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