Basements can be damp and musty places to be in unless they’re waterproofed well. Basement waterproofing can be done in several ways–some require professional assistance, but most of these can be done on your own.
In order to save money on unneeded repairs, it’s important to first discover the root of your leakage problem. Inspect your basement thoroughly and check if the leakage is coming from the plumbing or cracks in the windows, walls, and concrete. You can clean and repair the damaged areas yourself by patching up and sealing the concrete with a sealant.
It’s important that your basement has a drainage system installed. Without a good drainage system, you’ll definitely experience leaks even after sealing the concrete.
Make sure your drain pipes and gutters are unclogged and working properly. Extend the drain spout so the water from the gutter falls far away from your home and your basement.
If your lawn slopes towards the home, you could have some drainage problems. If your basement gets damp after you water your lawn, that means your lawn hasn’t been graded properly. To prevent this from happening, make the lawn slope away from the house by terracing it and making the area close to your home the highest. You could also build the ground up towards the house.
Finally, you can seal your basement’s walls except the last three inches closest to the floor. On those three inches, install a drainage system to collect and bring water out of the basement. You can purchase a drainage system at a hardware or home improvement store and install it yourself.