Fix a Leaky Basement
Leaking basements, aside from causing costly property damage, could lead to the growth of mold. To prevent potential health hazards and extensive damage to the structure of the house any water penetration should be identified and fixed. Here are some tips on how to eliminate leaks in the basement.
Steps
- Inspect and identify source of leak (i.e. crack in the wall, leaking window, etc.) Look carefully at organic surfaces such as wood, drywall, and carpets in a finished basement.
- Dig down {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} to the foundation all around outside of the house.The width of the trench should be enough for doing some other steps on the bottom. You need enough space for patching the foundation and installing draining pipe.
- Pressure wash foundation and let it dry. Use heavy duty brush to clean up the surface of the foundation if water presser does not clean up all dirt from the wall.Make a slight incline in the patched area, slanting it from the floor upward toward the wall. This provides extra strength to the patched area and helps drain away any moisture that might accumulate in the future
- Patch the cracks.Apply small amounts of the cement mix into the chipped-out area and smooth it out with an ordinary trowel.
- Apply waterproofing paint sealer.You can purchase epoxy or latex waterproof mixes for treating walls. Most of these mixes require you to add only water. If you use this type of mix, be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.
- Install waterproofing membrane. Dimpled Membrane is made from tough, long lasting plastic that keeps exterior moisture out. It prevents back fill material from touching the foundation wall and bridges typical wall cracks with ease.
- Run drainage pipe around the foundation to insure ground waters stay away from the walls.As seen in the picture , a footing drain rests just outside of a house’s foundation. Most often, this pipe is laid in a bed of loose gravel meant to keep dirt from entering. The pipe is thick, with 1/2" spaces in it, and stone is laid on top of it.
- Fill the trench with soil that you took out before. compress the soil every
Tips
- Do not throw away the soil from the trench, you will use it later. Put it on the drop sheet if you have nice lawn around the house.
- Even if you are dealing with a single crack in foundation it is better to do all around because you may have another crack in your basement but not visible.
Warnings
- Be prepared for heavy exercises when you dig. This is most difficult part of this job, especially if you do not have digging machine or several people that can dig all day long.
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