What Does House Waterproofing Mean and Do You Need it For Your House

January 6, 2022 by Ivan Walker

House waterproofing is a process in which your home’s foundation and walls are covered with a special coating or/and membranes to stop water from seeping into the house. Waterproofing will reduce humidity prevent mold and protect constructions from damage.

House waterproofing should be done if the house has a foundation and it is not already waterproofed or if there are problems with water leakage. House waterproofing should be done in stages which depend on the amount of damage that has been done to the home from water seeping into it.

Waterproofing your house should be done after the foundation has been inspected, evaluated and repairs have already been done on them. The walls of the home must also be properly prepped before waterproofing so that the material used will adhere properly to the wall.

For instance, for an exterior waterproofing system – the contractor will remove and replace old sealants, then apply new sealants to all windows and doors in order to reduce infiltration of moisture into the room.

Table of Contents

Understanding waterproofing

a new waterproofed roof and ventilation grates

The purpose of home waterproofing

Waterproofing is necessary if your home has a foundation and it isn’t already waterproofed or there are problems with water leakage. It will help you to:

Prevent costly flooding repairs
Prevent mold growth and health problems caused by mold.
Make a house more energy efficient by reducing basement heat leaks
Increase the value of your home.
Reduse basement moisture issues.
Prevent construction damage and wall cracking
Prevent basement equipment damages (ex sump pump, boiler equipment etc)
Protect your things stored in the basement

The dangers of not waterproofing your house

basement stairs and walls damaged by a water

The house becomes damaged beyond repair if the basement and foundation has been flooded and not fixed and waterproofed in time. It is also more expensive in the long run to let water damage your house and not take measures to fix it. If you don’t want any health problems caused by mold or flood damage then make sure that your home should be waterproofed. You can find more information in the article my colleague John wrote a few years ago: Why Waterproofing Is Important If You Want Your Home to Last Longer.

When Waterproof Your Home

You will want to look into having house waterproofing done for your home if you have had cracks or leaks appear on your basement.

What can be waterproofed

Basements

Most basement waterproofing methods begin with polymers and membranes being applied to the outside of the walls, installing a trench drain underground, or a combination of both. Exterior drainage is typically considered to be the most effective technique for waterproofing a basement when done correctly.

Crawl Spaces

Crawl space foundations may be waterproofed in a few easy steps. A thick sheet of plastic should be glued to the ground and walls to make them easily waterproofed. Drylok can also be used to coat the walls of a crawl space, further preventing water damage.

Foundations

Waterproofing your foundation means to make sure water does not come in. You can do this by putting a system on the outside of the house that will stop water from coming in, and also make sure any water already inside goes away.

Decks & Patios

The general guideline is to waterproof your deck once a year, particularly if you live in an area that receives a lot of rain. Another thing to consider is whether you reside in an area with a lot of direct sunshine all year.

How to waterproof? Apply a thin, even coat of sealant that is mold- and mildew-resistant and also protects against the sun.

Flat & Metal Roofs

The roof is the most obvious part of the home that should be waterproofed. Nobody wants a leaking roof. Roof waterproofing is a type of extra protection added to your roof that ensures no water gets inside your house and begins causing problems.

Conclusion

Waterproofing will help you home to last longer and save your money in the long run. You will reduce your chances of mold and water damage which is something every homeowner should want because it will save your house from lots of problems in the future.