Tin Can One Function Drylok On My Basement Floor

Basements, similar other below-grade structures, are prone to moisture. Moisture issues if left unattended tin can eventually effort structural problems. To preclude this from happening, it is of import to waterproof your basement floors as well as walls.

In this article, I render data on how to cook your basement floors for Drylok application, Drylok products that are suitable for use on concrete and masonry, how to apply Drlylok on concrete, as well as the importance of waterproofing your basement flooring.

Drylok Floor and Wall Masonry Waterproofer is the only Drylok waterproofer designed for effective use on floors. This, the Drylok sealers, in addition to floor paints have been particularly formulated to resist abrasion as well as provide a moisture barrier for basement floors.

Drylok Products Designed for Masonry as well as Concrete

Drylok provides waterproofing solutions for a reach of surfaces including concrete, masonry, as well as cement.

The formulation of Drylok masonry waterproofers isn’t e'er ideal to purpose on horizontal surfaces. Likewise, the composition of Drylok flooring paints isn’t e'er suitable for masonry application.

The exclusively Drylok production that provides maximum waterproofing for floors too walls is Drylok Floor & Wall Masonry Waterproofer.

Which Drylok Products Can Be Used on Floor?

The next products are prophylactic to use on basement floors.

Product	Function	Amazon Link
Drylok Floor & Wall Masonry Waterproofer	Waterproofing	View
Drylok Latex Concrete Floor Paint	Painting	View
Drylok E1 Latex i-Part Epoxy Concrete Floor Paint	Painting	View
Drylok Non-Skid Additive	Anti-skid	View
Drylok WetLook Clear High Gloss Penetrating Sealer	Sealing	View
Drylok Natural Look Curing Membrane & penetrating Sealer	Sealing	View
Drylok Protector Clear Low Sheen Penetrating Sealer	Sealing	View
Drylok Concrete Protector	Protection from salt compounds	View
Drylok Fast Plug	Patching	View
Drylok Etch	Surface training	View
Drylok Concrete and Masonry Liquid Etch & Cleaner	Surface preparation	View

The composition of masonry-focused Drylok products like Drylok Original Masonry Waterproofer together with Drylok Extreme Masonry Waterproofer isn’t suitable for application on horizontal surfaces that are subject field to foot traffic.

Take a Detour

Difference Between Drylok in addition to Drylok Extreme

Is It Worthwhile to Waterproof My Basement Floor?

Basement floors are vulnerable to H2O seepage too sometimes flooding. This is because concrete floors are no jibe for humidity together with condensation. If it’s not waterproofed, basement floors mightiness get damp as well as kickoff to breed bacteria like mildew and mold.

Water seepage too hydrostatic pressure level tin can bear upon non alone the aesthetics simply too the structural integrity of a building. So, for maximum results, it’s advised that yous outset detect the source of the moisture earlier applying Drylok. Here are the major causes of basement wet:

Poor or nonexistent subsurface drainage.
Water leakage
Runoff from gutters
Cracks in the foundation
Groundwater swelling (together with imitation H2O tables)
Humidity
Condensation

If it’s whatsoever of the pinnacle five items, y'all’d take to get-go bargain amongst the upshot so that it does not hinder the waterproofing functions of Drylok. Even if y'all become ahead together with use Drlylok on the floor, you’ll virtually probable even so experience mustiness.

Suppose that y'all’re not experiencing moisture issues. Waterproofing your basement floors in addition to walls is however a prudent determination.

It has go common practice to extend the space inward a domicile by converting the basement into bedrooms, a living expanse, a workspace, or even an entire apartment, together with waterproofing makes the basement a lot more habitable.

Even if yous accept no intention of using the space, a waterproofed basement is slowly to keep. This spares you from the hassle too expense of constantly cleaning upward the basement flooring. A sealed basement flooring is likewise less likely to create tons of dust, which spreads about the basement.

Another long-term do good is that a waterproofed basement increases a property’s resale value.

Should Basement Floor Be Dry Before Applying Drylok?

For maximum results, surfaces should be dry before applying Drylok. This is because Drylok floor waterproofers too sealers adhere meliorate to dry out concrete. However, in that location are exceptions: Drylok Powdered Masonry Waterproofer in addition to Drylok Fast Plug.

After washing the floor to go rid of dirt, grease, dust, and other particulates, exit the concrete to dry out for 24 hours. Open the windows too door, if available for improved air circulation. To speed upward the procedure, role a fan or dehumidifier. For faster results, combine a fan together with dehumidifier alongside open up windows.

Note that concrete acts similar a stone sponge in addition to would nearly likely trap residual moisture afterwards it is washed during surface training. To ensure that the basement floor is completely dry out, follow these steps:

Tape a 12” x 12” piece of aluminum foil tightly to the surface.
Leave the foil on the concrete and remove it subsequently 24 hours.
If there is wet on the side of the foil that’second facing the concrete, that way it isn’t properly dried.
Open the windows if shut too employ a fan or dehumidifier like you lot did before.
Allow to dry for 24 hours too retest.

To be on the prophylactic side, it’s best to utilize the waterproofer during rain-complimentary periods.

How to Apply Drylok to Basement Flooring

ane. Gather Your Products as well as Tools

Here are the products as well as tools that yous’ll ask to fix a surface as well as utilize Drylok Floor & Wall Masonry Waterproofer:

Product	Amazon Link
Wire brush	View
Scraper	View
Pressure washer	View
Drylok Etch	View
Drylok Fast Plug	View
Drylok brush	View
Foam roller three/eight″ nap (option to brush)	View
Drylok Floor & Wall Masonry Waterproofer	View

The following products are optional in addition to should live used if required.

