Who has waterproofed their basement? I need advice!

[CTyankee]

What works? How much does it cost? Are you satisfied with the results?

[LibertyLover]

1. We did it about 4 years ago

and are very happy with the results. 2 walls of our basement are fine and have no water problems, but the front wall, which faces south and the east wall did. We contacted 3 companies to come in and give us bids. 1 never bothered to keep the appointment, so they were out of the running. We got no explanation either. The other 2 did show and did their presentations. The one, whom we did not go with, insisted that both of us be at the presentation. When I explained that I owned the house, not my husband, they said that didn't matter, they had to have both spouses there (it's not that my husband wasn't going to be there, but I wanted to see what they would say - I hate companies like that). Anyway the estimator came and gave a really bad performance. He got the geology of the area we lived in wrong for starters. My husband had several geology courses in college, and one in specific on Maryland - the area we live in has some funky geology which was extensively covered in his class. Anyway, the guy droned on and on and I finally asked when he was going to be finished because I had to put our baby to bed. I was told to go ahead and do that and he'd continue when I got back. I told him to go on because I would be a few minutes, but he refused to continue unless I was there. When I got back down he continued droning on about the geology. After an hour and a half of no information or incorrect information, my husband said that if he didn't get to the point, he could leave. The estimator said that he had to stick to his script and it would just be a few more minutes. But we had heard and had enough and told him to leave. He got pissed.

The second company came when my husband was home and I was at work, no problem. The estimator was quick and efficient and provided an estimate the next day. It was $2,000. They put a trench in at floor level on the 2 walls with the water problem that empty into the sump pump. The crew who did the job was efficient - in and out in 2 days, and did a good job cleaning up after themselves. And since then our moisture problems in the basement have been minimal.

[Blue Diadem]

2. My son's house has an inside system

that drains to two sump pumps. The previous owner of his house had the system put it and IIRC, the papers my son found said it cost $8,000 for about a 1000 sf. basement with several rooms(meaning more area to run channel). His basement is nice and dry..I'm jealous since mine has rivers that trickle through..and he lives next to a river and it's as dry as dry can be. The only thing I've heard him complain about are the holes in the block at floor level that were not covered completely and is a great hiding space for spiders.

There are outside waterproofing methods as well as the inside. I'd hate to think of the outside method..all that digging and mess.

[NJmaverick]

3. The best thing you can do

Is make sure water is running away from your house.

[CTyankee]

4. No can do. My house is on a downward slope from the street! nt

[NJmaverick]

5. If you can do anything to divert the water around the house

instead of going up against the house, you will be ahead of the game. Failing that, waterproofing really needs to be done from the outside. The problem with any sort of inside coating is the water is behind it, breaking it's bond to the wall.

[sakabatou]

6. What basement?

[Fredda Weinberg]

7. Thoroseal worked ... applied every 10 years inside and out

http://www.thoroproducts.com/products_waterproofing.htm

[jmowreader]

8. What works isn't what most people do

What most people do is to apply two coats of UGL Drilok on the inside of the wall. That kinda works.

What actually works is a hell of a lot more complex and requires shoring. You start by digging a three-foot-wide trench all the way around your house, all the way to the bottom of the basement. Install your shoring so the trench doesn't cave in on you. Clean off all the dirt and let the basement walls dry for at least two weeks. Then roll on a layer of asphalt roof & foundation coating, followed by a layer of fiberglass built-up roof membrane while the asphalt is still wet. Apply another layer of asphalt, followed by another layer of fiberglass...and more asphalt, more fiberglass and finally a real thick coat of asphalt. Give that a week to cure then fill the trench back in.

The problem with the Drilok alone is that, when you put it on the inside, there's nothing to push back against the pressure of the intruding water. Put the barrier on the outside, and the pressure will help it seal better.

[NMDemDist2]

9. post this in DIY too

lots of knowledgeable people over there

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=287

[NJmaverick]

10. I never really looked at those sub-boards

It looks like its a huge resource, worth exploring.

[NMDemDist2]

11. those 'sub boards' are the best of DU imo n/t