Waterproof paint is not what you want to use to fix basement cracks. But in this episode, we are going to discuss the pros and cons of waterproof paint.
Let’s get started with the pros; when would you use waterproof paint?
I would use waterproofing paint if I was selling a house, putting it right on the market, because it does look nice. It also reduces the smell of the basement. Also, the do-it-yourselfer can do it. However, that does come with a caveat, because most DIYs don’t do the prep work correctly.
Some of the cons:
If I was going to keep the house I would not use it. It is not an inexpensive product. To do it right you have to do a lot of prep, so it takes a lot of time. Also, nine times out of ten, the paint has peeled. The reason it peels is because it is very important that the product bonds to the wall. Waterproof paint is put over a concrete wall. Concrete walls have cement in it. When you waterproof paint the wall, you are trapping moisture between the paint and the wall which causes the cement to break down. This causes effervescence to come through. That is the powdery residue found on most concrete walls. When the powdery material is between the wall and the paint, it causes the pain to blister and peel. This is a terrible maintenance problem and a great big mess.
The bottom line is stay away from waterproofing paint on the inside walls of the basement. Take care of the problems that are causing you to want to waterproof paint the wall.
For more information on foundation crack repair or basement waterproofing, contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair.