The waterproofing tag has no wiki summary.
19
votes
9answers
26k views
I have a basement floor with lots of moisture, can I paint or seal it to make it waterproof?
My basement has a slight dampness issue, where if I leave things on the floor they will get wet. There are no leaks and no standing water, the moisture seems to be wicking up through the concrete.
I ...
13
votes
1answer
402 views
Is it better to waterproof a basement from the outside or the inside?
Is it better to waterproof a basement from the outside or the inside? I've heard different things about this. We have a home built in the 40's on a cinder-block foundation. One side of the house is ...
7
votes
3answers
5k views
Can I erect a barrier to keep water out of my garage?
Within the last year, I have purchased an 80+ year-old house. The house has a sealed blacktop driveway that runs parallel to the house. The house has an integrated garage with swing-open (horizontally ...
7
votes
1answer
194 views
Cladding removed from sides of dormer, should it be covered if not being replaced for a week?
I'm having all of the soffits, fascias & guttering replaced along with cladding to the sides of upstairs dormer windows. The upstairs windows look like this picture:
The guy doing the work ...
7
votes
1answer
145 views
Is it normal for the concrete covering my interior perimeter drain to be damp?
I inherited an interior perimeter drain with a sump-pump as part of a basement waterproofing system when I purchased my new home two years ago.
Since then I have noticed that along the seam of the ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I seal a large gap between slabs to avoid freeze/thaw heaving?
I have a very large slab patio on the back of my home in Southern MN that has pulled away from the house about 6-8" due to freeze/thaw heaving. The previous owners have filled the gap with river ...
6
votes
1answer
228 views
What to do if my sump is bone-dry?
My wife has been suffering the past two years with severe asthma symptoms (never had asthma before this). She's been advised that it's probably mold.
We asked a company to look for moisture ...
6
votes
1answer
121 views
What do I need to know before selecting and installing a cat/pet door in a door?
We want to (finally) install a pet door for our cat. It will most likely be a model that will install in the laundry room door, the optimal location for it in our house. This brings me to my first ...
5
votes
2answers
759 views
What should I use as backing for mosaic accent tiles that are a different thickness than the main field tiles?
I noticed, too late (during install), that the mosaic tile my wife chose for accent in our shower is a different depth than the regular tile we're using. The mosaic tiles are about 1/8-3/16" thinner ...
5
votes
3answers
317 views
Should I install external basement insulation that does not extend above ground?
Question : Is there a way to calculate energy savings for external, 2inch insulation on basement walls that does not extend above the soil surface, leaving the top couple feet of foundation wall ...
5
votes
2answers
640 views
How can I remove wax from a wooden counter so I can resurface it with Danish oil?
A wooden (beech) kitchen counter has been treated with cheap wax in the past, and is now discolouring because of food preparation and constant splashing. I've decided to make a better job using Danish ...
5
votes
2answers
475 views
What type of subflooring should I use for a basement?
My basement has wall-to-wall carpet in the two bedrooms and living area. The carpet was probably from the 70's when the house was built and we decided to remove it. After removing the carpet from ...
5
votes
1answer
209 views
How do I prepare my new bathtub alcove?
I will be expanding my bathroom and moving the bathtub, meaning I need to prepare a new bathtub alcove.
I know how to frame and plumb - but preparing for tile is new to me.
I know that there are ...
5
votes
1answer
149 views
Should I use water-resistant lumber for siding?
Our house has a frame exterior, and rests on a pier-and-beam foundation with a brick chainwall around the sides.
We recently had the house leveled, and that resulted in a gap of several inches ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
How can I fuse galvanized sheet metal together so that it is water tight?
Is it possible to fuse sheets of the galvanized sheet metal that they sell at the hardware store for roofing together so that it is water tight?
I was thinking that this may be able to be ...
4
votes
4answers
192 views
How can I add a piece of timber to my metal shed wall without creating a leak?
I have a garden shed with steel (powder coated) walls. I'd like to attach a piece of timber to the inside of the wall. I'll use the timber to attach hooks for hanging tools.
I don't want the holes I ...
