In order for any building to last as long as possible, high-quality waterproofing of the walls in the basement or in the basement rooms located in it is necessary. This is especially true when you want to use this space for residential or business needs.
Properly done moisture insulation of the basement will protect it from the appearance of dampness, the growth of harmful fungi and mold. This kind of work can be done with your own hands if you follow our instructions. To do this, first, you need to decide on the type of waterproofing and, based on this, select the appropriate materials.
Waterproofing, in essence, is a set of measures to protect any premises from the penetration of groundwater, storm water and melt water.
Types of work
In this case, two types of work can be carried out - vertical or horizontal insulation.
- The first type is painting, when two or three layers of liquid bitumen, polymer or bitumen-polymer composition are applied to the surface. The pasting variety is also common, when with the help of heated bitumen, sheets of rolled material impregnated with the same bitumen are fixed vertically on the walls.
- The horizontal type of insulation (plastering) is carried out using cement-sand mortars containing various modifiers.
Separation by state of aggregation
When carrying out work on moisture protection of basements, materials differing in their state of aggregation are used.
- liquid analogues for paint insulation;
- solutions based on a binder;
- dry ready-made mixtures, with their help penetrating (absorbent) and horizontal waterproofing is carried out;
- roll type materials;
- solid analogues - steel and aluminum sheets.
Specific purpose and composition
- Anti-filtration products – protecting premises from water ingress.
- Anti-corrosion materials – protection of the reinforced base and foundation from rusting.
- Sealing insulators, including injection insulators, ensure absolute tightness of the basement.
Based on their composition, moisture insulators are divided into the following types:
- Asphalt-containing materials are made from petroleum bitumen. More modern analogues are based on bitumen-polymer mixtures.
- Mineral products consist of cement, special types of clay and other natural ingredients.
- Plastic or polymer compositions are used for pasting, painting or plastering analogues of waterproofing.
- Metal insulators. To implement such protection, thin aluminum or steel sheets are used.
Moisture insulation technologies
Waterproofing walls in the basement, based on the type of material chosen, can be:
- hard, using solutions;
- pasted, roll insulators are used;
- coating, in which bitumen-containing compositions (sometimes in composition with polymers) are used;
- painting, using liquid polymers.
Carrying out work
At the moment, the construction market offers many materials, both traditional and modern, for any type of implementation. waterproofing works.
Preparing the walls
However, whatever technology you choose, first of all you need to prepare the walls.
- First you need to clean the surfaces from dirt and dust. If the walls have already been treated with insulation, it should be removed.
- Next, all differences and cracks are leveled and filled using a modified sand-cement mortar. The easiest way is to add liquid glass or one of the building polymers to the prepared mixture.
Now in the markets you can buy special sealants designed for filling cracks and leveling walls. Calculating the required amount of material is quite simple. For this purpose, you need to find out the total area of the walls being processed, that is, multiply their perimeter by their height. The consumption of insulator per square meter The instructions on its packaging will tell you.
Note!
Selecting the type of waterproofing agent is a little more difficult.
For this purpose, it is necessary to determine the depth of groundwater, know the climate characteristics in the region, and also take into account the type of foundation of the building.
Rigid waterproofing using various solutions
For such waterproofing of basement walls you will need:
- quartz sand;
- waterproof cement;
- liquid glass;
- primer;
- grater and spatula.
Having prepared all this, you can get to work.
- If you are carrying out external waterproofing with a trench. Its width should not be more than one meter. In depth it should reach the base of the foundation.
- Place a sand cushion in the ditch and fill it with concrete mixture.
- Next, apply a special primer. It can be applied either with a large brush or with a construction sprayer.
- When the surfaces are dry, you can begin to plaster the outer walls of the basement with a mixture of moisture-resistant Portland cement and sand. When using ordinary cement, add liquid glass to it in a ratio of 9:1.
- The solution must be applied in 3 layers. Each layer must be completely dry before applying the next.
Note!
Such waterproofing is good because it not only protects the walls from moisture.
It can also be used to completely level surfaces.
