Waterproofing Your Home

Photo by: USDAgov

 With moving into a new home myself, our first concern is to make sure that no air or water can get in or out. RBA windows take care of window leaking for water and heating and cooling problems. However, water leaking is always a concern whether you rent or own because it can cause damage to your belongings and could potentially cause dangerous mold.

There are different areas in your house to waterproof. Basements are a huge part of the potential problem, as well as, foundation, and exterior waterproofing, such as a deck and all doorways and windows if they are older.  

Basement/Foundation  

• Common causes of a wet basement: foundation problems/water seepage, leaking pipes, problematic gutters/plants. Make sure to check all possibilities
• Foundation should be free from any water pooling. Check all areas around the house and next time it rains, take a walk outside.
• Make sure the foundation of your house slopes away from the walls. Adding dirt to this is always helpful, but should still be at least 6 inches below the sill plate.
• Dehumidifiers work wonders in some basements that get moist, but on the outside there are products on the market that can form a protection when painted on cinder block.
• Sump pumps may be needed in extreme cases.
• Check for any rust spots and holes in the gutters and that they are clean. Make sure downspouts are not allowing water to pool and shoot water at least 5 feet away from the house.
• A pipe leaking is a serious problem that you will have to call a professional to check on it.

Deck/Exterior

• If you are thinking of building and do not currently have a deck, I suggest applying a water proofing product to the wood before you start.
• This will allow the product to get on every side of the wood and not just on top and you can buy it with anti-mildew also.
• If deck already exists, CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN! Always make sure you are waterproofing a clean deck and allow drying for a number of days.
• You can spray or paint waterproofing products onto the wood, and can have a tint to it if you want to change the color.
• Don’t forget to always maintain. If water is no longer beading up on the deck, it is time to re-do.
• For other outdoor surfaces, such as doors and windows, make sure all the sealants do not have cracks and if they do, apply caulk, which you can smooth with your finger, and allow drying for 24 hours.
• Look at all vent and flashing. You make also need to replace the caulking if it is cracked where it meets the roof.

Hope this gives you your first step to water proofing your home. If there was a leak already in the house from the rain storms the last few months, make sure to check for mold growing. There are many types of mold that can cause serious health problems for people and animals in the house. Make sure to have all equipment and safety material before starting any project. 

For more information on water-proofing, click here.