{"id":21082,"date":"2021-02-21T10:11:25","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T16:11:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/?p=21082"},"modified":"2022-02-21T10:39:57","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T16:39:57","slug":"basement-waterproofing-for-renters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentable.co\/blog\/basement-waterproofing-for-renters\/","title":{"rendered":"A Renter\u2019s Guide To The Basics Of Basement Waterproofing"},"content":{"rendered":"

While it may be convenient to rent a home instead of owning one, this choice comes with a few problems. One of these is a water-flooded or leaky basement. Unfortunately, being a renter puts you in a precarious position.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Interior flooded basement flooring of laundry room with leaky pipeline, vector illustration.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First, you can\u2019t just make any changes in your home without your landlord\u2019s permission. Second, is it your responsibility to waterproof your basement, or is it the owner\u2019s obligation? Third, can your insurance cover the costs?<\/span><\/p>\n

Before anything else, know that waterproofing your basement is a huge undertaking. It\u2019s not as simple as painting your basement and calling it a day. Remember that you need to take care of three main things: your basement\u2019s interior, exterior, and drainage system. It\u2019s a daunting task wherein most would rather rely on <\/span>basement waterproofing experts<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, in case you\u2019ve already gotten a go signal to waterproof your basement and you\u2019re willing to do it yourself, here\u2019s a short guide on what you need to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Prepare Your Basement And Excavate The Ground Around It<\/b><\/h2>\n

Depending on your landlord or renting setup, try to see if you can be allowed to dig around your basement to expose its outer walls. Likewise, depending on the size of your property and where you live, you may need to acquire permits to go through with the digging. Lastly, make sure to mark and avoid areas where utility lines are. As you\u2019ll be digging around your property, you\u2019ll surely encounter all of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once you\u2019re done excavating or you can\u2019t excavate at all, start cleaning and clearing everything out of your basement. You need to get a better view of the walls, floor, and partitions, if there are any, for you to effectively waterproof the interior.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If there\u2019s a bit of flooding in your basement, you may want to procure a small wet or dry vacuum. One should be enough to remove foot-high floodwater if there\u2019s no storm or rain outside.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if it\u2019s rainy season and your basement situation is worse, you may want to buy or rent a sump or submersible pump instead. Don\u2019t remove all the water if there\u2019s ongoing rain. Use the pump to minimize or lower the water level. You don\u2019t want to ruin your pump fast because of overheating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Check For Wall Damage And Cracks<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Once everything\u2019s out of the way, start inspecting your basement walls for cracks. Even if your basement has windows and lights, bring a high-powered flashlight with you when searching for damage. Aside from visible cracks, be on the lookout for seeping water. Don\u2019t forget to check for damage and cracks on the outer walls as well.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mend Cracks With Hydraulic Cement<\/b><\/h2>\n

Be sure to inform your landlord before you fix or change anything in the basement. Some property owners hate renters who perform <\/span>redecorations and repairs on their apartments<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Using regular mortar or cement isn\u2019t enough to fix the cracks on your basement walls. While they may seal the damage and prevent water from seeping in, it will be temporary as the plaster may crack because of vibrations from mini-quakes and expansion from temperature changes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use hydraulic cement to seal the cracks properly. Unlike regular cement, it can expand as it cures and will fill the gap or space between the cracks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alternatively, a quick but messy solution is to use epoxy. Remember that using epoxy is only ideal if the cracks in the walls are not too small or large. Epoxy can last for a long time, especially if you don\u2019t live in a wet and earthquake-prone area.<\/span><\/p>\n

Apply Sealant<\/b><\/h2>\n

When all cracks and damage on your basement floor are fixed, it\u2019s time to seal them with a cement-based sealant. Know that water can still seep into your concrete walls. To prevent water from leaking inside your basement, apply a sealant to close all your walls\u2019 pores.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coat The Outer Walls With A Membrane<\/b><\/h2>\n

If you can access your basement\u2019s outer walls, apply a coat of asphalt-modified polyurethane (more commonly referred to as elastomeric membrane) on them. This coating can waterproof concrete walls and prevent water seepage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Take note that most new houses have basements coated with membranes. Typically, they last for a long while. Even if the walls have cracks, the membrane won\u2019t easily tear or get damaged because it can flex and expand. So, if the outer walls are coated already, reapply the coating only if water seeps through them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Another thing to note is that patching or reapplying waterproofing membrane can be complex, so don\u2019t hesitate to get help from waterproofing specialists.<\/span><\/p>\n

Install Drainage Mats<\/b><\/h2>\n

For added protection and waterproofing for your basement, install drainage mats, alternatively called drainage boards, around your basement\u2019s outer wall. These mats have dimples on them, allowing air and water to pass through them and gravity to drain water out of your foundation and concrete walls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s just a rough explanation of how these mats or boards work. Remember that they still have other layers of functionalities that work to protect your basement and its membrane from water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Install A French Drain<\/b><\/h2>\n

Because you\u2019ve already dug around your foundation or your basement\u2019s perimeter, you can start making a trench and installing a <\/span>French drain<\/span><\/a>. Also called weeping or drain tiles, French drains are perforated pipes around foundations buried under gravel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These drains make it easier and quicker for water around foundations to escape outside properties. They also effectively prevent water from pooling and flooding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make Slopes Around The Property<\/b><\/h2>\n

You can slope the soil or ground around your home if you can\u2019t dig or do anything drastic to the property. You just need to ensure that the water can flow outside your property and won\u2019t pool near your foundation. If you can\u2019t make slopes, you can try to add a few inches of ground around your home instead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n

These are the things you can do to waterproof your basement. To reiterate, though, it\u2019s not an easy project to do alone, especially if there\u2019s existing water damage already. Moreover, be sure to do all of these during the dry season. If the flooding is worse than you expected and it’s raining nonstop, consider getting emergency basement waterproofing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

While it may be convenient to rent a home instead of owning one, this choice comes with a few problems. One of these is a water-flooded or leaky basement. Unfortunately, being a renter puts you … <\/p>\n

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