Research Decorative Concrete
Ask-the-Expert Advice: Fixing Stamped Concrete; Working with Stains; Fixing Concrete with Overlays; Concrete Sealer Q&As; View All Expert Advice
Construction Materials: What is Concrete Made of; Concrete Mix Designs; Decorative Mix Design; Concrete Admixtures; Ordering Concrete
Special Types of Concrete: Glass-Fiber Reinforced Concrete; Precast Concrete; Post-Tensioned Concrete; Self-Consolidating Concrete
Basics of Construction: Surface Preparation; Subgrades and Subbases; Hot Weather Concreting; Cold Weather Concreting; Curing Concrete; Building Concrete Slabs; Joints in Concrete Slabs; Preventing Concrete Cracks; Green Building with Concrete; Concrete Demolition; Making Concrete Slip Resistant; Concrete Forms
Waterproof & Protect: Foundation Waterproofing; Vapor Barriers; Common Sealer Issues; Polyaspartic Coatings
Concrete Applications: Concrete Overlays; Concrete Footings; Poured Retaining Walls; Commercial/Industrial Floors; Concrete Floors: Owner's Manual; Concrete Parking Lots; Rock Salt Finish; Tilt-Up Concrete; Form Liners for Cast-in-Place Concrete; Fiber-Optic Concrete Countertops
Maintain & Fix: Cleaning Concrete; Concrete Repair; Fixing Concrete; Snow Melt Systems
Marketing Concrete: Tips for Concrete Showrooms; Marketing Ideas - ConcreteSherpa

Basement Wall Repair Tips – Moisture Control

By Chris Sullivan – ChemSystems, Inc.

Question:: I have a basement with painted concrete block walls. It smells damp. Last year, I applied a paint/sealer product, but this spring I have raised bubbled areas. I've been scraping them off and covering them with the same product. What, if any, product will actually seal basement walls that have been painted? I have installed a dehumidifier, and I would really like to use this space. Do you have any suggestions?
Answer:: You have a moisture issue in the soil on the exterior of your basement walls. A waterproofing material should have been used on the exterior of the walls when the house was built to prevent any water and moisture from getting in. The bubbling means that the vapor pressure of the moisture is exceeding the adhesion strength of the paint/sealer you applied. You may need to contact a professional waterproofing company. Thoro is one manufacturer of high-end concrete waterproofing materials. Also see Waterproofing Options for Concrete Basements.