The basement is a continuation of the foundation, which rises above the surface of the earth to 2 m or less. It is part of the house and acts as one of the important structural elements, so its waterproofing should be treated with special attention. This procedure is necessary, it is aimed at ensuring that moisture does not get into the foundation. In addition, such work will exclude the rise of capillary moisture, which can reach a height of up to 5 m.
Usually waterproofing the basement is carried out at the time of construction of the building, the only way to prevent leakage and destruction of the foundation. It can be carried out externally and internally. However, in order to exclude damage to the walls and the foundation, it is necessary to carry out external waterproofing, since it is from the street that the materials are exposed to negative influences and groundwater. In order to reduce the volume of earthwork, it is better to carry out waterproofing at the stage of building a house.
External waterproofing methods
To date, there are many ways to waterproof the base. Among them are the following:
- clay ring;
- glued roll waterproofing;
- painting waterproofing;
- drainage and blind area;
- coating waterproofing;
- penetrating waterproofing.
The clay ring is arranged in that part of the floor, which is below the soil level. To do this, the material is well mixed and aged, and then laid along the perimeter of the base to a depth of 20 cm. The clay is well compacted, and covered with layers of crushed stone and sand, which should also be tamped.
Features of drainage and blind areas
If you decide to waterproof the basement, you can use the blind area and drainage. For the latter, a drainage pipe should be laid below ground level of the base , along which groundwater will be diverted. The blind area is located at the place where the base is in contact with zero ground level.
The blind area is laid at a width of 1 m. For this, concrete or asphalt is used, which are located around the perimeter of the building. It is important to ensure complete sealing of those places where the basement is adjacent to the blind area. In addition, the design must have a certain bias. The sealant will be urethane mastic. The first two methods are implemented without fail, they are the simplest and require the use of special tools and materials.
Reviews on roll waterproofing
Okleechnaya waterproofing involves the use of roll bitumen, synthetic or polymeric materials, which are deposited or glued in several layers. Their minimum should be 2. At the same time, it is important to provide a 20-cm overlap on the base. This method of waterproofing, according to home masters, requires surface preparation and compliance with the temperature regime during operation.
Carrying out waterproofing of the basement, you can use multilayer membranes. Consumers are advised to heat them with a gas burner, and then press them well against the surface of the base and smooth them with a roller. Consumers like this method for several reasons, among them:
- cheapness;
- elasticity;
- no need to use special tools;
- environmental friendliness;
- good adhesion to stone, concrete and wood;
- high installation speed.
The master does not need to have certain skills. Customers also like the fact that under the influence of high temperatures, the pasting material can easily change its original shape.
Negative reviews about pasting waterproofing
If you decide to perform a waterproofing of the basement, then you should pay attention to some of the disadvantages of this method. Consumers emphasize that the surface of the basement will have to be prepared, for this it is cleaned, leveled and dried.
Roll materials have one drawback, which is expressed in low mechanical strength. The work is quite difficult to carry out, so some believe that dealing with them on their own is not so simple. Under the influence of the external environment, the waterproofing layer can quickly become unusable and require repair. Buyers emphasize that in order to protect the waterproofing layer from mechanical damage, appropriate work will have to be done.
Features of coating waterproofing
The waterproofing of the basement floor from the outside can be carried out with coating materials. They are produced on the basis of polymer and bitumen mastics. The most modern material for these works is liquid rubber. It has excellent adhesion properties, so it is possible to obtain a monolithic waterproof seamless coating over the entire surface height.
The material penetrates into the pores, and also has another plus, which is expressed in a high degree of elasticity. This type of waterproofing is effective for a socle made of brick and concrete. Very often, polymer or bituminous mastics are used for these purposes. They are economical, but short-lived, since in five years they can become cracked.
Recently waterproofing based on liquid glass has gained wide popularity because it is: easy to use, resistant to aggressive chemical environments, environmentally friendly, resistant to low temperatures and has a high degree of moisture resistance.
Methods for waterproofing the basement
If waterproofing the basement with your own hands from the inside out, you can use almost the same list of materials that was mentioned above. For example, roll sheets and geotextiles are great. You can choose:
- hydrostekloizol;
- euroroofing material;
- bicroelast.
They are not used as often as a traditional roofing material, but the latter is less effective due to its low quality. Such products can be used for processing walls on the outside. Additionally, coating plaster and reinforcement are used. The basement waterproofing device may include the use of coating agents. These are not only mastics, but also polymers, as well as cement mixtures. They are applied to the floor surface, as well as penetrating waterproofing. The latter is a high-quality primer with excellent moisture resistance characteristics. The composition is sprayed on the surface to form a 2 mm layer.
If you wondered how to properly waterproof the basement, then you can consider sheet material. It is great for cases where the amount of water will be quite impressive and under high pressure. The thickness of the steel for waterproofing should be 4 mm or more. Recently, more and more often polyvinyl chloride membranes are used. They require a reinforced mesh.
Sprayable compounds are liquid rubber. After they are applied to the wall, polymerization occurs, the material hardens. The composition is based on bitumen mastic. You can also use bentonite clay. It acts as a moisture-proof natural component. It can be used to coat walls to create a gel-like, natural protective layer.
Technology of work
The basement floor can be waterproofed with penetrating materials. To do this, the surface is cleaned and moistened. A concrete slab moistened with water will ensure uniform penetration of the substance. If the building is old, then humidification should be even better. At the next stage, you can begin to prepare the mixture, which is applied in one layer. It should be left until absorbed, only after you can begin to form a second layer.
Features of the technique
The walls should be moistened for several days. To apply the mixture you need a brush. From synthetic material, which can be replaced with a special pump. If you are thinking about how to waterproof the basement, then you can use sprayed materials. They are applied by spray.
The material quickly hardens and forms a reliable strong film in the form of a membrane. The main advantage of the method is that it can be applied to any material, namely metal, concrete and roofing material. As a result, it is possible to form a seamless, even, odorless coating that is durable. Spray materials are used in particularly difficult cases.
Specialist advice
Waterproofing the basement from the inside can only be done after surface preparation. If you have to work with concrete blocks, then cracks and joints should be covered with cement mortar. As soon as it dries, the base is covered with a primer, which will increase adhesion. To do this, you can use the finished primer or cook it at home. For this, 300 g of bitumen are dissolved in 10 liters of gasoline.
Bitumen should be constantly maintained in a molten state, which cannot be called convenient. We'll have to spend extra on fuel. Working time with hot material is only 4 minutes. For concrete surfaces, resin acts as an excellent protection. However, it is fragile and can be covered with cracks during shrinkage of the foundation, if there are no additives in it.
For reference
Quite often, the waterproofing of the basement inside is carried out by cold bituminous mastics. They have the necessary plasticity, and they can be applied without temperature restrictions. Mastic is a sticky and heavy material. In order to reduce the viscosity in cold weather, it is necessary to add to the composition a solvent, which is recommended by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
The basement of any building is a kind of intermediate link between the brick walls and the foundation of the house. To put it simply, this is part of the foundation, which is located above ground level. It is she who takes on the blows of precipitation, therefore, requires reliable protection from moisture.
If you want to keep your home as long as possible, then you should think about carrying out such work, and as soon as possible. After all, moisture accumulates in the materials, and with the onset of winter begins to expand. All this destroys the structure, contributes to the formation of cracks in it. It is better, of course, to provide waterproofing work even at the stage of building a house. Then you can plan your budget.