BEAVER® Basement Waterproofing
Level 2 Installation Guide
HOW IT WORKS: Relieve hydrostatic pressure along your basement walls with our baseboard drainage system. Dry up your wet basement so it can be finished to add extra living space and value to your home.
Most wet basement problems are caused by water collecting around the foundation, creating hydrostatic pressure. The pressure forces water through the joint where the wall and floor meet, and even through cracks and pores in the concrete block walls. The BEAVER® baseboard solves the problem by doing what paints, plugs and sealers can't do; it collects the water and quietly drains it away to your basement sump-pump.
Pressure is relieved by drilling holes in the concrete block cavities at floor level. The BEAVER® Basement Waterproofing Baseboard System is then installed along the walls and sealed to the floor with Border Bond® adhesive. When water collects around the foundation, it seeps from the holes in the blocks, and from the seam where the wall and floor join, into the hollow baseboard and is directed to your sump-pump.Border Bond® adhesive bonds water tight in wet conditions!
Poured Wall Basements
Poured-wall basements have cracks from the upper part of the wall extending down to the floor. These cracks seep water and relieve water pressure around the basement. Seal all vertical cracks (or complete wall area) except for the bottom 3 inches of the wall or cracks with a waterproofingpaint or sealer.
Never seal the joint where the floor and wall meet! This joint must be kept open to relieve hydrostatic pressure. The BEAVER® Basement Waterproofing Baseboard System will collect water seepage from vertical wall cracks and from the joint where the floor and wall meet and channel it to your floor drain and sump pump.
Block Wall Basements
The BEAVER® Basement Waterproofing Baseboard System is just as effective in block wall basements as it is in those with solid poured walls. Because the baseboard is not attached to the wall, it allows air to circulate within the block cavities to help keep them dry. It also provides a source of disposal for upper wall moisture collected by the vapor barrier. You cannot aerate cavity walls to keep them dry or provide a method for collecting moisture from the vapor barrier with any other method. It is another important advantage of the BEAVER® baseboard system.
Watch the Basement Waterproofing Installation Video
Level 2 EASY Install Guide:
LEVEL 2 SYSTEM DOES NOT REQUIRE CONNECTORS.
Our ease of installation for our Border Patrol Basement Waterproofing System is unparalleled. He is a quick step-by-step process to show you how easily you can fix your wet basement with our custom DIY (Do-it-Yourself) line of basement waterproofing products.
* Click on the images within each step for larger images and more clarification of each step.
Tools You Will Need
These are the tools that you will need to easily install the Beaver Basement Waterproofing System.
1. Relieve Hydrostatic Pressure
Make "weep" holes in the cells of each block (4" - 6" from each end ) at the point where the floor and wall meet. This can be done with a drill and ½" masonry bit. Solid poured concrete walls have no cavities, so weep holes are not required.
2. Prepare the Surface
To properly bond and seal the system to the concrete floor, the floor area along the wall (approx. 3" wide) must be stripped to bare concrete. To remove all paint or tile adhesive, use a 3M metal paint stripper-wheel with your electric drill.
3. Clean the Surface
It's very important that you do this step properly. After the floor area has been stripped, wash with clear water and sponge to remove all dirt and dust. When finished feel the area with your fingers for any loose grit left behind.
4. Placement of Corners
Begin by placing pre-mitered corner sections in all corners. Mitered joints should have little or no gap.
5. Cut, Fit & Layout the Baseboard Sections
Cut and trial-fit the baseboard along the walls between the corner sections. Use tin snips or a hack saw to cut the sections as needed.
6. Angle Cut Adhesive
Angle cut the tip on the nozzle of the 10 ounce tube of adhesive just under the cone shaped end. This should provide an opening capable of extruding a ½" to 5/8" bead necessary for applying to all surfaces.
7. Apply the Adhesive
Turn a main section of baseboard over and apply a heavy bead (½" - 5/8") to the bottom. Turn baseboard over and set in place ... press gently. DO NOT PRESS DOWN HARD! The bottom of the baseboard will be approximately 1/4" away from the wall.
8. Caulk the Floor Joint
Caulk the floor joint with enough pressure to force some adhesive under the system.
9. Caulk the Corners and Joining Pieces
Caulk the corners and joining pieces with a heavy bead of adhesive to completely cover any areas that have connecting pieces.
10. Seal the Floor Joints
A wet finger works well to smooth out the adhesive.
11. Seal the Corner Joints
Apply a generous bead of adhesive over the corner joint, spanning it at least ½" on either side for a watertight bond. A wet finger works well to smooth out the adhesive.
12. Installing an End Cap
Apply adhesive across the bottom and up the wall and down the edge of baseboard. Set end cap in place and caulk all edges again.
13. Draining to a Floor Drain
Create an open spillway by laying two parallel beads of adhesive (at least 1" high and 6" apart) from the end of the baseboard to the drain.
14. Draining to a Sump Pump
Draining to a sump pump in most communities is the proper method of disposing of groundwater. Be sure to check your local building codes before selecting your drainage method.
15. Alternate Drainage
An alternate method of drainage would be to cut a round hole into the face of the baseboard and insert a standard 1 ½" coupler. Seal the joint with adhesive and run pipe to hose to the drain.
16. Paneling the Walls
Finishing the basement walls can be accomplished with 2" X 2" furring strips. Attach the base plate furring strip to the wall ½" above the baseboard. Sheetrock or paneling can then be installed over the furring strips. A trim board can be added to enclose the system.
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Testimonials
“My husband and I aren't really Do-It-Yourselfers but your instructions were layed out so well that it seemed easy even for us to follow.
Thank you for making it so EASY to install this system. It only took us a few hours to do our entire basement!
We couldn't be happier with the results and will recommend your basement waterproofing system to anyone that has a wet basement problem.”