Modern basement waterproofing techniques

Until recently, the basement was associated with a humid room with an unpleasant odor and practically not used. However, modern life does not forgive the downtime of such a large space idle, and therefore the basements are beginning to be actively used as underground car parks and garages.



The dampness in such rooms appears as a result of the accumulation of condensate and stagnation of precipitation. Excess moisture can penetrate into the pores of concrete and, if you do not pay attention to this problem for a long time, then a fungus may appear in the room, and in the future, the concrete structure loses its strength and cracks form in the foundation. To get rid of damp in the basement will help either a good ventilation system, or basement waterproofing, the conduct of which is best entrusted to specialists.

There are several methods used in this kind of work. The classic technology is the coating method. It comes down to applying bitumen mastic to the required surface in a liquid state. After drying, a kind of protective film forms, somewhat reminiscent of rubber. It has plasticity, and therefore can withstand significant pressure. Penetrating waterproofing - based on the use of various impregnating mixtures.

Such mixtures are applied only outside the room. They penetrate into the concrete surface to a depth of 10 cm, filling all pores and cracks, and solidify there, thereby significantly increasing the strength of the processed material. Along with isolation of basements, this technique has found wide application in floor waterproofing - in addition to good penetration due to osmotic pressure, such mixtures allow you to “breathe” the treated surface and are environmentally friendly.

More recently, they began to use injectable waterproofing. It is based on the use of various polyurethane compounds and acrylic gels. Due to its fluidity, such mixtures can fill microcracks in concrete or masonry, which significantly increases the useful life of the walls, their tightness and strength. This method has a significant advantage - low material consumption.
In addition, it is used under any conditions and temperatures, and does not require preliminary surface preparation. Which of the proposed options for waterproofing is suitable depends on the type of basement and this can only be determined by a specialist in his field.