For a Wet Basement Wall

If there’s problem common to old houses, it’s a wet basement. I’m not talking about occasional flooding, but rather a basement that apparently seeps or leaks after even a rain shower or during snowmelt. Several approaches are available; sustainable solutions will get to the root of the problem.

By Ray Tschoepe

WRONG WAY USING WATERPOOFING PAINT Don’t attack the problem from the wrong side—by coating interior basement walls with a thick waterproofing paint. This might work if your only problem is dampness, but it’s a bad idea for water incursion. Water can be redirected (as to a sump pump) but rarely can it be stopped. Even if the coating temporarily stops water from coming in, it will cause trouble as it traps water in the masonry. Even mildly acidic water will eventually dissolve the mortar in lime and sand/clay mixes. RIGHT WAY FIND THE CAUSE Address the source. Check that rain gutters aren’t clogged (wet basement or not, you don’t want rainwater running down the siding); position downspouts to send water several feet away from the building. Be sure soil around the foundation slopes away from…

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Old House Journal (Digital) - 1 Issue, September/October 2024

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