Different Types of Basement Waterproofing
The first (and arguably the best) method of basement waterproofing is a matter of building the basement correctly in the first place. During the construction phase, waterproofing materials (heavy grade plastic, etc) are incorporated into the outside wall of the basement. This type of waterproofing is a must when building basements in an area with a very high water table.
The second, and most common type of basement waterproofing is treating the inside of basement walls to prevent water from permeating the walls and entering the basement. This type of basement waterproofing is essential in all basements. Most people imagine waterproofing their basements as a defense against flood damage (and to an extent, it is). The more insidious issue is mold.
A tiny bit of moisture will be difficult to detect, especially in basements that have finished walls. This minute quantity of water will be enough to promote the growth of mold. When such a leak is given years to promote mold growth, the problem becomes such a large issue that getting rid of the mold may require evacuation of the home for days, or even weeks in addition to stripping the basement walls to the concrete, destroying all finished walls. Mold growing in the walls is a serious issue that can create many respiratory health issues.
All major hardware stores carry some sort of waterproofing sealant. A homeowner should be sure that any sealant to be used in basement waterproofing is appropriate to the material of the basement walls. Some sealants are specifically made for wood. Such a sealant could be useless on concrete walls. The sealant should be applied according to the directions on the packaging, but is generally applied just like paint - with a brush, roller, or sprayer.
During the application, care should be taken to ensure that an impermeable seal has been created around the basement.
Basement waterproofing is one of those home maintenance tasks where a small investment can prevent monster bills and headaches down the road.