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How to Keep a Waterproof Basement

Everyone wants a waterproof basement for their house or business whether it is carpeted and has furniture or if it is just concrete walls and a dirt floor. Many people just call a company that specializes in waterproofing, but due to how expensive the bills can be from professional companies, others would rather do it themselves. The big question a lot of people have is where to start when waterproofing a basement themselves. Below are some easy methods on how to waterproof a basement not only from the inside but the outside too!basement repair Basement Remodel Waterproof Basement

How to Keep a Waterproof Basement

Waterproofing the inside of a basement is not only easier, but also cheaper than waterproofing the outside while still proving very effective. One way to basement waterproofing paint the inside of a basement is to use a silicate-based concrete sealer, which usually costs forty to fifty dollars for a one-gallon can. This method will only work if the walls have not been previously painted or sealed. To apply the silicate-based sealer simply use a paintbrush, paint roller or spray. This sealer penetrates the wall and soaks in so it will not flake or peel off. For the best results, two coats should be applied to the wall. This sealer, once completely dry, can usually be painted over, but it is still best to check the label.

Another way to waterproof a basement from the inside is to use concrete waterproofing coating or seal basement walls. The coating is a dry mix which water must be added to for activation. A five-gallon bucket of dry concrete coating mix costs about thirty to forty dollars. This concrete coating is extremely thick and adds a permanent layer to the basement walls. It must be applied with a heavy brush made of tampico bristles and, to give the walls a more attractive look, swirl the brush at the final stage of application to add designs. This coating; however, cannot be applied to previously painted surfaces. It is best to check the label for any further warnings or directions. A person could also simply start with sealing any cracks or holes in basement walls and around pipes that go directly through the walls.

Your answer on how to waterproof basement walls? Waterproofing the outside of a basement can be a little more complicated and a little more expensive than waterproofing the inside of a basement, but it is extremely effective. There are many simple and inexpensive ways to waterproof a basement, or at least reduce leaking from the outside into a basement. One way to reduce the chance of leaking is to make sure all downspouts from gutters are discharging water and other debris such as leaves and bugs at least five feet away from the building’s foundation. Another way to reduce leaking is to make sure there are no plants closer than twelve inches to the foundation. Grass is acceptable, but flowers or bushes could potentially draw more water in to stay hydrated causing extra water to leak into the foundation and basement.

If someone would rather hire a company to waterproof their basement, they could get an installer to inject hydroclay around the foundation. Hydroclay is very popular for its ability to hold back massive amounts of water. It is usually injected from the outside of the building into the foundation, and it slowly spreads and coats the outside of the basement walls that are covered by soil. The clay also seeps into the openings not only in the walls but also into the soil where water used to come out of the ground and into the basement.

There are many quick and simple ways a person could waterproof their basement. They could waterproof it from the inside with silicate-based coatings which do not peel or flake off the basement walls, or they could use concrete waterproofing coatings to not only seal water out, but also add a finishing to the basement walls. If working inside is not an option or is not favored, there are ways to waterproof a basement from the outside like simply making sure gutters are draining at least five feet away from the building’s foundation or there are no plants, other than grass, growing closer than twelve inches to the foundation. Hydroclay is also an easy alternative if people do not want to waterproof a basement themselves, although it can be a little more expensive. There are many other ways for people to waterproof their basements themselves, but trying the simple methods listed in this article can save time and money.

The Long Quest For Waterproof Fabrics

Waterproof Fabrics

Today, waterproofing as a field encompasses many fascinating areas of research. A variety of popular waterproof fabrics testify to the far-flung nature of many breakthroughs: latex fabrics, vinyl, fluoropolymer fabrics and Gore-Tex.

Many people do not realize efforts to produce cloth with water-resistant properties actually formed an important area of research for hundreds (and possibly thousands) of years! Early people struggled to create clothing items which would keep them dry and protected from the effects of soaking rains. The story underlying the creation of wearable waterproof materials proves quite intriguing. It demonstrates how numerous independent and seemingly unrelated discoveries may eventually contribute important elements to commercially useful products.

Waterproof Fabrics Concrete Waterproofing

Innovators in South America

The research leading to the early mass-production of waterproof textiles likely owed a lot to innovations undertaken by aboriginal residents of the Amazon River basin centuries ago. Some reports indicate that as early as the 1200s, some communities in that part of the world likely learned to manufacture rain-resistant canopies and capes by coating materials with a covering of natural latex, the raw-material used for rubber production. The names of the individuals responsible for this innovation remain lost to recorded history. However, the idea likely helped inspire scientists in later centuries. Early latex-coated products remained too sticky in hot weather to wear comfortably in hot climates, and the latex degraded rapidly in milder temperatures.

