skip to main content

how to treat my old basement concrete wall?

13 years ago

My basement is poured concrete basement in MA. It was poured in 1950. we bought it 3 yrs ago. we want to finish it now. before we start, we will have interior french drain to handle water (no water issue 90% times). we want to "reduce" moisture as well.

The concrete poured is not good enough in my view. From the photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldyoungguy88/) you can see lots of white crystals. I cleaned the wall last year but those white crystals come back again soon. I know that is because moisture migrate into our basement from outside. I graded outside and put a french drain for sureface water along our house this summer. Now it is time for inside.

I want to "minimise" the moisture through the concrete wall. Do you have any recommendation about the method and product to do this? thank James

Here is a link that might be useful: basement photos

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

wtrprfr1
13 years ago
I would use the money you are going to spend on the interior french drain and put it to better use by having the home waterproofed from the outside. Interior drainage eliminates seepage where the floor and the wall meet, but will do nothing to eliminate the transference of moisture through the walls.

From looking at your pictures it is obvious that the initial damproofing that was applied at construction has failed. If you do not stop the moisture from the outside, it may eventually get worse, leading to cracking, more dampness and deterioration.

We have waterproofed hundreds of homes that previously had interior french drains installed. Nothing you apply to the inside of the walls will work for any prolonged period of time.

Waterproof to correct the actual problem, rather than install a water control system to deal with the symptom. Let the water in and pump it out, or keep it out all together. This is the main difference between waterproofing, exterior, and water control, interior.
james_007
Original Author
13 years ago
Yes, you are right. But it is expensive to do outside waterproof. we have done some work outside for sureface water. I have loaded more photos to show what we did on outside.

In normal cases our basement is dry. interior french drain is for record rain. reduce moisture is our goal now.

Here is a link that might be useful: photos for water control
Related Discussions
basement steps along concrete wall HELP
Q
Comments (3)
XPS is needed on the wall next to the stairs? Matter of priorities. Appearance or thermal efficiency? If it's going to be a fully-finished basement, I would let that part of the wall go without. Otherwise, the drywall will hang over the stairs and will be next to impossible to trim neatly. Working with older homes is a series of compromises! BTW, an inexpensive low-pile commercial carpet will do wonders for that staircase.
...See More
huge basement (49 x 24 x 9) with visible mold on concrete walls
Q
Comments (5)
downtown J Brown Just thought I'd insert a word after all the spammers and plagiarists are done. Using the info in the EPA link, I'd suggest a dehumidifier that removes 22 pints over 24 hours. Even though the humidity now is acceptable, I'd bet it goes much higher in the summer. To further help in preventing a reoccurence of mold, don't open basement windows in the summer, seal all openings and consider insulation on the walls, so there is reduced surface on which condensation can form.
...See More
Prepping very old basement concrete floors for stain
Q
Comments (1)
Do you mean paint it? Isn't it masonry? The PotchGuy Here is a link that might be useful: My Album
...See More
Painting Concrete basement wall
Q
Comments (3)
For the walls, I would just use a gloss latex house paint. Gloss will be easier to clean and also make the room seem a bit larger. Brush on the first coat to make sure don't miss any surface imperfections, and you could roll on the second coat with a fairly thick (1/2") roller. For a small laundry room, I'd probably go with a single sheet of vinyl flooring, but the Allure looks like it'd do the job. This post was edited by randy427 on Wed, Oct 29, 14 at 23:15
...See More
wtrprfr1
13 years ago
I commend you on the work to reduce the surface water. Obviously this will help. If you were not planning on finishing the basement then the minimal amount of moisture that is transferring through your walls wouldn't be an issue. However, and this is only my opinion, you run the risk of ruining your finish work if moisture continues to diffuse through the walls.

I have seen all to many times, customers spend a lot of time and effort finishing only to begin noticing odor caused by mold growth. They are then forced to redo the interior work as well as have the foundation properly waterproofed.

I know this is not what you want to hear, but I would not spend a dime finishing that basement without having the walls sealed and waterproofed from the outside.
herbfrywaterproofing
13 years ago
you want to get it level and smooth so that it can be painted. Is there a self leveler that is available to homeowners. Or is there other options. I dont want to put in a wood subfloor.

Here is a link that might be useful: herbfrywaterproofing

Related Stories

ARCHITECTURE Style Divide: How to Treat Additions to Old Homes?

By Mitchell Parker

One side says re-create the past; the other wants unabashedly modern. Weigh in on additions style here

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Create Nests: Treat Yourself to a Protected Walkway

Turn a garden path into an exploration of inviting nooks and beautiful views

BASEMENTS Room of the Day: Swank Basement Redo for a 100-Year-Old Row House

By Annie Thornton

A downtown Knoxville basement goes from low-ceilinged cave to welcoming guest retreat

MODERN HOMES Houzz Tour: 800-Year-Old Walls, Modern Interiors in Provence

By Vanessa Brunner

Old architecture and new additions mix beautifully in a luxurious renovated vacation home

BASEMENTS Basement of the Week: Modern Style Converts an Empty Concrete Box

By Becky Harris

From raw wasteland to fab living, sleeping and storage space, this snazzy basement now covers all the angles

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Garden Walls: Pour On the Style With Concrete

By Olander Garden Design

There's no end to what you — make that your contractor — can create using this strong and low-maintenance material

DESIGN DICTIONARY Board-Formed Concrete

Pouring concrete the old-school way leaves attractive wood-grain textural imprints

FLOORS Know Your Flooring: Concrete

By Rebecca Gross

Concrete floors have a raw and elegant beauty that can be surprisingly warm

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Tear Down That Concrete Patio

By Christine Tusher

Clear the path for plantings or a more modern patio design by demolishing all or part of the concrete in your yard

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS Kitchen Counters: Concrete, the Nearly Indestructible Option

By Ivon Street Studio

Infinitely customizable and with an amazingly long life span, concrete countertops are an excellent option for any kitchen

Sponsored

More Discussions

Kitchenette or wet bar?

1

How do you get slug slime off of painted walls?

0

Basement double door or single

1

Finish basement or not?

3

Basement Remodel

0