Moisture inside a home can be devastating for many reasons, including health risks from issues like mold. Water can also cause damage to the house’s structural integrity, which could put the inhabitants in grave physical danger.

Waterproofing is how you can reduce the chance of water seeping into your house by adding a preventive layer. Waterproofing is usually done to the basement though you can waterproof your home from the roof to the foundation. 

The best time to waterproof your home is during construction. It will prevent many of the issues that can affect it later. Let us see precisely what waterproofing means and when you should do it.

What is Waterproofing? 

Waterproofing involves lining various aspects of your house with a waterproof membrane to prevent water entry into the structure. Waterproofing will reduce humidity and moisture inside the building hence preventing any damage they may cause to the house. 

Waterproofing should not be confused with damp-proofing though many people will usually use the terms interchangeably. Waterproofing will prevent water and moisture from entering the building, whereas damp-proofing will only provide you with a barrier against vapor resulting from temperature variations. 

You need to properly understand the difference between the two if you are to comprehensively protect your house against the damage that water can do to it. 

Advantages of Waterproofing

Waterproofing offers plenty of advantages to homeowners, yet some still fail to do it. As it pertains to protecting your house from the effects of too much moisture, waterproofing is the way to go. 

One of the advantages of waterproofing is that it provides you with various options, meaning that there are several ways of doing it. You can install waterproofing systems indoors or outdoors. There are also do-it-yourself waterproofing options if you don’t want to hire a contractor. 

Another advantage of waterproofing is that once you do it, especially during the construction phase, you never have to do it again. However, if you notice humidity and moisture levels in the property, you might have to repair the waterproof membrane. 

Richard with VIP Realty says, “The most significant advantage of waterproofing is that it increases the value of your home. Waterproofing will prevent mold growth in your home, one of the biggest detriments to property value. Waterproofing will prevent moisture entry into your house; hence wooden and metal parts will retain their integrity and value, increasing the price of your home”.

Types of Waterproofing

To fully understand what waterproofing means, you should understand the various types of waterproofing methods. There are three main types of waterproofing which include: 

1. Interior Waterproofing

Interior waterproofing methods are the easiest and most affordable to perform. They include sealing any potential water and moisture entryways in your property, including doors, windows, floor, and wall cracks. 

Therefore, if you invite a local waterproofing expert, they will likely be performing interior waterproofing. If you call a basement waterproofing company in Baltimore, they will do interior waterproofing in your basement. Since water is most likely to enter your basement via cracks in the walls, cracks, and windows, it will be the most straightforward waterproofing job to do. 

Interior waterproofing will include using special sealants to fill any cracks through which moisture could enter effectively. The sealants are usually very effective and will consist of extended warranties to prove their effectiveness. 

Interior waterproofing could also involve using coatings on the basement walls and floors to create an effective barrier. Interior waterproofing will help, but more severe issues are usually on the house’s exterior. 

2. Exterior Waterproofing

The root of the issue with most wet basements is typically found on the outside. Therefore, exterior waterproofing is the most effective way to prevent water and moisture from seeping into the basement. 

Exterior waterproofing involves a much more involving and extensive task than interior waterproofing. It is especially so if you use your basement for a special purpose and not just do laundry. Therefore, you should avoid doing exterior waterproofing by yourself and instead call an experienced professional. 

To waterproof the exterior of your home, you have to excavate the soil around the property’s foundation, which is an incredibly laborious job. It will require heavy and specialized tools and machines. You will then apply a waterproof sealant made from a polymer base to the building’s exterior. 

If exterior waterproofing is done during the construction process, it should last a lifetime. 

Exterior waterproofing will also affect drainage systems, leading to water accumulation near the foundation leading to a wet basement if improperly installed. 

3. Drainage Systems

Drainage issues are one of the leading issues causing moisture in the basement. If you want to have a dry basement, then you should ensure your property has good drainage. 

Therefore, a crucial waterproofing process will include directing water, be it rainwater or groundwater, away from your home’s drainage. Each home and its terrain are different, so you will evaluate your property to figure out the best drainage system for it. 

The drainage of your property should slope away from the house’s foundation. Moreover, gutters and other drainage systems should also be designed to drain water from the house. 

Interior drainage systems are also an essential part of waterproofing and should help keep a dry house. In some cases, you may have to install a pump to drain water from your home.

When to Waterproof Your Home

As we mentioned above, the best time to waterproof your home is during the construction process. If you can perform both interior and exterior waterproofing during this time, you should have a waterproof house for life. 

You should also waterproof your home if you find any leaks, cracks, or mold growth in the basement. Spare no expense to waterproof your home in such circumstances. Though it may seem expensive, it will cost you more not to do it. 

To conclude, waterproofing your home is as essential as any other home protection process. Moisture and water can wreak havoc on the structural integrity of your home. They will also put you at significant physical and medical risk. Now that you know what waterproofing means and when you should do it, call a waterproofing service as soon as you can.