Waterproofing a foundation involves preparing the exterior walls and applying a protective barrier to prevent moisture from entering your basement or crawl space.
Effectively waterproofing a house foundation from the outside typically follows a series of steps designed to address the foundation walls directly. Based on common practices and the provided reference, the process involves accessing, cleaning, repairing, and coating the foundation walls, along with addressing potential weak points like windows.
Here is a general overview of the steps involved in waterproofing a foundation:
- Excavate the Soil Around the Perimeter of your Foundation: This crucial first step involves digging out the soil surrounding the foundation walls down to the footing. This provides direct access to the foundation's exterior surface, which is necessary for the subsequent cleaning, repair, and application steps.
- Clean and Prep Your Foundation Walls: Once the walls are exposed, they need to be thoroughly cleaned. Removing dirt, debris, and any loose material ensures that the waterproofing material can properly adhere to the surface. This often involves scraping, brushing, and potentially washing the walls.
- Fix Damage to Your Foundation Walls: Before applying any waterproofing, inspect the foundation walls for cracks, holes, or other damage. Repairing these defects with appropriate patching materials is essential, as waterproofing membranes are designed to seal the surface, not bridge significant structural issues or large openings.
- Apply a Waterproofing Membrane to the Outside of the Foundation: This is a core step in the waterproofing process. A specialized waterproofing membrane or coating is applied to the clean and repaired exterior foundation walls. This creates a continuous, impermeable barrier that prevents groundwater from penetrating the concrete or blockwork. Different types of membranes exist, but their purpose is the same: to create a watertight seal.
- Install Window Wells: For basements with windows, installing window wells is important. Window wells are semi-circular or rectangular structures placed around basement windows at ground level. They serve to hold back soil and debris, allow natural light into the basement, and, when properly drained, help prevent water from pooling around the window and potentially leaking in.
Following these steps helps create a barrier against hydrostatic pressure and general moisture intrusion, protecting your foundation and basement from water damage.