Tape-type waterproofing
When groundwater has high level occurrence, then internal or external waterproofing is most often done using rolled materials.
To work, you will need roofing felt or any other bitumen-based analogue, for example, waterproofing.
Also purchase bitumen mastic and a large brush.
- First, clean the walls of dirt and dust. Level them with mortar as necessary.
- Next, apply two layers of bitumen primer to the surface. Each of its layers should dry within one to three hours.
- Coat the roofing felt panels with bitumen mastic and cover the basement walls with them. They need to be laid from top to bottom. Glue the panels with an overlap of 10 centimeters over each other. At the same time, bend their edges, also by 10 cm, onto the floors and ceiling.
- Mastic can be used both cold and hot. When using the second option, you can achieve better adhesion of the insulation panels to the walls. The cold composition should be applied to the material in a layer of 1 millimeter, and the hot one - in a layer of 2 millimeters.
- The number of layers of waterproofing (1/3) depends on how dry you want the basement to be.
Coating type of wall protection
First choose a material. You can use liquid glass (its lowest price), liquid rubber, bitumen-based compounds or specialized emulsions with various fillers and additives.
You will need:
- selected composition for wall insulation;
- clay;
- tar solution;
- spatula and brush;
- container with water.
You will need to treat all the walls of the basement with the solution:
- The composition is applied in 3 layers. This must be done from top to bottom in a vertical direction.
- Each layer must dry well before applying the next.
- If the surfaces have areas that cannot be reached by hand or the tool does not fit there, then the solution can simply be poured into such places.
- Next, all unevenness must be smoothed out using a spatula.
- After this, the walls should dry.
- Then dilute the clay in a container to a dough-like consistency, and add a tar solution to the composition.
- Coat the walls with the prepared mixture.
One of the cheapest and at the same time effective penetrating coating compositions is sodium silicate, commonly called liquid glass.
It has a number of advantages:
- The solution enhances the strength of materials and makes them waterproof.
- In addition, it disinfects surfaces. Harmful microorganisms will not multiply on walls treated with this composition.
- When applied, sodium silicate, through the pores of the material, is deeply absorbed into it and forms strong crystals inside. All cracks and pores are completely clogged with them. Therefore, moisture cannot penetrate into the room through these cavities.
Note!
Liquid glass hardens quickly - from 5 minutes to 30.
Take this into account and try to use prepared insulating mixtures that contain it during this time.
Sodium silicate is not a toxic substance, but has an active alkaline reaction.
Therefore, when working with it, use gloves and a respirator.
Painting type of insulation
For painting, as well as for basement walls from the inside, special bitumen resins are usually used. They need to be applied in 2 layers. Recently, special penetrating polymer impregnations based on polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, and polypropylene have become popular.
A situation often arises when, even after waterproofing work, condensation begins to settle on the basement walls. In this case, it is possible to recommend injection-type isolation. During the process, a specific composition fills all, even the smallest, internal cavities in the walls. Therefore, moisture cannot penetrate into the room.
Conclusion
The materials and technologies described above will give you the opportunity to isolate the basement from moisture penetration into it. Thus, you will increase the comfort of staying in it, prevent the destruction of load-bearing structures and finishing, and prevent the proliferation of harmful microorganisms. The video in this article will help you learn a lot more useful information on the topic discussed.
Waterproofing protects the basement from the harmful effects of ground and surface water. Even the strongest concrete has pores and microcracks throughout its entire volume, which have little effect on strength, but can allow water to flow into the structure. Over time, water reduces the characteristics of concrete, contributes to the destruction of reinforcement, and increases heat loss in the house. This is critical for a basement where humidity increases and there is a risk of flooding during spring floods or heavy precipitation. Effective protection is waterproofing the basement from the outside from groundwater; it is only important to choose the optimal waterproofing option.
