Basement Finishing: Do Not Paint Your Walls
I know what you are thinking… what do you mean, do not paint your walls in your basement?!
I am not talking about finished walls like drywall. I am talking about do not paint your foundation walls like concrete, brick, and block.
Remember, most foundation walls allow moisture and humidity into your basement. Many paints are not strong enough to hold back the hydrostatic pressure. Even if they are able to stop the hydrostatic pressure, paint is mold food!
In the picture above the homeowner painted their basement wall. The paint did not reach the footer. Water still enters the basement at the cove.
The foundation repair specialists from Crawl Space Ninja had to do interior waterproofing system for this homeowner because the paint did not hold back the moisture intrusion due to hydrostatic pressure.
What is Hyrdrostatic Pressure
Hydrostatic pressure is the “force that pulls water into dry spaces. Think of dry ground as a sponge, and standing water around your foundation can seep its way under or through the brick foundation through this hydrostatic pressure. The dry space, along with the weight of the water, pulls the moisture into the “void” space in the bricks.
Over time, the water works through the brick to the other side and accumulates, creating the dank moisture you feel in a crawl space or basement.
Poorly Painted Basement Walls Do Not Hold Back Water
You may have seen that display in the home improvement store with a block covered in waterproof paint. A lot of homeowners get idea that waterproof paint will fix a waterproofing problem in their basement.
This is a mistake made by many DIYers and basement waterproofing contractors. Waterproofing paint is rarely, if ever installed correctly. If it is not installed correctly, it voids the warranty and effectiveness.
Never Repaint the Basement Wall
Installing new waterproofing paint over old waterproof paint will void the warranty. It is right there on their install instructions. Chances are most homeowners are unaware that reapplying paint to basement walls, voids warranty. If the paint worked so well, why would you need to reapply?
The fact the the warranty is voided during reapplication should tell you they don’t believe in their product.
Straight from the can of waterproofing paint:
“Surface must be clean and free from dirt,
dust, grease, oil, form release compound, or
paint.”
Concrete Does Not Support Mold Growth
Even if your basement wall is flooding it cannot support mold growth.
Why add mold food to your wall?!
Have you ever tried to remove waterproof paint? You have to grind it off, trust me it is not easy and very messy. You are better off avoiding waterproof paint from the start
Antimicrobials in Paints Fail Under Prime Conditions
According to many experts, paints with antimicrobial additives will eventually grow mold if the conditions are right. Imagine you paint the basement wall and then decide to build a finished wall over it. The waterproof paint is the food. The hydrostatic pressure supplies the water.
You just created a dark, damp mold food rich environment.
Most homeowners are just unaware about the details of good air quality and foundation health. Here are some great resources to help you eliminate moisture in your home!
Articles About Basement Waterproofing:
Contact Crawl Space Ninja for Basement Waterproofing
Please contact us to schedule your assessment to fix your crawl space, basement or yard drainage issue.
Do you need help with mold removal, crawl space encapsulation, crawl space insulation, vapor barrier, waterproofing, foundation repair, basement waterproofing, or controlling humidity in your crawl space?
If you live in Georgia, Delaware, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, or Kentucky, Crawl Space Ninja can help!
Also, let us know in the comments below if you have an idea for a new blog topic.
DIY Crawl Space Repair
Perhaps you’d like to tackle your own crawl space repair. Visit our DIY Store.
Join Crawl Space Ninja as an Owner
Learn about Crawl Space Ninja Franchise opportunities.
Michael Church’s Crawl Space Repair Myths-Busted book was written to help you Avoid Bad Advice, Bad Decisions, & Bad Repairs.
“This book is the Cadillac for crawl space information and Michael Church is your experienced driver. What can I say? It’s just an amazing read.” 5.0 out of 5 stars The real deal.
