Waterproofing the foundation of a house is essential, as it not only increases the usability and service life of the building, but also ensures optimal humidity inside the building, especially on the first floors. Therefore, it is necessary to responsibly approach the design of housing, understanding how important the correct waterproofing of the foundation of the house is. The moisture of groundwater and sedimentary water is absorbed by the foundation and, in the absence of insulating materials, penetrates the house through the walls, which causes their destruction and favors the emergence of fungus and mold. In winter, during thaw and frost, water turns into ice and destroys the foundation itself and the house as a whole.
Do-it-yourself foundation waterproofing
If you live in a private house, waterproofing must be carried out in two stages: basement waterproofing (cellar, underground) and direct waterproofing of the foundation of the house.
At the first stage, we cover the floor in the basement with clay with a layer of 25-30 cm (if possible - black, deep) and tamp it down. We fill the clay layer with concrete 8-10 cm thick. If the weather is warm, thenleave the concrete for 4-5 days to dry and gain up to 40% strength. On dried concrete we lay a layer of roofing material (preferably 2 layers) on bitumen or bituminous mastic. You can put a thick plastic film on the roofing material. If the dimensions of the basement along the perimeter are large, we lay the roofing material and the film along the walls with a turn, that is, with a bend on the walls of the basement by 15-20 centimeters. We fasten the tucked roofing material to the wall with mastic or simply press it with something for a while. Next, we lay out a retaining wall made of bricks, with which, ultimately, the tucked roofing material and the film will be pressed against the basement wall around the entire perimeter. After the masonry of the retaining wall has dried on top of the roofing material and the film, we pour 5-7 cm of concrete mortar, make a screed and iron the floor. After the entire concrete floor has dried, be sure to plaster the retaining wall.
The second stage of waterproofing is the external work on the walls. The waterproofing of the foundation of the house continues with the laying of a layer of bituminous mastic and roofing material (two layers of mastic and roofing material can be made) along the basement of the house. But if the occurrence of groundwater is too close to the surface of the earth (therefore, there is no basement), it is recommended to use more modern insulators instead of roofing felt - rubitex, glass isol, etc. Do not forget to make a blind area around the perimeter of the house, which plays an essential role in waterproofing and protecting the foundation. It is possible to process the foundation of the house with mastic and polymer solutions (instead of roofing material).
Penetrating foundation waterproofing
After treating the foundation with materials penetrating the concrete, crystals are formed that firmly protect the foundation walls from water penetration.
Before applying them, it is necessary to prepare the foundation surface by cleaning and moistening the concrete surface. The penetrating solution can then be applied. After that, you need to repeat the cycle of moistening the wall with applying the solution to the surface.
Apply the waterproofing solution evenly over the entire surface.