A set of measures for waterproofing the basement and foundation
Moisture protection for the foundation and basement is always a set of measures aimed not only at creating a durable barrier, but also at draining ground and surface water away from the house, garage or other building that has a basement. The structure of water protection systems is as follows:
- for drainage of groundwater;
- and blind area for drainage of surface water;
- waterproofing the foundation from the outside;
Let's take a closer look at the methods and materials used for waterproofing the basement from the outside. Based on the principle of application and purpose, there are three types of waterproofing:
- penetrating;
- low-pressure;
- high-pressure
Penetrating waterproofing is designed to protect and strengthen the concrete of the foundation. This is a whole group of compositions with similar properties and effects. Their main strength is the ability to penetrate deep into the concrete structure through microcracks and pores and clog them. This happens due to the polymerization of the elements of the composition, after which any, even the smallest capillaries in the volume of concrete are closed with polymer crystals. They are hydrophobic in nature and do not allow water to penetrate further, but have little effect on the vapor permeability of the material.
Low-pressure waterproofing provides immediate protection against moisture. This is a layer of hydrophobic insulating material fixed on top concrete base basement walls. It can be:
- roll materials from polymer films;
- bitumen-based roll materials;
- coating polymer materials;
- liquid rubber, bitumen-containing mastics and coatings;
- liquid glass.
Basic requirements for low-pressure waterproofing:
- uniformity and continuity of waterproofing properties of the finished coating;
- good adhesion to the surface of the foundation and basement walls;
- corrosion resistance and durability.
High-pressure waterproofing in itself is already a comprehensive solution. This is a durable and wear-resistant multi-layer structure, the main purpose of which is to withstand high groundwater pressure. A mandatory type of protection for houses and other structures with deep foundations and basements, near which groundwater rises above the edge of the structure.
The protection consists of several layers of hydro insulating material, alternating with cement plaster. Polymer or bitumen-containing fillers are added to the plaster solution, which can give it hydrophobic and waterproofing properties. For rigidity and strength, pressure waterproofing is additionally reinforced with galvanized steel or polymer mesh.
It is worth remembering that even the most reliable and thick-walled waterproofing will last a long time and without problems only if there is an effective drainage system organized around the perimeter of the building and a strong, wide blind area with a clay lock.
Complete basement waterproofing includes protection of walls and floors. The best option protection will be erected during the construction stage of the building. If you need to restore or replace protection on an already used house, you will have to expose the foundation and, if possible, replace the floor in the basement or form a second layer with a new layer of waterproofing.
Materials
For external waterproofing, materials must be strong, durable and resistant to aggressive environments. Specific materials such as polyurea or sprayed polyurethane are no longer advisable to use. Bitumen mastic itself is not suitable as independent remedy and is combined with other materials that can take on part of the load.
Penetrating waterproofing
An extensive section of waterproofing compounds, the main task of which is to impregnate concrete and plug pores and microcracks, preventing the penetration and spread of moisture. However, they should not, if possible, interfere with the vapor permeability of the material.
This is a mandatory element of external basement waterproofing. It is advisable to use penetrating compounds at the stage of pouring concrete into the foundation and basement walls, when the solution has already been poured, but has not yet dried. To treat structures that are already in use, deep penetration primers and diluted penetrating waterproofing are used.
Ruberoid
Classic bitumen-containing waterproofing material. Ruberoid is glued on top of basement walls and building foundations. To do this, strips of material and the base of the walls are heated gas burner and press tightly against each other. Forms a fairly tight contact.
The base is fabric made of polymer fibers or thick paper. The first option is preferable, because polypropylene and polyester fibers do not rot and give the material tensile strength, which is especially important, because the waterproofing layer will come into contact through the geotextile with the soil and backfill of the drainage system.
Polymer membranes
Film and roll materials made of polypropylene or PVC with a reinforced structure. Over the entire surface, protrusions are formed by pressing in the shape of a truncated cone and microperforations, if it is a vapor-permeable membrane.
Polymer membranes do not provide tight contact with the base. More often polymer waterproofing held in place by pressing with a layer of soil or additional lathing, shields, etc.
Liquid rubber
Liquid rubber is based on the same bitumen with the addition of various polymers, rubber and binding components. Initially, the composition is diluted with water and applied to the surface to be treated. After setting and polymerization, a seamless waterproofing coating 3-10 mm thick is formed with high adhesion to concrete. Since the strength of the layer is quite weak, reinforcement with polypropylene mesh or galvanized steel mesh is used. High-pressure waterproofing consists of alternating layers of liquid rubber with cement plaster and reinforcement.