4
votes
1answer
915 views
How do I install electrical through stucco
Is there such a thing as an "old work" stucco junction box?
Rather than cutting and flashing a 4" hole for a new junction box, can I cut a 1/2 hole for the non-metallic cable, and attach some sort of ...
4
votes
2answers
396 views
can i paint my bathtub wall?
One of our bath walls is green Sheetrock with a white semi gloss paint finish.
As you can see on the pictures attached, the paint has started to bubble and strip.
What can we do now?
shall/can ...
4
votes
2answers
133 views
How can I join vinyl decking to metal door frame?
Shoddy workmanship by a lousy contractor has left me with a vinyl deck that allows water to leak into the garage below. I identified the location of the leak - where the vinyl meets the metal frame ...
4
votes
1answer
112 views
How do I seal a leaky roof and repair the minor ceiling damage it caused?
We recently had some very heavy rains and during the worst of it we had some leaks. When I noticed the problem, I went into my attic and found out that the leak was coming from around a vent in the ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Should light bulbs above showers be “steam proof”?
In replacing the lighting in my apartment with LED bulbs, I noticed that the recessed can lighting above the shower (to be fair, the light is centered on the shower curtain) does not appear to be ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Attaching a pergola (or deck) to vinyl siding
Building a structure which is attached to a house usually involves a plate which is bolted to the existing building, typically a 2x8, or 2x10. I understand how to structurally attach this, my concern ...
4
votes
1answer
620 views
What material should be used behind a sink and range in the kitchen?
I am getting ready to demo my kitchen to the studs in a couple weeks.
I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for alternate materials to use other than "green" board (moisture resistant drywall) ...
3
votes
1answer
127 views
Is it a good idea to have an Infrared scan and/or air quality test done during a home inspection?
I'm looking to purchase a home that is only 10 years old, but has a finished basement. There's various home inspection "packages" that are offered with the companies I've looked into. The mid-line ...
3
votes
2answers
516 views
Which flat roofing system requires the least maintenance?
I am a board member of my townhouse homeowners association and our townhomes are unfortunately very tall (need a lift or 60 ft ladder to access the roofs) and also the builder made the roof one single ...
3
votes
1answer
310 views
How can I fix/polish a slate tile imperfection after it has been laid down and grouted?
Our contractor laid down a tile on our renovated bathroom and somehow did not realized that it was defective (see picture). The defect is some sort of metal mineral (kind of rough) the kind that ...
3
votes
3answers
13k views
When should a waterproof membrane be installed for shower tiling?
For what kinds of wall structure - tile type combinations a waterproof membrane should be used between walls and tiles?
3
votes
3answers
417 views
Does a device exist that can help find the source of a leak in a flat roof?
My Dad has a flat roof over his garage. It's covered with tar and felt.
We had an unusually hard and cold winter last year (Republic of Ireland) and since then the roof has developed a leak.
We've ...
3
votes
2answers
279 views
What is the method to seal a concrete roof?
We are staying in a home which has a concrete roof. Now we are facing leakage in the roof during rainy seasons. What do we have to do? How do we protect the roof from leaks?
3
votes
1answer
259 views
When waterproofing my basement, should I apply 11 mil plastic in addition to the dimple board?
I'm currently interviewing contractors for exterior basement waterproofing. The difference in price is not significant, but there is one major difference.
The contractors will:
Trench down below ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How do I stop water from coming under my multitrack sliding doors?
I live in a desert where seasonal hard rains occur 5-10 times per year. We have an automated door with a multitrack slide that it lets quite a bit of water in when it rains hard. The door is an ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
Should I paint wood in a roof that is not directly exposed to the outside?
I'm currently in the process of replacing the roof of a room. This room was originally a balcony, so has never been part of the main house. The roof that was removed had wood beams with wood ...
3
votes
2answers
354 views
Should I use solid concrete or cement block for an egress window well?
I am having some contractors build a window well for an egress window at my house. I have the option of doing solid concrete walls for the window well, or cement blocks (which he said he will fill ...
3
votes
1answer
135 views
Does RedGard count as a rubber sealer in a shower?
