Basement Floor "upgrade"

[Surgelim]

Hi,

We just bought our first house, we don't have many information about the waterproofing done in our basement but there is a pump for the water, a deshumidifier in the middle and there is an ugly carpet on the floor and as far that I can tell there is no leaks. The house was build in 1979 but I don't know when the waterproofing was done.
I am thinking to have a polished concrete floor but I am worried to damage the waterproofing or the floor wouldn't be waterproof anymore (there is no sealer in this case). So can we do it or should we go for a simple concrete paint with sealer (which is less expensive but not as shiny) ?

Thanks for your help.

Surgelim

[Barkri12]

You need some concept of where you will be going with this project, so lay out your ideas for how the finished product should look. There are a couple of approaches that work well. The least expensive is to use graph paper. Your first step will be to outline the basement's perimeter walls.
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[Jacobpm]

When dealing with a home you have little information about there are few things you need to look at before moving ahead.

1.) Is the sump pit/sump basin a sealed closed basin? By having a sealed basin you will help to illuminate more water and moisture from coming back up through that area.

2.) Is the dehumidifier large enough to circulate the air in the basement? There's no point in having a dehumidifier that is struggling to keep up.

It doesn't sound like there's any wall protection and without seeing it I can tell you if there's a drain under the foundation floor slab. Painting your floor is what I call a "cosmetic fix"; it looks pretty, but it's not going to do anything to stop future moisture and water from coming up, it typically has a short life-span, but the good news is: you won't hurt anything.

Just get the rug out of there;-)

[spikingviking]

jacobpm is correct. painting a floor is a short term fix. as soon as water begins to infiltrate, you will loose your coating. not seeing leaks is a good sign, but no guarantee that there is no vapor transmition.

here is a simple test that may indicate moisture.
take a piece of clear plastic saran wrap from your kitchen. . .maybe 24" long.
pick a spot on your floor close to a wall or where you suspect water would enter.
tape the plastic flat to the floor with duct tape or some tape that will provide a good airtight seal without damaging or leaving residue on the floor.
monitor the plastic over the next few days, maybe even a week, to see if condensation appears on the plastic. this works best when the ambient temperature is warmer than the substrate.

when someone says there are mechanical means installed of removing water from a basement, i have to assume 1 of 2 things.
1. there is no waterproofing or there would be no need for pumps and dehumidifiers
2. whatever waterproofing was there, below slab or otherwise, has failed, thus the need for pumps and dehumidifiers.

what you plan to do with your floor will determine how to fix it.
there are vapor barriers that can be applied that will allow subsequent layers of adhesives or coatings. for a polished concrete floor, there are sometimes densifiers used that tighten the pores in cement/concrete to aid in water repellancy. when you decide how to finish your floor, consult with your flooring contractor on how to best remedy your situation for the appropriate flooring. he/she may have you consult with a waterproofing contractor.

as a homeowner, i would hate to spend big money on a floor and find 3 years later after heavy rain that my floor is not waterproof, i have drywall or other damage, and i need to do it all over again.

keep in mind, when you begin to plug all the holes where water enters, the water saturation around your basement could rise. you may see water trying to get in higher up on the walls once the slab is waterproof.

hope this helps