If you want to expand your living space but don't want to invest in an expensive home extension, converting a disused basement into an extra bedroom, living room, or guest room can be a very worthwhile project. However, you will need to prepare your basement before it can be converted into a usable room, and sealing your basement's concrete floor is particularly important.

Why Do Basement Conversions Need Floor Sealing?

Concrete is a permeable substance, filled with thousands of tiny pores that absorb moisture. The concrete floor of your basement comes into direct contact with the soil beneath and surrounding the basement. As a consequence, the concrete floors of most basements will absorb significant amounts of moisture from the soil, especially if they are built below the local water table level.

Over time, this moisture can rise through the concrete floor until it reaches the basement's interior. You may have noticed that your basement floor frequently feels slightly damp, especially during wet weather conditions. Some of this moisture will also evaporate into water vapor, making your basement slightly more humid than the other rooms in your home.

The moist, humid conditions of an average basement can cause serious problems with rising dampness and mold growth, especially if the space is poorly ventilated. These problems can be troublesome in disused basements, but they can be catastrophic in converted basements. Mold and dampness can damage and destroy decor, furniture, electronic equipment, and other expensive items you keep in your newly converted basement.

Applying a waterproof sealant to your basement's concrete floor is one of the most effective ways to prevent damp problems in your basement conversion. These sealants will prevent absorbed moisture from rising to the concrete's interior surface. This prevents liquid moisture from damaging your basement conversion's furniture and fittings and helps to reduce ambient humidity, without relying on energy-hungry dehumidifiers.

Why Choose Penetrating Concrete Sealant

A variety of different sealants can be used to seal concrete floors in converted basements, but some are more suitable for the job than others. Some concrete sealants, such as acrylic sealants, create a thin, waterproof layer on the surface of the concrete.

While these surface sealants are inexpensive, they do not provide adequate protection against moisture infiltration. The moisture that rises through the concrete floor will form a layer of liquid water beneath the sealant's surface. This shortens the sealant's useful lifespan and can cause it to bubble and crack. Once these sealants start to crack, they will allow moisture to enter your basement.

For the best protection against dampness, you should have your basement floor sealed with a penetrating, silicon-based sealant. These sophisticated sealants penetrate deep into the concrete's porous structure and react chemically to create a thick, waterproof layer that is bonded to the concrete at the molecular level. These sealants are much more reliable and long-lasting.

Applying penetrating concrete sealants is more complicated and difficult than using surface sealants. For the best results, you should have your basement floor sealed professionally by a reputable concrete sealing service. For more information, contact a concrete sealing company near you.