Connect to your favourite weather forecaster and look for the following conditions:
Category: Concrete Product: Bituminous foundation moisture control coating
Temperature Limitations: Water based products must be used above freezing -- Solvent based materials minimum -17 C (+1 F)
Rain Limitations: Avoid rain until it skins -- several hours.
Wind Limitations: Do not spray apply in high winds.
Humidity Limitations: n/a
Continuous Conditions: Allow to cure until material cannot be dented by finger pressure before covering -- usually 24 hours. Keep from freezing for 72 hours. Must not be exposed to UV rays of sunlight for more than 30 days.
Comments: Bituminous or rubberized asphalt coatings are the most common products used to damp proof foundations, but are not considered to be water proof. They are designed to go over fresh or cured concrete and masonry blocks. Only some products require primers. Water based products have no VOC but solvent based products can be used in cold weather.
Weather limitations on most renovation products can be located on the WEATHER tab above.
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APPLICATION / INSTALLATION DETAILS
The black stuff that you see sprayed over new foundation walls is almost always a bituminous or rubberized asphalt coating.
It does not waterproof a basement but rather is considered a moisture barrier -- it reduces the tendency for water to penetrate into the wall.
These coatings will not seal cracks but are applied over crack repairs.
Some are water based products that give off no VOCs, or solvents -- most are solvent based and can be used in cold weather -- but all of them carry a distinct odour.
They are sometimes applied to the inside wall of a basement but that generally requires a quick finishing of the wall with a good air/vapour barrier to prevent the whole house from being flooded with that asphalt odour.
This is the most common moisture control coating used in residential housing.
It must not be left exposed for a long time to UV rays of the sun; hence it is usually applied to the outside of the foundation from the footing to just below grade level. It is often applied immediately after removing the concrete forms so that its moisture control nature can help to keep the water in the concrete, slowing the drying and strengthening the cure.
Click here for details on HOW DO I WATERPROOF A BASEMENT?