Liquid glass
Liquid glass in its pure form is not used in external waterproofing of basements. It is added to cement mortar for plastering, used as an additive to coating compositions or as an impregnation for pre-treatment of joints, cracks and other damage during restoration work.
Bitumen mastics
It is used on the same principle as liquid rubber, and also as an additive to other coating compositions. By itself, bitumen does not have sufficient strength and durability to cope with loads.
Cement waterproofing
Complete external protection of basement walls is not possible without a layer of plaster that will protect waterproofing materials and will ensure the strength of the entire package of groundwater containment measures. Cement compositions with the addition of bitumen, liquid glass or polymer components are used to perform restoration work.
Injection waterproofing
A separate type of external waterproofing. To protect an already in use building, when it is not possible to expose the entire depth of the foundation, much less reach under the base of the floor in the basement, waterproofing materials can be delivered to the outside using the injection method.
Drilling is carried out on the inside of the walls and floor in the basement through holes following a certain pattern or following a certain step. Next, using special nozzles and a compression unit, the waterproofing compound is pumped through the holes. Hardening on the outside of the foundation, the solution forms a durable layer of high-pressure waterproofing.
Wall waterproofing technology
Procedure for restoring waterproofing of the foundation and basement walls from the outside:
- The blind area is dismantled and soil is selected to create a trench at least a meter wide around the perimeter of the basement. If necessary, groundwater should be pumped out during work. The old finishing and waterproofing are completely dismantled. Further work is carried out after the concrete surface has dried, this may take several days or the use of heat guns.
- The bare part of the concrete base from the very base and up to the base 10-20 cm above the ground level is precisely the target surface for organizing a waterproofing layer. It must be cleaned of soil and other contaminants. It is best to use an angle grinder with a medium-hard brush to open pores and cracks and eliminate all defective areas.
- The seams between blocks or individual elements of the foundation are selected to a depth of at least 5-6 cm. In the case of a tight joint between the blocks, the seams are expanded so as to obtain a groove 2-3 cm wide and 3-4 cm deep. Cracks are grooved, other damage is further deepened, It is advisable to deepen and widen pinpoint damage using a 40-60 mm drill.
- The entire surface is cleaned of dust and dirt and covered with penetrating waterproofing or primer.
- The previously prepared grooves and recesses are filled with cement waterproofing mortar with the addition of liquid glass or polymer components. It is advisable to use ready-made coating mixtures for waterproofing. Further work is carried out after the solution has dried and the foundation surface is leveled.
- For complete high-pressure waterproofing, first the basement walls from the outside are plastered with a cement waterproofing compound with reinforcement.
- A layer of waterproofing is applied (roofing felt, polymer membranes, bitumen-containing mastics or other coating agents intended for waterproofing foundations).
- The second time the surface is plastered.
- Sand is poured into the bottom of the trench and compacted. A layer of geotextile is fixed to the bottom of the trench and its reverse side. Coarse gravel is poured and a drainage pipe is laid with an outlet into a prepared well for drainage. The gravel backfill layer is increased by another 10-15 cm on top of the pipe and covered with geotextiles.
- The soil is filled in, leaving a depression to form a blind area. A layer of clay is laid for the clay castle. The reinforcement is laid, the blind area is cast.
When constructing a new foundation and basement, impregnating waterproofing materials are used while the concrete is not yet completely dry. Naturally, restoring the integrity of the concrete base is also not required.
The floor is waterproofed over a sand bed. Roofing felt is laid and a rough screed is poured on top of it; liquid glass or appropriate plasticizers and hydrophobic additives should be added to the concrete.
The problem of high humidity and condensation in basements is relevant for many country homeowners. Very often it occurs due to incorrectly made or ineffective waterproofing (both external and internal). The reason may also be the wrong choice of insulating material, when the emphasis is on its versatility, without taking into account the specifics of operation. Waterproofing basement walls should be done during the construction phase of the house. And it is best to do it from the outside, because the effectiveness of insulation made from the inside is much lower.
