Damp Proofing and Waterproofing

Damp proofing your basement is a good idea to help reduce the damp feeling in your basement but there is a big difference between damp proofing and waterproofing your home.

There are many benefits associated with damp proofing your basement but this is something that must be done during the construction of your home. When building a new home many companies recommend that a damp proofing treatment is used on the outside of the walls while it’s being constructed. This will be done with liquid asphalt that will be painted on the outside of the walls and its purpose is to help seal the moisture out once the home is finished. It is very important to realize that damp proofing is not the same thing as waterproofing your home. Many people get these two mixed up and that could cause a lot of problems in the future. Damp proofing will help to keep the dampness from entering your basement but it will not stop water from leaking in through cracks nor will it completely prevent water from being absorbed by the materials used to build the home. That’s why it’s so important that you go one step further and waterproof your basement as well. This way, you won’t have to worry about moisture entering your basement and doing damage to your home and your health.

There are many benefits associated with both damp and waterproofing your home. For instance, once the project is finished, you have an extra space in your home that you can be used for anything from a recreational area to an extra bedroom. Damp proofing will help prevent your basement walls and floor from absorbing moisture from the ground and waterproofing can prevent water from leaking into the home through small cracks and porous materials. There are several methods used in waterproofing and the one that you need to use will depend on what materials were used in the construction of your home. This is due to the fact that certain products work better with some materials than they do with others. For example, you would need to use a different type of waterproofing product on masonry than you would if your home had a brick frame.

If you need to choose between damp proofing and waterproofing your home, it’s recommended that you go over the construction plans for your home to see if which one would be beneficial for you. If your home is being built in an area where the soil is sandy and the drainage is very good, then you could greatly benefit from a damp proof home. However, most homeowners will agree that waterproofing is more beneficial for most areas even though it does cost quite a bit more. Of course, in homes already built, you don’t have a choice and you should seriously consider waterproofing your home because it can save you a lot of money in the long run. If your basement feels damp when you walk through it, boxes feel wet or the air smells musky, then you have a problem with moisture. Taking care of this problem will improve the air quality in your home, prevent damage to the structure and foundation of your home and make it possible for you to make good use of this extra space. Damp proofing might cost you a bit of money now, but you can rest assured that it is money well spent.

No matter where you live, in whatever climate zone, if you have rain and or snow you will have moisture seepage. If you are doing a home addition and have some new foundations being poured this is a very important choice on your list of things to have done.