Does your home have a basement? Due to seasonally frigid weather and deep frost lines, most Canadian dwellings do.
Basements are the catch-all area of the home; we use them as playrooms, family spaces, storage, or for laundry. But whatever you use your basement for, you want to know that this vulnerable space is well protected to continue providing years of enjoyment (or, in the case of laundry, function). Despite their regularity, basements are susceptible to outside elements, and homeowners frequently encounter problems with moisture, humidity, leaks, and cracks in their concrete floors. This blog will examine a few ways you can help protect your basement flooring once and for all.
Locate the Source of the Problem
Before looking for solutions on how to address excess moisture in your basement, it is vital to know what is causing the problem. Some basements are just naturally humid due to underground condensation, soil moisture, or even your laundry room, and while this can lead to problems like mold and mildew, there are no structural issues. Other causes of basement moisture, like foundation problems, improper drainage, and structural cracks, can be more challenging and expensive to remedy.
Concrete Floor Sealing
Once you have determined that the cause of your basement dampness is not a major structural problem, you can get started on protecting your flooring. Concrete floor sealing is one of the best ways to minimize the amount of condensation and moisture escaping from your floors. Concrete floor sealing will reduce or eliminate problems like mold and mildew caused by excessive humidity and help your concrete floors last longer and it’s a win-win.
Choosing the Right Type of Concrete Floor Sealing
Various methods are available to seal your concrete floors, each with pros and cons.
An epoxy coating is often the best option for concrete floor sealing. Not only is epoxy impermeable, but it’s also extremely durable, resisting all types of wear and tear. With an epoxy concrete coating, you can also choose the colour of your flooring or add in several design features like flecks or varying degrees of sheen. However, an epoxy coating is also the priciest concrete sealing option.
At the mid-range level, you have a polyurethane concrete floor sealer. Polyurethane shares many of the benefits of an epoxy concrete floor sealer in that it is waterproof, highly durable, and customizable, however, it also takes longer to cure.
A budget concrete floor sealing option worth considering is an acrylic sealer. While an acrylic concrete floor sealer does not go on as thick as an epoxy or polyurethane sealer and lacks some of the protective properties, it does provide a measure of protection against moisture.
Concrete Floor Sealing Painted Floors
If your basement floor already has a paint or sealer on your applied, you can still add a new sealant layer. However, the right product will depend on what you are using it overtop of. For example, epoxy can be applied overtop most paints and stains but does not react well with water-based polyurethane.
Concrete Floor Sealing Damaged Floors
Best practice dictates that you should repair concrete floor damage before applying a sealer; however, in some cases, you may be able to skip that step. In cases of minor cracks, an epoxy or polyurethane concrete floor sealer can help to fill in some of the surface imperfections giving your concrete floor the added protection it needs and smoothing out unevenness.
