Waterproofing Outside Walls

The surest way to waterproof your basement walls is a full scale exterior waterproofing solution.

Waterproofing outside walls.

Damp walls are excellent breeding grounds for mildew and mold which can damage the home and lead to health problems for occupants. A heavy coat of the membrane an asphalt modified polyurethane material can be troweled or sprayed on to seal the foundation wall against water from the outside. Concrete sealing compound costs about 100 per gallon and the labor costs of preparing and cleaning the floor and applying the sealer average between 3 and 12 per square foot. Interior waterproofing is cheaper than exterior waterproofing and there are several methods a professional can use with varying costs.

It may be that cracks in your bricks or pointing are letting the water in or. The dampproofing is only as good as its application as the above photo can attest. When your external walls are exposed to a water source such as rain this water can enter your masonry in some cases travelling laterally from your external walls to your internal walls. Water that enters a basement comes from the soil surrounding it either below the foundation or around it.

Elastomeric membranes are made of modified asphalt and exhibit great waterproofing characteristics. Unfortunately that is only dampproofing and is insufficient for properly waterproofing a foundation. Waterproofing a basement on the outside. Check walls for faults.

Even though my insulation is on the outside of a. Waterproofing your exterior brick walls helps solve any external damp issues. A waterproof membrane is often installed on the outside of the basement wall and the system also requires putting in a buried sump pump where water will collect and then be pumped to the surface. With proper waterproofing of a home s exterior walls however such damage can be avoided.

It s also the most expensive often 15 000 to 30 000. Exterior waterproofing involves excavating all around the house to the full depth of the foundation walls then installing a waterproof coating or membrane topped by drainage panels. One good reason for waterproofing a basement from the outside is that outside is where the water is. Waterproofing external walls is the best solution only if the walls become damp as a result of rainwater or moisture.

By following the next seven steps to waterproofing exterior walls. Before shopping around for waterproofing products it s important to eliminate any other causes of structural dampness. Products are available to let you do the work of waterproofing the exterior of your home yourself.