Perhaps you have just discovered water in your basement and you have immediately called up a Toronto waterproofing contractor to enquire about a waterproofing service to tackle your wet basement issue. The cost of such as a service might have alarmed you, spurring you to take on a DIY approach to waterproof your basement with just paint. After all, the paint you get are labelled as “waterproof paint” so this should do the trick, right? There are many reasons why this is such a bad idea, but we got to admit that paint does have some redeeming qualities. Here’s what you need to know:
Waterproof paint will not waterproof your basement
There you go, this is the main thing you need to know. Most of the easily available waterproof paints sold in hardware stores are manufactured in a way that they can plug moisture. But they are unable to stop water from entering the basement.
Waterproof paint can create bigger hydro-static pressure
When moisture is present, the hollow cavities in the block wall foundations can build up with hydrostatic pressure. Because the waterproof paints try to hold back the moisture, this can cause even more water retention in the walls and create higher pressure in the walls. This has the potential to weaken your walls and become a safety hazard.
Waterproof paint can create shelling and blistering
When you apply a coat of painting to the walls, that coat of paint itself relies on its bonding to the wet surface. Eventually, this bond will give way. After some time as the lime in the cement starts to get wet, a white efflorescence will start to form between the paint and the concrete surface. This will start to create blisters on the walls. These blisters will gradually shell and flake off, creating an ugly effect on the walls.
Waterproof paint will be able to reduce the fungal smell
As mentioned earlier, waterproof paint does have its redeeming factors and its ability to reduce the fungal smell is one of its strength. Because it creates an airtight shell over the wall surface, fungi is unable to grow and thus the odor will not manifest.
What does this mean if you want to use paint to waterproof your basement?
Well, you should not rely on waterproof paint. You have already found out that waterproof paint is not a long term solution for waterproofing your basement. Although paint can help you to avoid odor in the basement arising from a wet basement, it does not serve the purpose of keeping your basement dry.
We agree that basement waterproofing services in Toronto will surely cost more than your DIY approach but it is a definite solution that will waterproof your basement well. By having a waterproofing contractor install a sub-floor system to drain water away or having the contractor to install a baseboard channel system and connecting it to a sump pump or a floor drain, it can help you prevent a wet basement permanently. You would prefer a real solution that solves the water damage problem in your basement for good, wouldn’t you?