Waterproofing basement walls

A huge consideration that homeowners must make before finishing their basement is what type of water intrusion problems exist or potentially exist that could damage their finished basement. A friend of mine converted his basement into a recording studio with a control room and three recording rooms. It goes almost without saying that he spent a lot of money and effort on drywall and insulation. His contractor informed him beforehand that he should consider sealing the basement walls before he finished his basement. Given the additional $300-$400 in costs on top of several thousand dollars in other basement finishing costs, my friend elected to save a few dollars and not seal his basement. "Afterall," he reasoned, "my basement is bone dry why should I bother with sealing the walls with a masonry waterproofer?"

A few months after all the work was complete a spring storm flooded one side of his basement. It turns out that chipmunks had blocked a downspout with their nest and all the water came rushing out on the corner of his house and into his basement instead of being carried out to the street. The water ruined his insulation, soaked his carpet, and may have caused mold problems.

I would recommend (and I'm sure my friend would also recommend) that before putting up drywall in a basement that you seal the basement walls with a masonry waterproofer such as Dry-Lok or a related waterproofing product. Since you only get one shot at it (if you are covering the masonry walls with drywall), I would put as many coats as the basement walls will take. Two coats are recommended, three coats are ideal, and you may even consider slapping on a fourth coat.

Also consider rerouting downspouts away from the house and checking for blockages. Check your gutters for proper function as well. From there, look at potential water problems from inside the house like leaky toilets, sinks, pipes, bathtubs, etc. All the water will find its way down to some part of your finished basement and try to make your life a living hell. Consider turning off the water if you leave your house for a vacation or other extended period of time. A little planning before and after you finish your basement can preserve your hard work for years to come.

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