If you undertake finishing your basement and converting it into a family recreation room, the first thing is to undertake damp proofing in Weston Super-Mare. If you are considering laying carpet or wooden parquet flooring directly on a cement floor without damp proofing it first you are inviting trouble. When concrete gets damp under a surface it can quickly lead to the growth of mould and mildew. If mould growth goes unchecked, the consequences for the home and the health of the occupants can be jeopardised. Damp proofing in Weston Super-Mare is not all that difficult but it is time consuming and can be a little bit confusing. Perhaps these tips will help you damp proof your basement floor before you begin construction of your long awaited family room.
Liquid membrane:
A very common approach is to apply a liquid membrane which is not unlike painting the basement floor. The liquid membrane is applied by brush or roller and when it completely dries it has created a rock hard surface finish. The barrier material has been formulated to create a barrier which is seamless between the basement floor surface and the underside of the flooring, whatever it is that is chosen. To prevent any moisture at all in the basement, it is recommended that the walls be painted with the same material.
Cavity drainage:
If you have noticed minimal damp and moisture in your basement over the years, then you may not have to seal the floor with a liquid membrane. There is a membrane that is cut to fit the exact dimensions of the basement floor, it sits as a protective barrier between the floor surface and the flooring material but it is not liquid when applied. This option is a plastic material which looks a great deal like bubble wrap because it has a myriad of nooks and crannies. When there is a little moisture, it cannot get through the plastic barrier, it is redirected. As the small nooks and crannies fill with condensation they drip off and slowly flow in the direction of the floor drain where the moisture is dissipated.
Caulk and epoxy:
There may be times when basement damp proofing is a little more difficult than simply applying a membrane of some sort. Water will find any small crack or fissure in a concrete floor or wall, over time the hole will enlarge and the water problem will only get worse. Before you apply any membrane, the tiniest of holes and cracks must be filled, this is especially true where the floor and walls meet one another. At this joint, apply a silicone sealant, the same material that you would use when sealing the bath. Any cracks should be chipped out until the surround is solid and then the hole should be filled with epoxy.