In cases where Vacation home was built a long time ago, and the problem of dampness in the basement arises constantly, it is necessary to think about updating the moisture-proof layer. It should be noted here that installing external waterproofing in already built houses is fraught with many difficulties. After all, you will have to re-dig the pit under the walls, which may negatively affect the performance characteristics of the foundation. Therefore, you can choose from two options here: either entrust the work to professionals, or start installing an internal waterproofing layer in the basement.
There are several methods for waterproofing basement walls, which are the most widespread.
Coating waterproofing
Coated insulation is best suited for you if the problem of capillary moisture penetrating into the basement is a pressing issue for you. Waterproofers of this type are presented in the form of mastics, which must be applied to the walls using a spatula and other tools. As soon as the insulator dries after application, a monolithic film will be formed on the surface, which will provide protection from moisture for a long time.
Coating waterproofing is performed using special mastics.
For many years, bituminous mastics have been the market leader in coating waterproofing materials. Without a doubt, they are effective. But their main drawback is their limited service life. The service life of a bitumen-based insulator does not exceed several years.
On modern market There is a solid range of hydrophobic materials that fall into the category of coating waterproofing. Most of them are made on the basis of polymers and minerals. Their composition, as a rule, includes special modifiers, which make it possible to provide all the necessary properties of the material.
The main advantages of modern coating waterproofing:
- Ease of use, ease of application to the wall surface, elasticity of the composition.
- Goes well with concrete walls and any other surfaces made from mineral materials.
- Durable, reliable and effective insulator.
- Reasonable prices for compositions designed for use in basements and cellars.
Pasted waterproofing
Pasted vertical and horizontal waterproofing has been used for a long time and everywhere. It involves the use of waterproof roll materials that can be glued to the basement wall from the outside and inside. Installation occurs using special adhesives or by fusing. It is very important to be careful when working with waterproofing adhesive materials, because there is a high probability of mechanical damage due to careless installation.
Today, as experts note, fewer and fewer people use traditional laminated insulators such as roofing felt and roofing felt, because these materials are not able to provide a sufficient level of protection from moisture, and also cannot boast of a long service life. On the market you can now find durable, reliable and effective adhesive waterproofing insulators, which are produced in European equipment and using international technologies from synthetic substances such as fiberglass and polymers.
Before gluing roll material heated.
Self-adhesive insulation in rolls can also be found on sale. Of course, working with such material is very easy and you can handle everything yourself, however, its use as the main waterproofing layer is not recommended. If you have a small basement where the problem of high humidity and dampness is not too pressing, then self-adhesive waterproofing will be an excellent solution for you.
Experts recommend paying special attention to modern membrane waterproofing materials, which are produced on the basis of polymers and bitumen. IN last years More and more country homeowners are choosing membrane materials that provide a high level of protection from moisture. In addition, they are durable and resistant to mechanical damage. Membrane waterproofers are quite expensive, but their performance characteristics and service life are beyond doubt.
The use of penetrating waterproofing is one of the most effective ways providing moisture protection for basement walls made of brick or concrete. This type of insulation is presented in the form of dry cement-sand mixtures, which have been modified with the help of chemical additives.
The active substance of the insulator penetrates into the structure of the wall material, completely filling all microcracks and openings. As a result, all capillaries through which moisture could potentially enter the basement are completely clogged, and the water permeability of the walls is reduced to almost zero. In many ways, the effectiveness of this type of insulation will depend on the correct preparation and application of the solution.
The composition penetrates the pores of the material and clogs them.
To prepare a solution of penetrating insulation, you need to fill the purchased mixture with water in the proportions specified in the instructions. Too much or insufficient amount of water will reduce the activity of the active substances of the insulator, as well as worsen their further interaction with the wall material. Before applying the solution to the wall, you need to clean the surface from dirt, grease stains and old finishes. This approach will open up many pores and also increase the absorbing properties of the material.
