What is the absolute cheapest way to paint(?) a basement floor that is damp??

Question

We have an unfinished basement but we have a hockey table, bookshelves, washer and dryer downstairs but we need help covering the dampness and cracks in the floor. Please help.

Answer 1

Dehumidify with an industrial dehumidifier, you can probably rent one from a rental house. seal up cracks with a hydraulic cement, seal with "dry lock" or "Ugl", do entire basement, allow to dry completely.

Paint with a epoxy paint, any two part system, like a garage floor pain works great in a basement, run fan to circulate air, but do not direct it on the floor--it will dry irregularly

Answer 2

u need a water based concrete primer paint in one... easy... mop the floor first of course, it has to be semi dry to hold

Answer 3

You can do it yourself! Move all the furniture out. Fill the gaps with cement and level them out. Wait a day for the cement to dry, and then open all the windows, and start painting the floor and walls with a sealing paint (your local hardware store should carry them). After about 24 hrs it should dry and you should be good to go. If this doesn't work you are looking at trouble. Good luck with your project, hope it all works out!

Answer 4

It won't work.  If you have considerable dampness, the paint will fail.  You cannot seal moisture out from the inside, although the claims of DryLok are perhaps legit.  You could tile the floor with cheap industrial grade tile.  Would look better than paint, and last forever.