A Breakthrough Raincoat

For example, just as people in the modern era marvel at the development of new water resistant nanotechnology-assisted formulations, the public in the British Isle during the 1800s considered the development of rubberized cloth a significant improvement in rainwear. A Scottish chemist named Charles Macintosh (1766-1843) worked to develop waterproof fabrics. In 1823, he discovered that cloth reinforced with an interior rubberized lining offered greater protection from the rain. His research became the basis for the development of new, more water-resistant raincoats.

Mass Production of Rubber

The transport of latex-producing trees from the Amazon to England, and from England to Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), Singapore and other parts of Southeast Asia contributed to the development of the early global rubber industry, too. As scientists discovered an increasing number of new uses for latex, agribusiness owners found they could cultivate groves of latex-producing trees in some tropical locations to produce larger yields. A species of latex trees imported from Brazil contributed significantly to the expansion of organized latex production efforts in Southeast Asia. Ultimately, contributions of botanists seeking to develop more productive latex groves likely facilitated the development of modern waterproof fabrics.

Charles Goodyear

Another significant rubber-related discovery in 1839 would eventually unintentionally impact efforts to design more waterproof fabrics. The American scientist Charles Goodyear helped move this process forward through his effort to conduct basic research into creating temperature-resistant rubber products. In hot weather, natural rubber becomes gummy. It crack in cold temperatures. After five years of research, Charles Goodyear discovered he could stabilize rubber through the addition of sulfur, a process he described as producing “vulcanized rubber”. Sadly, the inventor’s efforts to exploit his discovery commercially did not bear fruit during his lifetime. He died in poverty in 1860, some 40 years before his invention revolutionized the automobile tire industry. Vulcanized rubber would also ultimately contribute to more waterproof fabrics and spur interest in developing new, synthetic forms of rubber.

Many Contributions

The history of the development of waterproof fabrics indicates the importance of numerous individual, seemingly unrelated discoveries. Today, exciting new discoveries continue to raise interest in the waterproofing field!

A Basement Waterproofing System: What It is and Why It Matters

A Basement Waterproofing System: What It is and Why It Matters

Basement foundation repair can be a very expensive matter, especially if it you need to do it over and over again. You can, however, greatly reduce the need for constant repairs with a thick and properly-applied layer of waterproofing.

But first things first: you have to understand how water can damage your basement.

Water has this tendency to seep into even the tiniest of cracks, especially when the weight of a building is pushing down into the ground. This hydrostatic pressure explains why basements are especially vulnerable to water getting into your basement. The continued pressure widens cracks and fissures which allows more water to get in and exert even more pressure on the cracks and fissures.

Waterproofing System Waterproof Fabrics Concrete Waterproofing

The result: extreme structural damage that will require a lot of time and money to fix up.

Waterproofing solves this problem even before it becomes too large to handle.

The first step involves the use of interior sealers for minor leaks around their basement. These sealers go into the cracks and fissures on your side of the basement wall; preventing water from passing through and causing more long-term damage. This is a quick fix for minor problems.

Bigger cracks and fissures, however, have more advanced waterproofing solutions. Barrier systems involve placing a physical barrier – like a sheet of tough plastic – to prevent water from reaching your basement walls in the first place. Drainage systems collect water that forms up near your basement wall and drains it through an elaborate system of pipes. Diversion systems are positioned near the roof of your home and divert heavy rain flow away from your home and your basement.

Keep these bits of information in mind and you’ll understand the role a basement waterproofing system plays in a well-maintained home!

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What’s it Like Crawling Around In People’s Ceilings and Basements?

What’s it Like Crawling Around In People’s Ceilings and Basements?

Cramped, dirty and relatively dangerous. We have to deal with this a lot when doing Raleigh vapor barrier jobs. We have to crawl and squeeze into tight spots to reach those areas where vapor barriers have been damaged. We then have to bring our equipment along with us and work in those tight spots to deal with the issue.

It isn’t uncommon for us to come across colonies of roaches and rat corpses every now and again. Then you have rickety old ceilings which would break if we put too much pressure on them. Then there’s all the mold and mildew that grow from the wet surfaces. We even come across a few odd mushrooms nad fungal growths when we work with older wooden structures. We look at it as another day at the job, something we have to suck up and get over with to earn our keep.

Ceilings  Backflow Prevention Disasters

Needless to say, claustrophobics need not apply.

But there is a bright side to the whole thing, though. We get this sense of satisfaction when we go in and get the job done. It’s also the very thing that sets us apart from other basement waterproofing companies – honesty. We love doing an honest day’s work. We love to stand straight, backs slightly aching from the strain, and appreciate our handiwork. It’s this sense of accomplishment that makes us love what we do and keep on doing the best that we can.

It’s a dirty job, yes, but it’s a job that we love nonetheless.

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