Does Basement Waterproofing Paint Work?

Waterproofing paints promise to be a quick fix for basement waterproofing problems. From store displays at big-box home improvement stores to TV commercials for miracle cure-alls like Flex Seal, hundreds of products promise to fix damp basements at a fraction of the cost of a proper basement drainage system.

The claims of these products are often exaggerated at best, with little in the way of guarantees or warranty protection. With an estimate for a French drain or sump pump installation in hand, a $150 bucket of waterproofing paint might suddenly seem like a great idea.

In reality, spreading these snake-oil products on a basement wall can be one of the most expensive mistakes a homeowner could ever make.  Keep reading to see why you shouldn’t waste your time or money trying to waterproof a basement with these products.

Waterproofing Paint Doesn’t Target the Real Problem

When a basement completely floods, it’s easy to see that better drainage is needed. But for less severe moisture issues, many homeowners incorrectly blame the walls themselves for the issue, when the problem is the soil behind them.

Homeowners often turn to waterproof paint when their walls grow moist to the touch and they fear mold or mildew will soon follow.

Water follows predictable patterns. It always tracks the path of least resistance, from higher ground to lower ground. Natural hydraulic force can either work for or against your home. If the water table is near or above the lowest level of your home, gravity will force it through the porous concrete walls.

Under pressure from thousands of tons of soil, groundwater will force its way into the lowest point. Without drainage, this lowest point is likely your basement. Waterproof paint won’t stop the water from getting into your foundation-it will only hide how much moisture is really there. Once the paint fails–and it will fail—water damage like efflorescence and mold will spread on the surface of your walls.

To really target the problem, water must be diverted somewhere else. French drains use gravity and piping to carry the water away from your home, while sump systems use an electric pump to drain excess water that collects in a miniature well away from your basement. Either system is a real, permanent solution to moisture management. Waterproofing paint is just a band-aid.

Why “Waterproof” Walls Cause More Water Damage

This might sound counterintuitive, but there is a reason most contractors talk about “moisture management” and not “waterproofing”. There are definitely some places that should be waterproof, like boats and swimming pools. Walls aren’t one of those things.

Brick or concrete may look solid, but it’s actually a porous material that absorbs moisture. Unless your home is in the desert, there should be some moisture naturally within the concrete, changing with the humidity of the air within and around your home.

Painting over concrete from the inside of your home doesn’t stop water from getting into the material from the outside. It just keeps you from seeing that water is getting in. Eventually, water pressure will make the paint chip and peel, all while RAISING the moisture content of the wall. An ideal moisture management solution carries extra moisture away from your home, while giving normal water vapor an avenue to evaporate naturally without harming the home.

Waterproofing paint upsets this balance, essentially turning your porous cement walls into a basement-sized fish tank. There are special epoxies and polyurethane coatings made for workshop floors that penetrate the surface and actually seal it. But even these won’t waterproof a basement.

Temporary Fix, Long-Term Damage

If waterproofing paint is so bad at keeping a basement dry, then why do people even sell it? Well, it DOES do what it promises, for a short time. If your walls are dripping water after a rainstorm, a coat of waterproof paint will hide the problem for a year or two until it starts to fail.

By the time the paint begins flaking, expect to find mold and moisture damage sealed in by the waterproof paint. You will still need a contractor to install moisture management systems, but thanks to the cheap fix, you can add a few thousand dollars of mold remediation to the old estimate as well.

Moisture management is an investment against further damage. If you’re hesitating to properly fix the issue now, consider what it would cost to remediate mold damage in five or ten years. When it comes down to cost, leaving a damp basement alone makes more sense than “waterproofing” it with a few coats of paint. With waterproofing paints, you are literally paying for the privilege of guaranteed mold damage a few years later.

Work With Professional Waterproofers – Save Money and Time

There’s no doubt that any kind of basement waterproofing work is going to represent a major investment in your home. Who you choose to do the work is at least as important as the decision of what work to have done.

If you are looking to have a basement waterproofed in New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, contact Dry Basement Solutions for a consultation. With over 25 years of experience in basement contracting, including drainage systems and mold remediation, they can meet your home waterproofing needs. Visit their website or call 201-258-4540 to schedule a consultation.

What You Need To Know About Mold

The Health Risks of Mold

Molds are a class of naturally occurring fungi which thrive in warm, damp environments. As mold spreads, they slowly consume the surface they are growing on, breaking it down and spreading deeper into any suitable substrate. As these fungi reproduce, they disperse microscopic spores into the air.
Mold spores are a serious public health danger. Many people are sensitive to spores as an allergen. Wheezing, puffy and irritated eyes, and skin rashes can all result from mold exposure. Even mild exposure can cause problems for most people.
In an enclosed environment— like a bathroom or a basement—dangerous concentrations of mold spores can build in the air. Prolonged exposure to airborne mold spores can trigger severe reactions including fever and respiratory disorders.
People with weak or compromised immune systems, including children, cancer patients, and the elderly, are at risk of developing much more serious fungal diseases from mold exposure.
A rare subset of molds actually produce powerful mycotoxins. Acting similarly to heavy metal poisoning, even mild exposure to mycotoxins can cause health nightmares, and high levels of the toxin can cause seizures and death.

