Waterproof Your Basement, Increase Your Living Space

(ARA) – If you have a damp basement, chances are you are reluctant to use it. Furniture and electronics can suffer water damage, and the musty smell doesn't make for a pleasant space. Excess moisture in your basement not only limits your use of the space, it can cause a number of serious problems, from mold to weakening your home’s foundation. However, many homeowners put off repairing the problem because traditional solutions can be very expensive. Solutions such as digging, foundation spraying, epoxy injection, saw cutting and jack hammering are the techniques normally suggested by waterproofing companies.

All of these methods treat only the exterior foundation wall coatings. “They don’t promise to eliminate water in your basement, just to redirect it,” says Bill Emerick, owner of Sani-tred, a different kind of waterproofing system. “Let’s face facts, it is impossible to control flooding, humidity, mold and fungus when you allow water to enter a basement.”

Emerick stresses that the only way to completely waterproof a basement is on the inside of the basement walls and floors, not the outside. “The Sani-tred basement sealing system stops all ground water entry, basement humidity, mildew odors and dampness problems by sealing the basement where it needs it most – on the inside,” he says.

“On the inside of your basement the normal ground water table is generally found at about 4 feet below the surrounding grade,” Emerick explains. “Most basement foundation footings are from 7 to 9 feet below ground level. This causes natural ‘hydraulic water pressure’ to cause leaks in basement walls, footings and floors. The exterior concrete foundation walls do not need to be protected from water, it is only the interior of the basement walls and floors that needs to be sealed.”

Sani-tred is a simple three-step process that homeowners can apply themselves in a weekend. The products are solvent free, non-hazardous and non-flammable.

• First, prime the walls and floors with Permaflex liquid rubber coating. Available in light gray or light tan, Permaflex cures reliably even in extremely cold temperatures.
• Next, apply liquid rubber base (LRB) and thickening activator (TAV) at wall to floor junction, cracks and joints.
• Finally, apply a final coat of Permaflex (a third coat on block walls), and enjoy your dry basement. After application and cure, Permaflex leaves a thick layer of smooth rubber approximately four times the thickness of a household garbage bag, (up to 15 mils thick). “The unique adhesive and penetrative properties of Permaflex allows Sani-tred to provide a complete water tight vapor barrier,” says Emerick.

“Poured concrete walls, concrete block, native stone, even treated wood foundations are permanently and effectively waterproofed with the Sani-tred system, allowing previously unusable basements to be finished and used for prime living space, or finish the basement in the usual methods,” Emerick notes.

Once Sani-tred is applied, your basement is dry and maintenance free, meaning you can use and enjoy your basement once again. Another added advantage is that it blocks the entry of problem radon levels into your home.

Sani-tred is backed with a lifetime warranty, and is available directly from Ideal Products, LLC. For more detailed information, visit www.sanitred.com or call (866) 784-3308.

Courtesy of ARA Content