In standard poured shower pan construction there is normally a rubber layer between the bottom flat layer, and the upper sloped layer.
Today I came across the following "updated" method:
(credit: ...
3
votes
1answer
194 views
How to seam new stucco to old stucco when patching large areas
Our city inspector wants us to break out the edge of old stucco to expose the wire then tie that back into the new mesh. But when we did that, it became obvious to everyone (inspector included) that ...
3
votes
1answer
325 views
How do I properly install underlayment and a modified bitumen roof on a flat garage roof with concrete walls?
My project is to replace 18'x10' flat roof on my concrete garage. So far I installed 16" oc framing and 3/4" plywood over it. Now I am planning to install some fiberglass based underlayment (#30, ...
3
votes
0answers
38 views
What should I do about my rendering & damp-proof course?
I have a house that was built around 1890 and is of brick construction with a rendered band running around the base which also forms square edged columns around the front door. Until recently the ...
2
votes
2answers
4k views
How to stop a leak of water through a concrete floor
I live in an apartment building. Each house has a bathroom with a concrete floor covered in tiles. In the corner of the floor is a drain with its pipe going all the way through. However, I have ...
2
votes
1answer
197 views
Footing for a porch?
To waterproof the front of our house, we have removed the existing porch and we're debating how to build the new one. The cold room that the old porch was on top of is about 4.5 feet wide, 3.5 feet ...
2
votes
3answers
295 views
How can I seal around this pipe on my roof?
I have a PVC furnace exhaust pipe coming out through my roof. Unfortunately, the guy who installed it used the wrong size flange. So instead of the rubber rising upwards against the pipe, it is sunken ...
2
votes
1answer
152 views
How can I protect a house foundation from weather conditions?
I started building a house and had to divert my money into another situation which was urgent. It might take some time to retrieve the money so the building is on hold.
Only the house foundation is ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
I want to waterproof from outside, but my neighbors live 2 ft from us, is it possible?
We live in a 90 year old home that has just begun to leak. The walls have always been somewhat damp, but nothing a dehumidifier couldn't help. We are now interested in waterproofing from the outside, ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
What technique(s) is recommended for waterproofing exterior foundation walls?
I have a late 70's split-entry, so my basement foundation wall is roughly 4 feet under the ground. The basement is finished with wood framing, spray foam insulation, and sheetock. Recent heavy rains ...
2
votes
2answers
7k views
How should I waterproof an upstairs bathroom floor?
I'm adding on a bathroom upstairs. My question is what precautions should I take to waterproof it. I'll have new copper, PVC drains and the floor itself I'm worried about. It's sitting half above a ...
2
votes
1answer
593 views
What could cause condensation on a ceiling after painting with a roof sealer?
I am renting an apartment and the tenants recently complained about water droplets on the ceiling in one of the rooms. The apartment is on the first floor and surrounded by plants (we live in a ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Is flashing required to attach a landing to the exterior of a house
I will have a landing running from the back door, then four or five steps to ground. Do I need to place metal flashing where the landing attaches to the house, or some other means of protecting the ...
2
votes
1answer
193 views
How to mitigate and/or repair concrete frets (slab edge wetting)
A building engineer made a report of problems with our property. One issue raised was "slab edge wetting" by which the building engineer meant that the concrete slab on which the house is built is ...
2
votes
2answers
492 views
What is the best way to seal this old fireplace vent?
I am doing some minor renovations to my basement with the drop ceiling and found that one of the geniuses that owned the house before me, used fibreglass ceiling tiles to seal off an old vent for a ...
2
votes
2answers
323 views
What is an appropriate sealer for a Papercrete bench?
I've built a bench out of tires and papercrete two years ago. i've sealed it with lime plaster. in the past two years it held up against 500 m"m of rain in the winter and Mediterranean sun 7 month ...
2
votes
2answers
594 views
How can I waterproof my mail box (post catcher)?
We have a basket to catch mail which comes through an outdoor security door, like this:
There is an area behind the door which is open to the elements so the mail often gets wet. Does anyone know ...
