(ARA) – About this time of year, people start wishing for spring thaw and nicer weather. Spring brings lots of good things, but it can also highlight water problems, especially in basements. Whether it comes from the melting snow that finds its way into your home through cracks in the foundation or humidity which comes in through the walls and the concrete floor, moisture is a bad thing.
Damp basements are unused basements — you don’t want to risk damaging furniture and electronics, and the musty smell doesn’t make for a pleasant space. Moisture problems not only limit your use of the space, they can cause a number of serious problems, from mold to weakening your home’s foundation.
However, many homeowners put off repairing the problem because traditional solutions can be expensive – and not very effective. Solutions such as digging, foundation spraying, epoxy injection, saw cutting and jack hammering are the techniques normally suggested by waterproofing companies. These methods treat only the exterior foundation wall coatings.
“They don’t promise to eliminate water in your basement, just to redirect it,” says Bill Emerick, owner of Sani-tred, a different kind of waterproofing system. He stresses that the only way to completely waterproof a basement is on the inside of the basement walls and floors, not the outside. “The Sani-tred basement sealing system stops all ground water entry, basement humidity, mildew odors and dampness problems by sealing the basement where it needs it most – on the inside,” he says. He explains that Sani-tred has the ability to hold back negative hydrostatic pressure, unlike other coatings or paints.
Sani-tred is a simple three-step process that homeowners can apply themselves in a weekend. The products are solvent free, non-hazardous and non-flammable.
* First, prime the walls and floors with Permaflex liquid rubber coating. Available in light gray or light tan, Permaflex cures reliably even in extremely cold temperatures.
* Next, apply liquid rubber base (LRB) and thickening activator (TAV) at wall to floor junction, cracks and joints.
* Finally, apply a final coat of Permaflex (a third coat on block walls), and enjoy your dry basement. After application and cure, Permaflex leaves a thick layer of smooth rubber approximately four times the thickness of a household garbage bag, (up to 15 mils thick). “The unique adhesive and penetrative properties of Permaflex allow Sani-tred to provide a complete water tight vapor barrier,” says Emerick.
“Poured concrete walls, concrete block, native stone, even treated wood foundations are permanently and effectively waterproofed with the Sani-tred system, allowing previously unusable basements to be finished and used for prime living space, or finish the basement in the usual methods,” Emerick notes.
Once Sani-tred is applied, your basement is dry and maintenance free, meaning you can use and enjoy your basement once again. Another added advantage is that it blocks the entry of problem radon levels into your home.
Courtesy of ARA Content
