De-Mystifying the Myths of DIY Basement Waterproofing

Right now we are all spending more time in our homes than ever before! This special time in history has made us look around our property and see what we can improve upon ourselves! Though we love this initiative, it is important to remember that not all things should be "DIYed"; basement waterproofing is one of those things. 

Here is a brief overview of some options you may have considered and which ones are the most valuable and effective. 

The Myths: 

External Solutions

• Considering that water finds its way into your home from the outside, it is easy to turn our heads to the exterior of our house when looking into solutions for wet basements. This is actually not where we should turn when trying to solve this issue! 

• A common solution people think will work is digging up the dirt around the leak on the outside and slapping on an external patch. This can actually cause more harm than good, and at the very best it is a short term fix. The risk in this option is that you actually disturb the soil around your foundation, destabilizing it. This will increase the rate at which you may experience water leaks or wall failure.

Caulk and Spackle

• This is a quick fix that comes to mind internally and eternally, but neither are great options. If you are thinking of using caulk to fill a crack or seal off a crack, click here to find out why that won’t quite work for you!

• This might work as a short term fix, but certainly not for the long term.

Waterproof Paint

• Waterproof Paint is a similar option to the caulk and spackle. A rubbery paint is often used to attempt to ‘block’ the water. This might also be a very short term fix, but the water will soon worm its way through the paint and you will be left with the same issues. 

Stronger Options:

Extending Your DownSpout

• A simple solution that might be effective is to extend your downspout. Water seeps in from the groundwater around your house, so to extend the downspout pushed the water further away from your house!

• This is not a complete solution but it should help and is cheap, quick, and easy! 

Re-Thinking Your Landscaping

• If the leaks in your home seem to have increased in severity recently, think about what has changed? If it is springtime, maybe the soil around your house has shifted, but maybe you have done some new gardening! Though adding a planter on your patio is harmless, think about if you have done any big rearranging such as adding trees or moving a flowerbed. This may have destabilized the earth around your foundation and caused your basement or crawlspace to be extra-leaky. 

Installing a Basement Waterproofing System

• This is our most highly recommended option!!! Installing a basement waterproofing system is an all-encompassing long-term solution that will keep your basement (or crawlspace) dry! Not only will it keep it dry, but it will prevent the growth of mold, mildew and small critters. 

• Read more about the CleanSpace Encapsulation System here!

  This photo was taken in Gainesville, VA

To learn more about the Clean Space Encapsulation System or to ask about options for your home, call us and book a free appointment today!