Wet Basement Solutions

Causes of A Wet Basement

• Cracks in the wall, floor, or coveseams.• Gaps around tie rods and pipe penetrations.• Cracks or gaps around windows and doors.• The pores of the concrete, block, or

cinderblock.

STEP 1: CRACK REPAIR

The first step to turning a wet basement into a dry one is to repair cracks. Cracks allow for large amounts of water and moisture to enter into the basement. The location, size, and condition of your crack will determine which of the following crack repair products is best for your application.

Hydrophobic Polyurethane

If you have a crack in the wall or floor that is wet or leaking, or that has let in water, you want to use the hydrophobic polyurethane repair kit. 99% of the time, if a crack is letting in water it goes completely through out to the other side. The hydrophobic kit is injected into the back of the crack and when it hits water, it will react and expand to the phone. It is the only kit on the market that is guaranteed to repair the entire crack for a lifetime.

Polyurea

Many homes are built with saw cuts, expansion joints, or cold joints in the floor. In many cases, these will allow for the penetration of water because the concrete is very thin, and very weak, toward the bottom of the cut. These types of cracks were intentionally cut into the concrete to help control cracking. For that reason, you want a flexible repair material, like the Armor JFX35.

Urethane

For floor cracks, rigid urethane material, like the Armor FS90, will help provide a structural repair to any floor crack that isn’t wet or leaking.

The other alternative to urethanes in an epoxy. Both are very strong and very durable. The benefit to using the Armor FS90 is that it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

STEP 2: WATERPROOF SEALERS

The next step to waterproofing is to apply a waterproofing sealer. There are two primary options:1. Armor S2000 – This sealer waterproofs through

densification and will help to reduce Radon. This sealer is designed for poured concrete walls and floors.

2. Armor SX5000 – This sealer creates a hydrophobic barrier within the pores. It is designed for very porous materials, such as cinderblock, concrete block, stone, and stucco. It can also be used on poured concrete.

Sealer Tips

When applying a waterproofing sealer it is important to seal everything – all the walls and the floor. Water will find a way in, it always does. If you don’t repair all the cracks, and seal all the pores, you are leaving your basement vulnerable to intrusion.

Most sealers require one coat but suggest two. Don’t skip the second coat. The second coat is designed to fill in any areas where sealer wasn’t heavily applied on the first coat.

STEP 3: DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

In severe cases, an interior or exterior drainage system may be required. Exterior drainage systems are designed to move water away from the basement and interior drainage systems are designed to control where water that enters into the basemen goes. Interior drainage systems are usually connected to a sump pump.

Visit Us!

We hope you enjoyed our brief presentation on How To Turn A Wet Basement Dry. For more helpful articles, or to purchase waterproofing products, visit FoundationArmor.com or call us at 866-306-0246.