Over 7,000,000 feet of the SquidGee Dry Systems has been installed in wet, leaky basements across the country, making SquidGee Dry System one of the most widely used basement waterproofing products on the market. If you need to waterproof your basement walls or floor, simply follow the easy, step-by-step installation guide below. We will show you how easy it is to waterproof your basement using the do-it-yourself SquidGee Dry System.
1. Relieve Hydrostatic Pressure
Begin by drilling weep holes about 5/8" in diameter in the cells of each block -- just above the joint where the floor and walls meet and 4" to 6" in from each mortar joint.
Note: Poured concrete basement walls have no hollow cavities, therefore, weep holes are not required. The water will simply enter the SquidGee Dry System from the joint between the floor and walls.
2. Prepare the Surface Properly
A bare concrete floor is ideal for installing the SquidGee Dry System and will properly bond and seal the system to your concrete floor. To ensure that the floor area along the walls of your basement is ready for installation remove all paint or tile adhesive about 3” from the walls. We recommend using a 3M metal paint stripper wheel attached to an electric drill or a metal drill attachment will long metal spares that knick at the basement floor.
Note: Do not use any paint strippers or harsh chemicals to remove paint or tile adhesive, as it will react negatively without SealOnce Adhesive.
3. Clean the Surface Properly
It’s important to perform this step properly! After the floor area has been stripped, wash it thoroughly and sponge it clean to remove all dirt and dust. When finished, feel the area with your fingers to ensure there is no loose grit, dirt or residue left behind, which with block the SealOnce Adhesive from bonding properly to the concrete floor.
4. Cut and Fit the Baseboard Sections
Now your are read to cut and trial-fit the Main Sections along the basement walls.
5. Placing Pre-Molded Corners
Place the pre-molded Corners in all the wall corners of your basement. For ease of installation, we recommend marking the floor in front of the corners to show where the main sections will end.
6. Lay out the SquidGee Dry System
Place full Main Sections end-to-end along the wall between the corners markings on the floor. Using tin snips or a hack saw, cut Main Sections as needed. The positioning and layout the SquidGee Dry System as you would like it permanently installed, being sure all measurements are accurate and the top of the Main Sections are flush with your walls.
7. SealOnce Adhesive
Angle-cut the tip of your SealOnce applicator just under the cone shaped end. This will give a large opening allowing you to apply a the proper amount of SealOnce Adhesive to all vinyl and concrete surfaces.
Note: One tube of SealOnce Adhesive is required for each 4’ 6” Main Section.
8. Applying SquidGee SealOnce
In sequence, begin applying the SealOnce Adhesive to the bottom of the Main Sections. Use an empty box or the edge of a workbench as your work station. Just hang your Main Section with the bottom side up on one edge of the box. Applying a tall, thick bead of SealOnce Adhesive to the bottom side of the Main Section, then turn the Main Section back over and set in place, pressing down gently. DO NOT PRESS DOWN HARD!
9. Caulk Floor Joint
Caulk the floor joint with enough pressure to force a small amount of SealOnce Adhesive under SquidGee System.
10. Prep By Sanding Surface
Using a coarse sandpaper, rough up all vinyl-to-vinyl surfaces. This will give you better bond between the Main Sections and components, like Corners and Butt-Joints.
11. Installing Butt-Joints
Once ruffed up with sandpaper (See: Step 10), apply SealOnce Adhesive to both sides of the seam between the Main Sections. Hook the Butt-Joint at the bottom, and snap it in place at the top.
Note: Some Butt-Joints will not snap in place since some portions of your floor may not be level or baseboards may not line up – this is sometimes unavoidable, but it will not inhibit the proper function of the SquidGee System.
12. Seal Edges of Butt-Joints
Take care to seal the edges of the Butt-Joints and caulk the bottoms to ensure there are no leaks.
13. Install Corners Last
Inside Corners are easier to install when dropped down from the top. Use a coarse sandpaper to rough up any vinyl-to-vinyl surfaces, and apply SealOnce Adhesive to both Main Sections and the bottom of the Corner section.
14. Seal Edges of the Corners
Properly sealing the edges of the Corners and caulking the bottom where the Corner meets the floor will insure there are no leaks in the system.
15. Installing an End Cap
Apply SealOnce Adhesive across the bottom, up the wall, and down the edge of the baseboard. Set the End Cap in place and caulk all joining surfaces one last time to guard against leaks.
16. Directing Water to a Floor Drain
Be sure and check your local building codes before draining to a floor drain. See how to direct the water into a floor drain here...
17. Directing Water to a Sump Pump
In most municipalities, draining to a sump pump is the accepted method of disposing of ground water. See how to drain system into a sump pump here...
18. Paneling the Walls
Attach your 2"x 2" base plate to the wall about 1/2" above the SquidGee Dry System. Run all furring strips down to the base plate, and panel only down to the base plate. Finally, attach the base to the base plate to fully cover the SquidGee Dry System.
Now that you’ve seen how easy it is to waterproof your basement with a do-it-yourself SquidGee Dry System, you can sit back and enjoy your waterproofed basement for years to come!
