Do-It-Yourself Basement Waterproofing Sealer - RadonSeal

Improving Your Home’s Health – For over 25 years, our line of Penetrating Waterproofing Sealers, DIY Foundation Crack Injection Kits, Concrete Floor Repair Kits, and basement waterproofing and radon mitigating products have proven to be the ideal solutions for drying out basements. Commercial-grade, high-strength, long-lasting, and unique materials that continue to be trusted by building contractors and DIY homeowners nationwide. Products that permanently waterproof and damp-proof wet and leaking foundation walls and basement concrete floors to significantly improve the overall health of your basement and home.

The Permanent Concrete Sealer – RadonSeal Deep-Penetrating Concrete Sealer is not “your father’s” waterproofing paint or sealer. It differs from paints and membrane coatings by penetrating deep inside concrete (up to 4″), chemically reacting with “free lime” and alkalis, expanding within the pores and capillaries of concrete, and curing as a hard mineral. RadonSeal will seal your concrete internally against the transmission of capillary water seepage and water vapor and is strong enough to seal against radon gas.

Why Do Basements Start Leaking Water?

A hard-driving rainstorm or melting snow can temporarily raise groundwater levels. A 1,500 sq. ft. roof sheds almost 1,000 gallons of water for every inch of rain. Rain gutters and downspouts get plugged up with debris. New houses have a problem with “reverse grading,” which usually occurs several years after construction. Fill dirt around the foundation settles, directing rainwater right to the foundation.

As the run-off seeps through the soft topsoil around the house, it pushes against the walls and stops at the undisturbed ground beneath the footings. Footing drains may break as the house settles or silt up. If the soil is clay, the water rises in the disturbed soil around the foundation, like inside a pool.

Hydrostatic Pressure

When water accumulates around the foundation, hydrostatic pressure builds up and causes the basement to leak. Clay-rich soils do not drain well and hold rainwater against the foundation walls. Water pushes its way inside through any cracks or joints and the pores in concrete. Rising groundwater is sometimes the problem or even an underground spring. Houses settle and underground water flows change. New construction down the street may shift groundwater flows and cause basement leaks in your home.

Settling Cracks

As houses settle, concrete develops stress cracks that leak water. Exterior waterproofing disintegrates or separates due to the “alkali attack.” When water migrates toward embedded steel, it rusts, expands, and cracks the concrete.

Efflorescence Signifies Water Seepage

Water penetrates the pores in concrete, dissolves alkalis, and enlarges the pores. As concrete ages, it becomes more and more porous. Initially, the seeping water evaporates, leaving on the surface salts and lime. This “white deposit” or efflorescence is a telltale sign of capillary water seepage.

Plastic Barriers Do Not Last

Concrete slabs, although much thinner than basement walls, get even less waterproofing protection. The plastic “vapor barrier” underneath soon disintegrates due to the caustic lime in the concrete, and over time, the layer of gravel (“drainage pad”) silts up. Then, the concrete starts pulling in groundwater by capillary action.