When water gets into a home, the effects can be devastating. If you’ve been experiencing persistent leaks in your basement, it’s important that you take the necessary steps to waterproof the room, which will allow you to keep the basement dry now and in the future. Before you get started, you should consider all of your waterproofing options.
What Is Basement Waterproofing?
While there are numerous types of techniques used to waterproof a basement, the goal for each of these methods is to stop water from leaking into your basement, which can quickly damage the foundation of your home. Before you select a waterproofing method, you’ll need to identify the source of the leak so that it can be addressed while you waterproof the basement. By selecting an effective waterproof flooring option for basements, you shouldn’t need to worry about water leaking into your home in the future.
How Basement Waterproofing Works
There are four main types of basement waterproofing that you should be aware of before you obtain this service, which include waterproofing primer and paint products, crack injections, interior excavation waterproofing, and exterior excavation waterproofing. The type of waterproofing solution that’s right for your home depends on the exact construction of your home and the type of foundation that’s in place. When looking at waterproofing primer and paint products, this option involves sealing basement walls with primer or paint products that have good waterproofing capability. While this option may prove to be effective in the short-term, not all waterproofing coatings are created equal, and some are generally a cosmetic solution to a larger problem since they don’t address water leakage at the source.
As for crack injections, this repair technique is designed specifically to be used with foundations that have been made with poured concrete. It’s also important that the leaks are occurring along the walls as opposed to the floor. This waterproofing method isn’t feasible with masonry foundations, which includes any foundation that has been made from stone, cinder block, or brick. When you obtain the crack injection technique, this waterproofing method involves the injection of a polyurethane or epoxy material into any visible cracks, which should help to keep water from entering your basement. Keep in mind that this is seen by many waterproofing providers as a somewhat temporary fix.
You might also want to consider interior excavation waterproofing, which is less costly than exterior excavation waterproofing. This type of waterproofing is designed mainly to address issues of hydrostatic pressure, which occurs when groundwater forces its way into foundations or basement walls. When you’re thinking about obtaining this form of waterproofing, you should understand that it’s meant to get rid of water that has already seeped into the basement by using interior perimeter drain systems. If you want to waterproof your basement before the water enters, other techniques would be more beneficial to you.
While the exact method used with this form of waterproofing can vary, it typically involves the creation of a trench between 4-20 inches wide in some area of the basement. Piping is then installed, which sends the water that’s in the basement to a sump pump system. Even though this method of waterproofing can be effective, it will do some structural damage to your basement and is more costly.
When considering the exterior excavation waterproofing method, it involves digging 6-8 feet into the ground to reach the footer of the foundation wall. The drainage issues will be corrected with the installation of a drainage system or drainage tiles. An asphalt waterproofing membrane or material will also be placed on the surface of the exterior wall to try and prevent water from breaching the basement in the future. Depending on the size of your basement and the amount of water infiltration, this waterproofing method may be applied to a single wall of the foundation or multiple walls.
Because of how much land needs to be excavated, this is typically the costliest waterproofing method. Before you select this option, make sure that you understand what your property will look like once the waterproofing has been applied.
Costs of Waterproofing a Basement
The costs of waterproofing a basement depend entirely on which waterproofing method you select. Primer or paint products that have waterproofing capabilities will be the most affordable options available to you and can cost as low a few hundred dollars depending on how much paint you need to apply. As for crack injections, the size of the crack can dictate the cost of the service. In most cases, the costs should be anywhere from $300-$600 per crack. Interior excavation waterproofing usually costs $50-$80 per linear foot. On the other hand, exterior excavation waterproofing is typically priced at $80-$110 per linear foot. When you’re considering your options, keep in mind that higher-priced waterproofing methods don’t necessarily equate to more effective methods.
The SANI-TRED® Solution
SANI-TRED® is a revolutionary three component waterproofer that is perfect for your basement. The SANI-TRED® DIY basement waterproofing solution works together to adhere to your concrete, patch the concrete, fill joints, and completely seal your concrete permanently. No other basement waterproofer on the market can match SANI-TRED®. Unlike simple paints and primers, SANI-TRED is an affordable, permanent, forever flexible waterproofing solution that can waterproof any basement no matter how deteriorated.
Learn how SANI-TRED can permanently waterproof your basement
See a cost comparison of SANI-TRED vs other waterproofing options