I'm planning to excavate around my basement and I'm debating whether to apply an asphalt sealer and then dimple board, or just go with the dimple board alone. I intend to install a soil separator fabric, washed 57 gravel, and a new 4" SPD35 perforated drain pipe, followed by more gravel and wrapping the soil blanket around. My concern is whether I should power wash the walls and take the extra time to apply the asphalt sealer, which would lengthen the project's timeline by several days, making me vulnerable to rain and possible cave-ins. Is it okay to skip the sealing and just use the dimples? What do you think?
1 Answer
Using some kind of coating, alongside the dimple board, can significantly help reduce humidity coming through the concrete walls into your basement. If you’re short on time, consider a membrane option like Blueskin instead of waiting for a roll-on coating. Also, if you're in a colder area, adding rigid foam insulation would be wise. Once you do the excavation, make sure you maximize the effectiveness of your waterproofing.
Did you power wash the block after your excavation? If you did, how long did you wait before putting on the Blueskin? I'm considering digging out on Day 1 and power washing, finishing by 8 PM, then starting on Blueskin by 8-9 AM the next day. Do you think that’s enough time to dry?