Penetrating waterproofing also has its disadvantages. This insulator is not elastic, may crack during use, and also does not guarantee durability of use with constant exposure to water from the outside and inside.
Injection waterproofing
Injection waterproofing is one of the most suitable and optimal methods for getting rid of moisture. With its help, you can eliminate leaks in the walls of the basement or cellar. The principle of operation of this insulation is that it fills all visible cracks.
This type of insulation is applied using special equipment, so in this case it is impossible to do without the involvement of specialists. It should be noted that the base of the insulator is polymer resins, which are completely safe for indoor use. This is a great option if you need high-quality waterproofing from the inside.
Injection is an ideal way to get rid of leaks.
Among the main advantages of injection isolation are:
- Complete elimination of existing leaks from cracks. The entry of moisture into the basement is blocked immediately after the insulation is applied.
- There is no additional need to prepare the wall surface, because the cracks are filled from the inside and only in those places where it is necessary.
- The insulator does not require any special care.
- The material is elastic, durable and reliable.
This is an ideal solution for fixing leaks from inside the basement. Especially if you are not concerned about groundwater.
Choosing an insulation method
If you need waterproofing of walls from the outside or inside, then you can choose one of several options for its installation proposed above. Of course, many experts recommend using combined options when, for example, coating and roll insulation is used on the same wall. This approach allows you to reliably protect the basement from moisture penetration, as well as from the formation of condensation.
The choice of one or another method of installing a waterproofing layer will depend on the characteristics of the premises and the specific use. For example, somewhere the walls outside are affected by groundwater, somewhere by high water, and somewhere just by precipitation. For different cases, comprehensive vertical and horizontal insulation of basement walls is arranged.
Using the example of specific compositions from a specific manufacturer, we will consider waterproofing the basement from groundwater. This information can be considered as the use of Maxrite 500 and Maxsil Super compositions. All work can be done with your own hands.
To protect the basement and light pits from water, the following is provided:
· use of concrete for the foundation slab and basement walls, grade W6 for water resistance;
· application waterproofing coating"Maxsil Super" penetrating action;
· insulation of concreting joints with the “Inzhpipe” system;
· insulation of the foundation slab-wall joint with the expanding composition “Maxright 500”.
· installation of vertical concreting joints in external walls to prevent the formation of shrinkage cracks by placing the Inzhpipe system in these joints.
"Maxsil Super" is applied to concrete preparation foundation slab (pit slab) and the outer surfaces of the basement walls (pit walls).
Scheme of waterproofing foundation slabs and basement walls.
At the junction of the outer walls of the basement with the foundation slab, cut a groove 20 mm deep and 20 mm wide in the seam (without damaging the reinforcement) and fill it with the expanding composition “Maxright 500”.
The waterproofing applied to Maxright 500 from Maxsil Super is additionally reinforced by the elastic waterproof coating Maxsil Flex.
Protection of the Maxsil Super coating from damage during backfilling is provided by the Maxdrain-P8 polyethylene sheet with the protrusions facing outwards. To prevent the canvas from sliding when backfilling, it is necessary to fasten it in the upper part (above ground level) to the walls with dowels.
Technological openings in the walls from formwork ties are freed from conical polyethylene couplings. The resulting conical holes from the outside are drilled with a diameter of no more than 50 mm to a depth of 20 mm to obtain a cylindrical recess, which is then filled with the expanding composition “Maxright 500” and coated with “Maxsil Super”.
To protect the basement from water penetration through the openings engineering communications It is planned to fill the gaps with mineral wool or a gland gasket (see the waterproofing unit for the communication input), closed on the outer and inner surfaces with a layer of Maxjoint Elastic composition. The outer surface is coated with “Maxsil Super” and the waterproofing is additionally enhanced with a layer of “Maxsil Flex”.
At the bottom level of the ceiling, horizontal seam waterproofing is provided with a Maxsil Super coating.
The installation of waterproofing is carried out in full accordance with the technological regulations of the manufacturer, “Guidelines for the use of materials DRIZORO S.A. (DRIZORO S.A.) for waterproofing building structures(RD 01-09)”, a work project that guarantees the quality and durability of waterproofing.