I hired a handyman to seal my basement floor for about $3,000, but it doesn't seem waterproof at all. He used a product from Amazon, which looks like it's meant for making concrete water-resistant, not for true waterproofing. After the work, we noticed mold returning on items that were placed directly on the floor, even though we have been running three dehumidifiers daily. I'm worried that I wasted a lot of money and could face more mold problems. Were we taken advantage of here? Is there a way to determine if this job was done correctly or if I should expect more issues once we move our stuff back into the basement?
3 Answers
It seems you might be dealing with a moisture issue from the ground up. If your basement is already waterproofed but you still have moisture, this could be a situation where you need better airflow and maybe even a stronger dehumidification plan. Just spraying something on the floor won’t solve deeper issues. I'd suggest lifting stored items off the floor to prevent mold issues, definitely store sensitive items elsewhere, and maybe consult with another professional about your moisture levels.
Wow, you spent $3,000 on a product that’s only $20 a bottle? Yikes! It sounds like this product isn’t designed for the level of waterproofing you're expecting. Generally, true waterproofing involves addressing problems from the outside of the foundation. Just sealing the floor from the inside might not do the trick, especially if water can still come up from below. You might want to explore exterior solutions like grading your yard and ensuring your gutters are set up properly to divert water before it gets to your foundation.
Honestly, it looks like that product was the wrong choice for sealing your basement. It's meant to repel water on surfaces like sidewalks, not prevent moisture from seeping in. If you're running multiple dehumidifiers and still having issues, it could point to a bigger moisture problem. You might want to get a humidity meter to see just how high your levels are; it might explain why your books are getting moldy. As for your $12k for waterproofing, I hope that covered more than just sealing! You might need to consider installing a sump pump or better drainage outside.