How to solve moisture problems in the basement

Redirecting rainwater and improved ventilation should cure many basement moisture problems, but if they don't, the tips below should help.

Basement-level windows, outdoor masonry steps, door openings or a patio may have cracks that will let water into your basement.

• Look all around the house and seal any possible leaks carefully with a waterproof caulk.

Slow seepage through basement walls may be thwarted with a coat of waterproofing basement paint. Better yet, purchase a cement-based sealer made for damp basements. Most of these have a dry and a liquid component that mix together. Here's how to do it:

1. Wet the wall thoroughly.
2. Apply the sealer with a stiff brush.
3. Fill in any cracks as you go by working the sealer into them with the brush.
4. Some products require a second coat.

If you have one or more small spots in a basement wall that leak during rainfall, you might be able to stem the seepage with hydraulic cement, which is designed to plug leaks in concrete.

• Buy it in powder form a home centre.

If none of the methods discussed above stops the water from coming into your basement, you will need to hire a waterproofing professional.

• If the house is new, it is possible that your wet basement problems are a result of incorrectly poured concrete. Contact the builder and your lawyer to see if corrective measures are in order.Otherwise, you must rely on the waterproofing professional, who may suggest that you need to seal your basement walls from the outside. This is an expensive and disruptive procedure, but it does work.

1. The first step is to excavate a narrow pit completely around the house, deep enough to expose the outside basement walls.
2. Next, a trench is dug at the base of the wall and filled with drainage pipes and gravel to ensure good drainage.
3. Then the wall must be cleaned of dirt and a sealer applied, either with a paint roller or with a special machine that blows a sealant onto the wall. Sometimes a rubberized sheathing is used. Thick-gauged plastic sheeting should then be applied over the sealer.
4. Finally, the trench must be refilled again with soil, and the area around the foundation of the house is replanted.

Moisture in the basement can turn into a big problem if left untreated. Keep these tips in mind and resolve the source of the moisture as soon as possible.