Property Damage from Mold

The thought of being hospitalized by invisible mold spores is scary, but mold can also cause damage to the structure of your home.
Mold will break down whatever surface it is growing on. Painted or lacquered finishes and decorative wood can be ruined, structural supports can be compromised, and extensive damage can spread unseen behind walls and under floors from just a single spore left in a humid environment. Mold can easily jump from a home’s walls to furniture and curtains, ruining them as well.

If there is mold in my home, should I get it tested?

There are services which will determine the presence of mold, and if present, the species of mold growing in your home for a fee. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention advises Americans that this is generally not necessary for mold found in a private residence. Problematic mold is plainly visible to the naked eye, so no tests are required to confirm its presence.
Certain cases might require an identification of the mold strain to plan remediation, and remediation experts will advise whether they believe the mold should be tested.
The bulk of diseases related to mold exposure are allergic immune system reactions. These are triggered by sensitive tissue’s exposure to microscopic spores, and the actual species of mold has no particular influence on the allergic response.
Furthermore, there are no medical standards for an “acceptable” level of mold exposure, or an acceptable species of mold in the home. If mold is visible or can be smelled, it is a public health risk and the CDC strongly advises remediation regardless of what strain or concentration of mold is present.

Green, white, red, black—does mold’s color matter?

Nightly news scare stories and old wives tales like to push a dangerous myth: that a certain kind of mold is more deadly than the rest. They call it toxic black mold.
This myth created a misunderstanding that only black molds present a serious health risk. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Most health risks from mold are an allergic response, and the human immune system doesn’t discriminate between green and black spores as they irritate skin and sensitive tissues like the eyes and lungs. Some rare molds do produce dangerous toxins, but they aren’t limited by color. A fuzzy white mold colony is just as likely to be a toxin-bearing variety as a slimy black one.

How To Get Mold Removed

Mold damages whatever it grows on. Door frames, carpet, drywall, and furniture can all be permanently damaged by a mold colony. Once mold appears, homeowners must act quickly to eliminate the problem or damage will quickly spread.

Bleach and Elbow Grease

Small outbreaks of mold can often be contained by killing the mold with an antifungal agent and scrubbing the mold away with a stiff bristled brush. Chlorine bleach is the most effective cleaning agent for mold, since it kills bacteria and fungus on contact. Even if professional remediation is needed for an extensive outbreak of mold, a quick treatment of bleach by the homeowner can be used to slow the growth of mold till professionals can step in.

Professional Remediation

Scrubbing mold away with bleach might be an option for smaller problems like a moldy bathroom corner. Unfortunately, mold damage often works from the outside in. By the time mold is visible on interior walls, there is likely extensive damage hidden under the surface.
Removing the mold and preventing a recurrence—a process known as mold remediation—is a difficult service requiring a specific skill set and tools.

 Mold is a Sign of Water Problems

Mold is always a sign of water problems. Properly drained and ventilated rooms, even bathrooms or basements, should not develop mold colonies.
In basements, mold is often a result of poor drainage. If water is penetrating the foundation and soaking into walls and flooring, mold can quickly develop in the dark, humid space between walls or under carpets. Leaking pipes or damaged roofing can also lead to extensive mold problems.
By the time this mold is visible on the surface, extensive damage may have occurred behind it. So any remediation company you choose should be more than capable of killing the mold—they should have the tools and expertise to replace and repair damaged interiors as well.

What do professional mold remediators do?

Mold’s greatest danger comes from airborne spores, so professional mold remediators must take steps to prevent those spores from spreading and contamination the rest of a home as they clean the mold away. They must also find and fix whatever is letting water get into a dry space and causing mold to grow.

• Quarantine the Mold Damage

The first step to limiting the damage caused by mold is by containing the spores in an already damaged area.
To do this mold remediators set up special HEPA air filtration and plastic barriers between their work area and the rest of the home. Mold spores are small enough to fit through most home air filters, so a normal home HVAC system can’t stop mold from spreading.
While working in the quarantine zone, mold remediators will don respirators and wear protective clothing to limit their exposure. If this sounds like overkill, remember that certain strains of mold can be highly toxic.

• Fix the Water Problem

Mold is a symptom of water problems, and the source must be found before mold can be removed for good. Sometimes the water problem is obvious, like a leaking pipe or burned-out sump pump. Other times, the issue can be poor drainage, and a French drain or sump pump installation must occur to prevent water from ruining the remediator’s work.

• Remove Ruined Material

Some things just can’t be saved. Ceiling tiles, insulation batting, paper products, and some furniture might be impossible to sanitize. The EPA recommends these materials be bagged and discarded with care.
Sanitize and Dry Salvageable Material
Flooring, drywall, and hardwood surfaces can often be cleaned and preserved. Dehumidifiers and fans can accelerate the drying process, while commercial disinfectant can kill lingering mold spores. Concrete block and masonry can usually be saved as well.

• Repair Mold Damage

The extent of mold damage will dictate how much repair work is needed. Calling professionals early in a mold infestation can limit the damage to some paint and trim work to reclaim a room from mold. Severe, lingering mold might require whole walls and ceilings to be replaced.

Dry Basement Solutions: Remediators You Can Trust

If you are facing mold problems in New York, New Jersey, or Pennsylvania, ask the experts at Dry Basement Solutions for a consultation. With over 25 years of experience in the remediation industry, the family owned and operated team is ready to tackle your mold and basement water damage needs.

Visit their website or call 201-258-4540 to schedule a consultation.