Sweating Walls
#1
09-25-01, 08:41 AM
Finished applying the second coat of Drylock early last week. Two days ago, particular spots on the wall started "sweating" - droplets of syrup colored liquid. I've had previous problems w/water in that area of the basement, thus the Drylock.
Ok, so what else can I do and why is it that color?
Ok, so what else can I do and why is it that color?
#2
09-26-01, 03:30 PM
Member
Condensation on basement walls
Condensation/sweating is caused by warm air on cool surfaces like basement walls. You will see water droplets, wet spots, or puddles/wet spots on basement floors. A simple test is to tape some aluminum foil in the affected area. If droplets form on the outer surface of the foil, you have condensation. If moisture forms underneath the foil, you have runoff or moisture coming through the concrete or block foundation and need a professional. Improve ventilation. Open windows. Run fans. Run a dehumidifier to lower humdity levels. If it is during colder months, increase heat in basement area to keep it dried out. Insulate cold water pipes. Make sure dryer vent vents to outside, you don't dry wet clothes on clothesline in basement, and you don't have firewood stored in basement.
A couple coats of waterproofing barrier tends to seal the surface of basement walls and to clog concrete/block pores. Adjacent crawl space areas should be covered with at least a 6 mil polyproplylene (black plastic) moisture barrier. All downspouts and gutters should be clear and draining water away from the house. Soil should be landscaped away from house to carry water away from the foundation. Overgrown trees/shrubs should be removed/pruned to allow additional ventilation around the home.
If problems seem to be greater after rain or snowmelt, the problem is more than likely runoff issues rather than condensation. The ground should slope 1" for every foot away from your foundation. Driveways should be sloped in such away runoff does not run toward the foundation. The best way to determine what is going on with ground water, is to put on your rain coat and hat and go outside and observe during a very heavy downpour to see what your gutters are doing and where the ground water is going.
If you have an existing underground drainage system along your foundation, it is possible that it has become filled with silt. Professionals can be called to clean out such systems. Usually, draining downspouts out about 4 feet will take roof drainage away from the house. If you have excessive moisture, bubbling of water in basement at floor level, or excessive moisture after heavy rain or snow melt, you probably need to call a professional about moisture/foundation issues.
A couple coats of waterproofing barrier tends to seal the surface of basement walls and to clog concrete/block pores. Adjacent crawl space areas should be covered with at least a 6 mil polyproplylene (black plastic) moisture barrier. All downspouts and gutters should be clear and draining water away from the house. Soil should be landscaped away from house to carry water away from the foundation. Overgrown trees/shrubs should be removed/pruned to allow additional ventilation around the home.
If problems seem to be greater after rain or snowmelt, the problem is more than likely runoff issues rather than condensation. The ground should slope 1" for every foot away from your foundation. Driveways should be sloped in such away runoff does not run toward the foundation. The best way to determine what is going on with ground water, is to put on your rain coat and hat and go outside and observe during a very heavy downpour to see what your gutters are doing and where the ground water is going.
If you have an existing underground drainage system along your foundation, it is possible that it has become filled with silt. Professionals can be called to clean out such systems. Usually, draining downspouts out about 4 feet will take roof drainage away from the house. If you have excessive moisture, bubbling of water in basement at floor level, or excessive moisture after heavy rain or snow melt, you probably need to call a professional about moisture/foundation issues.
#3
09-26-01, 03:59 PM
All the above is good advice. If, however, after doing all the above, you still have problems, you may have to install an electronic water control device. Known as Drytronic, http://www.drytronic.com may be with "s" on end, this device requires the embedding of rods in the wall and a copper coated steel rod in the out side ground. The inside rods are charged with a low voltage, pulsating charge which polarizes the water molecules and they are attracted to the out side rod. The US Army Corp of Eng. had this tested, and it is now recommended for goverment buidigs.