Product	Product Link
Drylok WetLook Clear High Gloss Penetrating Sealer	View
Drylok Natural Look Curing Membrane & penetrating Sealer	View
Drylok Protector Clear Low Sheen Penetrating Sealer	View
Drylok Non-Skid Additive	View
Drylok Concrete Protector	View

For basements that aren’t bailiwick to hydrostatic pressure level, you tin can paint the basement floor with whatsoever of these.

Product	Amazon Link
Drylok Latex Concrete Floor Paint	View
Drylok E1 Latex ane-Part Epoxy Concrete Floor Paint	View

Note that Drylok Floor Paint and Drylok E1 Epoxy pigment can besides be applied over Drylok Floor & Wall Masonry Waterproofer and over Drylok Fast Plug.

ii. Set the Area as well as Yourself upwards Safely

The process of preparing a basement flooring as well as finally applying Drylok exposes yous to dangerous elements similar toxic atomic number 82 dust in addition to a variety of chemic elements that tin can impact the peel and fifty-fifty the encephalon or nervous organisation.

The offset matter yous involve to make is open up the windows for improved air circulation. You can besides use fans to better the ventilation in the basement.

Protection Needed	Required Safety Equipments
Eye protection	*Safety goggles* ^{_{(amazon link)}}
Skin too torso protection	Protective *gloves* ^{_{(amazon link)}}, article of clothing, too footwear
Respiratory protection	NIOSH-approved respirator

Drylok should live kept away from the achieve of children and away from pregnant women.

I mentioned lead dust before. You can become exposed to this toxic dust if your grooming involves scraping, sanding, or removing quondam pigment. So, y'all accept to live careful fifty-fifty while preparing the surface.

3. Prepare the Surface

Remove dust, dirt, grease, together with pigment from the flooring with a wire brush in addition to a heavy-duty detergent. You can too purpose a pigment stripping solvent to go rid of onetime pigment.
Rinse in addition to permit to dry out afterwards yous’ve gotten rid of all the dirt in addition to former pigment.
Alternatively, you tin launder the flooring alongside a pressure washer too get out to dry out for at least 24 hours.
For areas alongside efflorescence, powdery salt-similar deposits, apply Drylok Etch or hydrochloric acid until all visible efflorescence is gone.
Patch cracks in addition to holes alongside Drylok Fast Plug, or any fast-setting hydraulic cement. Pay attention to the joints where the flooring too wall meet.
Extremely smoothen concrete floors aren’t suitable to paint over. To go the paint cook, medium grit sandpaper texture, the concrete should be mechanically abraded or acid etched alongside Drylok Etch or muriatic acid.

To avoid concrete harm, pressure level washers shouldn’t be fix above 1750 PSI.

iv. Apply the Drylok

Before applying Drylok yous should beginning cheque the concrete’sec porosity degree. You tin can make this by sprinkling a few drops of water on the floor. If the H2O beads or lays on the surface, additional etching is required. However, if it readily penetrates into the surface and then, it is ready to be painted over.

Stir Drylok thoroughly earlier together with during application.
If y'all desire a skid-resistant surface, add ii-4 oz. of Drylok Non-Skid Additive to each gallon of Drylok paint or waterproofer.
Apply to concrete with a foam roller, nylon bristle brush, or sprayer.
For Drylok Floor & Masonry Waterproofer, permit the starting time coat to dry for at to the lowest degree 2 hours. If you lot’re applying Drylok E1 Epoxy Concrete flooring pigment or Drylok Latex Concrete Floor Paint, allow the initial coat to dry for a minimum of iv hours.
For color uniformity, the minute coat should live applied inward a cross management to the kickoff coat.

Air and surface temperature should live over 50°F during Drylok application.

v. Allow to Dry

Drylok should be left to dry out for at to the lowest degree 24 hours. However, it tin can withstand low-cal human foot traffic later iv hours. It shouldn’t live subjected to heavy pes traffic earlier the 24 hours score. It tin can also live covered alongside floor too carpeting afterwards 24 hours.

The next factors can impact Drylok’sec dry out fourth dimension:

The thickness of the coat. If the coating is besides thick, and so it will take longer to dry out.
The temperature during too later on application. Temperature that’second below 50°F would demand longer drying time.
The relative humidity of the room. For case, a relative humidity that’s above lx% tin can Pb to a longer drying fourth dimension.

Using Epoxy Resin to Fix Cracks Creatively

The epoxy flooring resin tin be used not merely every bit a sealant, simply too every bit a cement in around creative ways of sealing floor cracks. These include Kintsugi, pebbles, mosaic tiles, in addition to crushed drinking glass. Using these techniques takes your basement floor from cracked as well as dull to uniquely styled.

Should I Also Drylok the Basement Walls?

Basement waterproofing involves both the flooring too walls. And applying Drylok on basement walls is also important in preventing wet impairment.

Basement walls tin can retain H2O together with Drylok prevents that moisture from seeping into the basement. Therefore, if y'all want to avoid or fifty-fifty become rid of that mustiness inwards your basement and then it’s best to waterproof the floor and walls.

There are a variety of Drylok waterproofers that are targeted at basement walls. The 2 about popular masonry waterproofers are:

Drylok Original Basement & Masonry Waterproofer _{^{(amazon link)}}, which tin withstand water force per unit area of up to 10 PSI (Pounds per inch).
Drylok Extreme Concrete & Masonry Waterproofer _{^{(amazon link)}}, which is designed for more than demanding atmospheric condition and tin withstand H2O force per unit area upwardly to fifteen PSI.