6 foot |
| have a potential basement waterproofing problem | | | | in the ground in front of your foundation wall. The |
| through the wall you should tape a twelve by | | | | waterproofing of your basement by this method |
| twelve section of clear cellophane wrap to the | | | | is more of a diversion of water rather than |
| wall. | | | | penetration prevention. |
| Simply check the cellophane wrap after the next | | | | So what are your options if you don't have one |
| heavy rain. If the wrap shows any signs of | | | | of these systems waterproofing your basement. |
| moisture you have a basement waterproofing | | | | The market has created several different |
| problem. This moisture indicates that the | | | | systems available to you now. You can paint the |
| waterproof containment system in your | | | | interior wall of your structure with a |
| basement is not functioning properly. | | | | waterproofing substance or install a post build |
| This can be for several reasons. The basement | | | | french drain. Either of these options are available |
| waterproofing you have can be composed of one | | | | to you. |