Do-it-yourself basement waterproofing is affordable, easy to do, and it works! The trick is finding the right wet basement solution for your home!

A wet basement can be a scary thing to many homeowners and the thought of fixing it yourself can seem a little overwhelming, but do-it-yourself basement waterproofing is a much easier task than many homeowners think! Initially DIY homeowners want to reach for waterproofing paints, which are only okay for a few months, but will begin to peel, pop off and leave your basement a mess and you’ll be suffering from a wet basement! Yuck!

Instead, choose an effective, long-term do-it-yourself basement waterproofing! Select an above floor hollow baseboard channel that quietly collects basement water and drains it away to your sump pump. There are different vinyl baseboard channels available to do-it-yourself homeowners, but none with the history and longevity the SquidGee Dry System has accomplished in the past 35+ years! The do-it-yourself SquidGee Dry System is proving its outstanding performance, ease of installation and affordablility in thousands of homes across the United States and Canada.

Still a little unsure if a do-it-yourself basement waterproofing system is right for you? Give us a call and share a little information with us, like where does the water enter your basement, how often does water seep into your basement and other basic information about your home and we’ll help you decide which basement system is right for your basement. You may simply need proper landscaping around your home’s foundation, which we can help you accomplish, or maybe a do-it-yourself baseboard channel is what your basement needs, which we can give you a quick quote for your next do-it-yourself project!

A basement is the most popular place to store seasonal items and other valuables. Creating a usable and accessible storage system will keep your basement clutter-free and will make organizing your home simple and easy. If organizing is easy, you’ll actually enjoy the process and keep up with it daily, monthly and seasonally!

Important Basement Storage Tip: Be sure your basement is dry by installing a basement waterproofing system before storing valuable possessions!

Here are some clever basement storage ideas and solutions for your home!

Underneath basement stairs can tend to be a catch-all for unwanted and underused items. Building a pull out storage solution under the basement stairs is a great use of space and makes your things more accessible.

Basement stair wall storage is often over looked, but is a really simple way to add additional storage to your basement. Try adding several hooks along the wall by the basement stairs to hang bulky winter coats and backpacks out of sight. Hanging shallow shelves along the basement stair wall instantly creates a basement pantry where you can storage canned goodies, sauces, pasta and other non-parisable food! We love the beadboard wall too!

Basement rafters make the perfect place to store seasonal things like summer toys, holiday decorations and other items you own, but don’t often use. Pick up a metal closet rack from your local home center or hardware store and install as you see above. Basement rafter storage is an easy and affordable basement storage!

(Image Sources)

Cleaning gutters and downspouts is a great outdoor do-it-yourself spring cleaning project! This video from Lowe’s gives great and easy tips on cleaning your home’s gutters and lists all the supplies you’ll need to complete the task yourself. Keeping your gutters clean will help prevent water from spilling over and gather at your homes foundation, which can result in a wet basement take leaks water. Properly cleaned gutters keep water draining properly and prevent water from enter your basement and home.

6 Tips for Gutter Cleaning

Check your weather forecast
A few dry days will make cleaning your gutters easier as the debris won’t be so heavy and damp.

Use two buckets when cleaning gutters
One bucket is for collecting the debris. The other bucket is for all the tools you’ll need while cleaning the rain gutters and downspouts. Be sure to carry them up one at a time for safety when working.

Wear latex and work gloves
Wearing latex gloves under your work gloves will keep your hands dry and avoid them soaking up the bad smells of debris.

After removing debris rinse gutters clean
Using a gutter cleaning attachment with your hose will makes gutter cleaning easy and safe.

Check gutter slope for proper drainage
Gutters should be sloped slight to allow the water to drain properly toward the downspouts. Standing water in the gutters is a sign of improper drainage which should be fixed.

Check and seal gutter leaks
Look for areas where the gutters leak from underneath. Using a gutter sealant properly seal the leak closed for proper gutter drainage toward the downspout.

Video Source: Lowe’s Home Improvement

Basement waterproofing products allow you to turn your unused basement into a finished basement. There are all different types of living spaces you can create which can increase the value of your home. You could use the basement for additional bedrooms and bathrooms as your family grows or for guests. Another option is to turn it into your home office work area. You can even use your basement to build your own man-cave to escape and relax after a long day at work.

Basement Waterproofing Products Should Be At the Top of Your List

One you decide what type of living space you want to create in your basement you will need to make a list of supplies and materials required to complete the project. At the top of your list should be basement waterproofing products, like those available on our website, here at Waterproof. You will want to install these first before you begin hanging dry wall, painting walls or laying carpet or tiling floors.

