insulating basement foundation walls

mvl 2618

thanks for any help, can i use closed cell spray foam as a water barrier to seal foundation walls that get damp before i sheetrock

joecaption

Nope, need to address why there getting most before doing anything.
Proper grade outside, working gutters, no mulch piled up againt the foundation.
May need a french drain.
Ever check the humity in the basement?
May also need a dehumidifier.

mvl 2618

i have dehumidifier working outside yard holds lots of water just gets damp wanted to fix from inside instead of digging

mvl 2618

new to forum thanks for response

brockmiera

Post a picture of the outside of the house. Usually there are easy fixes that can be done outside before you have to resort to digging and waterproofing.

Without seeing what you are seeing it will be impossible to help.

Doing any finish on the inside will be throwing away money if you dont address and fix the cause of the issues.

concretemasonry

Often, true interior french drains (not cute little collection trenches or stick on plastic systems) placed at the bottom of the footings will remove moisture under the slab and around the foundation walls since water flows horizontally and vertically over time.

In many cases, they are easier and faster to install and can be cheaper than tearing out landscaping, slabs, etc. for a real exterior french drain.

This is a long term option to get rid of the wet soil around the house and decrease the hydrostatic pressure on the walls and floors that causes the leakage. The reason it is a long term situation is that the moisture is removed continuously every day and the soil can absorb moisture from a several day event before any leakage shows up.

Dick