Waterproofing your basement can be an inconvenient and costly endeavor. To get an accurate estimate of the costs involved in waterproofing your space, seek advice from an expert waterproofing contractor.
Professionals know that leakage through wall cracks is often the source of moisture in basements, and these holes should be filled with hydraulic cement or professionally installed subfloor drain tiles to mitigate moisture problems – but what else is involved in this lengthy process of restoration?
Also Read: Why You Should Install Custom Windows While Renovating Basement?
How Much Does It Cost to Waterproof a Basement?
Waterproofing your basement usually costs $3 to $6 per square foot when including materials and labor costs. There are various approaches to waterproofing your basement; each method offers different advantages and drawbacks.
When making this decision, it’s important to weigh up-front costs against potential long-term savings; selecting appropriate methods will protect your investment, prevent mold/mildew growth, and lower water damage risks.
Liquid membranes and sheet membranes offer other exterior solutions for leaky basements.
Liquid membranes are typically applied by rolling or brushing onto concrete blocks, poured concrete, or other types of masonry foundation walls and tinted to suit your home’s color scheme.
When applying liquid membranes it’s essential to prepare the wall surface well prior to application as dirt or other materials could wreak havoc with them causing it to fail.
Remember that basement waterproofing cost varies from project to project. However, sheet membranes typically cost more than liquid membranes – on average around $5 per square – sheets may fail even before application!
Exterior waterproofing can be one of the more cost-effective and costly approaches to waterproofing your basement, though excavation must first take place to uncover its foundation before applying the waterproof coating and drainage panels to divert excess water away from its foundation and into an outlet pipe or drain.
In order to be effective, exterior waterproofing should ideally take place before any remodeling work has taken place – to limit future repair needs.
Sealing the Foundation
If your basement is damp or leaking, one effective approach to waterproofing it from outside is called “lateral waterproofing,” and there are various techniques you can employ to achieve it.
First is installing a sump pump which diverts excess water away from your home into an alternate drain instead. While such systems typically cost around $5,000 upfront, they could save thousands in foundation damage repair later.
Rubberized coating is another effective DIY option. Simply brush, roll or spray this product on the outer foundation walls until dry; once set it becomes hard and rubberized – sealing out air, moisture, mildew as well as chemical/mildew resistance. A gallon should cover 75 square feet.
Concrete-sealing membranes may also be utilized. These products can be applied by spraying, rolling, or brushing and guarantee to stop moisture penetration and cracking of basement walls. It can be used both indoors and outdoors but outdoor use is preferable due to weather.
Although costly at around $10,000 to $15,000 for outdoor installation costs alone concrete sealing membranes could prevent future wall crack reopening as well as reduce radon leakage rates significantly.
If there are cracks in your basement walls, hydraulic cement that stops moisture infiltration can help fill them quickly and without bleeding or shrinkage. One such product is a newer type of “Hydraulic Cement” which can be applied quickly in just three to five minutes and does not bleed or shrink when applied correctly.
Exterior methods to stop seepage are most effective, yet require continuous upkeep and attention. For instance, downspouts must be extended so as to divert water away from foundations, while gutters should be thoroughly swept and cleaned regularly.
The soil beneath and around houses should be graded so as to slope downward.
If your crawl space provides access to plumbing, heating, electrical and other systems, consider running a dehumidifier to keep humidity below 60% and prevent mold and mildew growth. You could also add ventilation fans for additional condensation control in areas prone to moisture issues like basement walls and floors.
Sealing the Walls
Based on the extent of your issue, you have several options for waterproofing the interior or exterior walls of your basement. Interior wall waterproofing typically employs elastomeric coatings designed to resist moisture penetration that are applied using brushes, rollers or spray cans – they often come in colors to complement your walls’ finishes!
Just remember to patch any cracks and remove efflorescence (white mineral deposits that accumulate on concrete walls) prior to applying any coatings!
At another key way of avoiding moisture problems in a basement, one effective strategy to ensure rainwater flows away from its foundation is ensuring rainwater flows away from foundation plantings, flowerbeds and gutters – this can be achieved by clearing away foundation plantings, clearing gutters and downspouts regularly, as well as grading yard so it slopes downward and away from house by at least 2 percent.
Moisture seeping into a basement can be hard to manage.
To ensure a proper solution is put in place, if leakage persists it’s wise to contact a professional contractor to inspect and identify its source before providing a recommendation for repairing.
A solution could involve installing French drains like these or excavation of soil for creating dry wells; plastic drainage systems consisting of thick rolls of impermeable material bonded directly onto home foundations can also help.
Sealing the Floors
Basement floor waterproofing involves sealing the concrete slab that makes up your basement floors to prevent moisture from seeping through and percolating into it. Waterproofers often take on this job when there’s carpeting or wood flooring that needs to be installed after it has been sealed properly.
The cost of waterproofing services varies considerably based on where a house is situated and how many contractors bid on the job, due to lengthy travel distances from contractors’ bases to basements requiring transportation fees and fuel charges.
One common solution for basement leaks is installing a drainage system around your home, such as weeping tiles, baseboard drains or French drains.
Although this option costs approximately $85 per linear foot on average, it can prevent water leakage through foundation settling cracks, floor cracks, cold joints, control joints, floor-to-wall joint (cove), pipe protrusions and wire tie leaks and beyond.