While there is really no right way or wrong way for waterproofing basement walls, there is differences in cost. When you use expensive waterproof paints found at home improvement stores, you are simply painting over the cracks in the walls. You will even find that most paint manufacturers will suggest that you first seal cracks using a waterproof sealant before painting the walls. Most types of sealants are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. Even when you want to paint the walls, you can use less expensive paints along with the sealant for less than waterproof paints.

Waterproofing Basement Walls Helps Keep Your Basement Dry

Waterproofing basement walls is a good idea, even when you do not use this space of the home. You would not want to wake up one morning and find your basement flooded with water. In additional to waterproofing the walls, you should also use a water drainage system, like our SquidGee Dry System, available here at Waterproof, to remove unwanted water and prevent it from flooding the basement.

Deciding how to waterproof a basement will start with you first inspecting your basement to see if you have a current problem. You will want to look for water stains on the walls and floors which are noticeable as they will be a different color than your normal colored walls and floor. Another indicator that you have a current water problem is a musty smell and the presence of mold and mildew. Once you find the areas affected by water, you can start to formulate a plan to resolve the problem correctly.

How to Waterproof a Basement to Prevent Future Water Problems

Even when you do not have a current water or dampness problem in the basement, it is still a good idea to plan ahead. How to waterproof a basement to prevent future potential problems uses the same methods as when you have a current water issue. You start by sealing cracks in the walls and using a drainage system, like our SquidGee Dry System available on our website here at Waterproof.

Before you purchase a home with a basement, the first thing you will want to do is inspect it for past water problems. You can easily spot water stains on walls and floors when there has been repeated problems over an extended period of time. The seller will need to give full disclosure so you should always ask about water problems and may even be able to get a reduction in price. You can use the reduction in price to get your own waterproofing basement systems to fix your new basement and keep it dry.

Complete Basement Systems Work to Prevent Future Water Problems

Another thing to look for in a basement with possible water problems is cracks in the grout around basement walls or in the basement floor. As foundations settle cracks can develop, but cracks caused by water damage will be discolored and not match the original grout color. Cracks in the walls can be fixed inexpensively, but you should also look into complete basement systems to prevent future problems, like you will find on our website, here at Waterproof.

Different types of basement technologies are designed to work together to keep your basement dry. Using just one single product is not an ideal solution as you will need a complete system. For instance, if you were to seal cracks in the wall using waterproof paint or sealants, you have not dealt with the water issue, merely blocked it out. Water is still pooling in the openings in cinder blocks which will eventually leak back into the basement. A complete system takes this into consideration and also resolves getting rid of the water.

You Can Install Waterproofing Basement Technologies with Basic Tool Knowledge

It can seem like installing your own waterproofing basement technologies might be difficult. However, if you know how to use basic tools, such as a tape measure, putty knife, drill and other simple items, you can handle the installation yourself. You will find that it is simple to install our SquidGee Dry System, found on our website, here at Waterproof. We even offer step-by-step online guides for you to view to see how easy this type of system is to install.

Choosing waterproofing basement solutions for do-it-yourself repairs should lead you to the same types of systems used by contractors. When you hire a contractor to waterproof your basement, they may use waterproof paints or sealants to fix cracks in the upper portions of the basement walls. However, they do not seal or paint all the way down, but instead will drill holes in the basement walls and install a drainage system to collect water and keep your basement dry.

Start Waterproofing Basement Projects by First Sealing Cracks in the Walls

Basement waterproofing is not a hard home improvement project which you can do on your own. You should being by fixing all cracks in the basement walls by using waterproofing basement wall sealants. You will want to leave the bottom of the walls unsealed as this is where you will install your SquidGee Dry System, available on our website, here at Waterproof, to collect and route water down a drain or into a sump pump.

Fixing problems with your wet basement is not that complicated. You can even do the work yourself and save money by not having to hire a contractor. Waterproofing a basement begins by first drying out the basement and determining the source of the water. Once your basement is fully dry, you can install basement waterproofing products which help keep your basement from getting wet again.

Waterproofing a Basement Requires the Use of a Complete System

Waterproofing a basement using waterproof paints and sealants does not fully fix water problems. You will want to install a complete system, even when using these other types of products. The main issue is getting rid of the water, instead of letting it build up along the exterior of your foundation walls. You will want to get rid of this water by allowing it into the basement by using a system, like is available on our website, here at Waterproof, which drains the water down a drain or into a sump pump.