With all of the changes brought on by global warming, making sure you have a waterproof basement is more important than ever in many areas of the world. For many people who did not have to worry about waterproofing basements just a generation ago, floods are now a realistic possibility. Weather patterns are so erratic, and changing so quickly, that you might as well be careful. After all, it is always better to be safe than to be sorry.
There are many different strategies to waterproof basements. All in all, it depends on your local weather conditions, water table, and resources. One of the easiest ways to ensure a waterproof basement is to plan ahead when you are building or buying a home. The layout of your home and your property makes a huge difference. If you can build up on a hill, or at least on flat ground, you have a better chance of avoiding flooding. Even in areas with heavy rains, it can keep a basement waterproof.
For most of us, however, relocating or rebuilding our home is not an option. After that, things get a little bit trickier. One of the best waterproof basement tricks that I know of is to put a gap between the basement floor and the sides of the foundation. Any water that leaks through the foundation as the house gets older and starts to settle, can be channeled below into sump pump. Of course, keeping a waterproof basement means that you keep your sump pump in good working order. You can never be too careful about this. Often, it makes sense to have a backup one just in case.
A lot of people start off on the inside when they're trying to set up a waterproof basement. This is a mistake. Although having well sealed floors and walls is important for waterproofing your basement, it is not where you begin. The best place to begin is by inspecting the structure. Are the rain gutters adequate? Are the walls solid? Is the foundation intact? Patching up these kinds of errors in time can save you a huge amount of expense and inconvenience. After that, you want to seal up your floor, repair cracks in your interior walls, and do that kind of work. It makes a difference, but it isn't the most important factor in maintaining a waterproof basement. Remember, if your house is solid outside, it will stay solid inside as well.
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