Sealing a Foundation is Not a DIY Project
While you may want to DIY this project, if your foundation needs to be sealed it ia best to call in a professional.
16/11/2022
As a homeowner, you probably want to do as many home improvement projects and repairs yourself as you possibly can. Not only does DIY tend to save you some money, but it also gives you a sense of accomplishment when you get done. While there are dozens of home repairs that are perfect for DIY, sealing your foundation isn’t one of them. As much as you may want to, if your foundation needs to be sealed, call in a professional like those at Direct Waterproofing. Here’s why.
It’s Extremely Labor Intensive
We know you’re not opposed to working hard at
a DIY project, but sometimes, a task takes way
more labor than it’s worth. Sealing your
foundation is one such task. You might expect
there to be some digging involved to expose your
foundation, but you’d be shocked at just how
much digging and prep work is required.
First, you have to remove anything that’s next
to your house, including planters, sidewalks,
decks, and porches. Then, you have to dig down
to a depth of as much as eight feet and create a
trench that’s wide enough to work in. And it’s
not as simple as using a backhoe or similar
machine. You have to dig by hand because it’s
next to your house.
It’s Hard to Find the Right Materials
Plastic sheeting, roofing tar, and other readily-available materials are not designed for foundation sealing. They can’t withstand the erosion that being constantly exposed to soil causes. The material that professionals use is a polyurethane that’s not available for consumer use. Depending on the situation, you might also need to install insulating materials and a heavy duty drainage board around your foundation. Only a professional can assess this need.
It’s Not a Weekend Project
Excavating the trench around your foundation
is a days-long project on its own, even if you
have several helpers. Then, you have to
thoroughly clean your foundation before the
waterproofing material can be applied. Then,
there’s the application time, the curing time,
the installation of other materials, and the
backfilling of the trench.
Of course,
then you have to put everything that you
initially removed to expose the foundation back
in place. It’s going to take a lot of
afternoons, evenings, and weekends to get your
foundation sealed as a DIY project. Instead, you
can hire professionals who can get it done
quickly and correctly. They know how to use the
tools required so they don’t need to take time
to train, and they have the application process
down to a science.
It’s Not Under Warranty
Even if you complete a foundation sealing project, backfill your trench, and move everything else back into place, what happens if you did it incorrectly or it fails? You have to either do it all again (this time properly), or call a professional after all. Either way, it’s going to be expensive. Professional foundation sealing companies offer a warranty to make sure you don’t pay again if there’s a problem in the future.
Conclusion
If you’ve decided to seal your foundation, you’ve made a great decision. Now, make another one by skipping the DIY and hiring a professional to do it right.