I am having a basement foundation poured. I am thinking of waterproofing the exterior walls before it is backfilled. Does anyone have any suggestions for products, techniques etc to do this?
Am I crazy? Would I be better of paying someone to apply a product?
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Check out this thread:
http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-breaktime&msg=29716.1
I can understand my Dad having to walk to school barefoot in waist deep snow. But how could it have been uphill both ways?
Don't just think about it. It is an absolute necessity. I visit most HI and DIY forums and the most common question asked overall is "How do I fix my leaking basement walll?"
First principle of keeping a basement dry is to give the water somplace to go which means laying in perimeter drains and running them to daylight or a drywell or a sump pump.
Waterproofing material is just icing on the cake after that.
Excellence is its own reward!
I agree that fixing a wet basement is a common problem/question. And I also agree that dealing with groundwater is important. But I don't agree that waterproofing is just "icing on the cake".
You never know when the next homeowner is going to change the landscaping a bit, or the ground will settle some. Around here, 3/4 of the country has coal mines under it. So you never know when some subsidence will change the lay of the land. Gutters plug up and run over, etc. Lots of things change over the life of a house.
So I think waterproofing IS important. And it's a lot easier to put in new than to put in later.I called the family doctor this morning and said: "My Wife dislocated her jaw - do you think we could get an appointment in a week or two?"
Two ways to do it; use both in conjunction with eachother.
Perimeter drains and surface applied membranes.
Perimeter drains have be adequately discussed.
The surface applied membranes would generally be a trowel on product made by Laticrete or ThoroughSeal for EXTERIOR use. However, there are some peel and stick products like rubber or PVC that work fine, but I have no experience with them.
Regards,
Boris
"Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
I guess I understated that one..
Excellence is its own reward!
I've seen a drain panel product that goes up against the foundation after you apply the tar (or other waterproofing). It acts like a channel for the surface ground water to get to the french drain (weeping tile for you others). Then to the sump pump for disposal.
Sorry I don't know the product name anymore.
If at first you don't succeed...try again! After that quit! No sense being a dam fool about it! W.C.Fields