Back-to basics :
I must apologize, as the photos you are viewing are nothing more than "frame grabs" from full-motion video I've shot using a Digital MiniDV Movie camera. Although, they tend to be somewhat low in quality, I feel they are instrumental in illustrating the progress I am making in our theater, without the burden of film processing cost or time constraints.
< This photo shows you the absolute bare, cinderblock wall of the rear of our house (facing southwest). Our basement was previously finished, but all that the previous owners did was succeed in covering up existing problems in the basement walls without resolving them. We decided to get back to basics and do things right. We'd already had the outside of our basement walls waterproofed a few years ago. The waterproofing runs from just above grade, down to the footing of the foundation. The drain tiles were also replaced. I highly recommend doing this first to anyone who is contemplating a project of this magnitude BEFORE they get started. Doing so will save you a lot of grief (and $$$) later!
^August 2002
^ These close-up views looks rather sad. I was forced to tuck point mortar and insert hydraulic cement into the larger voids in order to return the walls to a secure a level of integrity.
>> Here is a look at before-and-after on the back wall. What a difference! The "white paint" is actually a water-proofing paint called "Dryloc" by UGL (http://www.drylock.com/). It's great stuff, but be sure you have plenty of ventalation when you use it and during drying!
