Do It Yourself Basement
All homeowners with a basement will be familiar with the common problems that beset this multi-faceted room in any house. Those that have handyman skills and basic tools can benefit from readily available guidebooks and household hints online and at libraries to solve this basement related issues on their own, with a little ingenuity and the proper materials.
Common issues for a do it yourself basement project
The most frequent complaint from homeowners is the problem of dampness in the basement. This accumulation of excess moisture can adversely affect furniture and electronics stored in the basement and the musty smell that pervades the atmosphere further makes the owner reluctant to use this room. Dampness in the basement can limit the use of space and cause additional problems of a more serious nature- from mold to weakening the foundation of the house. The cost-appreciation of traditional solutions for repairing these problems is what makes many a homeowner, a handyman and embark on a do it yourself project for their basement. Waterproofing companies recommend solutions like digging, foundation spraying, epoxy injection, saw cutting and jack hammering. All are sound methods but only serve to treat the exterior foundation wall coatings, instead of tackling the problem of eliminating water from entering the basement. These methods are effective in merely redirecting the water, so the flooding, humidity, mold and fungus continue to be pesky issues for basement owners.
Solving the issue of basement problems with a DIY kit
Homeowners with damp basements can take comfort in the ready availability of easy to use Do-it-yourself-kits for minor to major basement repair issues, which come with instructions and a simple three-step process that homeowners can apply themselves in a weekend. The products in the kit are solvent free, non-hazardous and non-flammable. The walls and floors need to be primed with a special liquid rubber coating; available in light gray or tan with the property of being applied reliably even in extremely cold temperatures. A liquid rubber base is applied with a thickening activator at wall to floor junction, cracks and joints and finished off with a final third coat of primer on block walls. This application is curative in nature and leaves a thick layer of smooth rubber about four times the thickness of a household garbage bag. The special adhesive and penetrative properties of the unique primer in these kits allows the product to provide a complete water tight vapor barrier to treat dampness in poured concrete walls, concrete block, native stone, even treated wood foundations. Thus, a do it yourself basement can get transformed into a prime living space with a fresh atmosphere and new look.