Things You'll Need:
- Gutter downspout extensions
- Plastic landscaping sheeting
- Crushed stone
- Muriatic Acid wash
- Hydraulic cement
- Water sealant paint
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Step 1
The first thing you'll want to do to keep water out of your basement is to control the flow of rainwater from your roof back to the ground around your foundation. Ensure that your gutters and downspouts are functioning properly. Once your have determined they are working, add downspout extensions of 6-10 feet to divert water away from the foundation.
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Step 2
In addition to adding downspout extenstions, slope landscaping away from the foundation wall, and consider replacing the soil around the perimeter of the foundation with a 1 foot wide strip of crushed stone, also sloped away from the foundation wall.
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Step 3
Now that you have the flow of water controlled, you can work on the foundation walls themselves. First, it's a good idea to give the entire surface of the interior basement walls a good scrub with a rough brush and muriatic acid.
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Step 4
Once the walls are washed, you can begin filling cracks with a good quality hydraulic cement. Hydraulic cement is a specialized cement that expands into cracks to fill all the voids. Follow the directions carefully on the packaging to prepare the hydraulic cement properly. Fill any and all visible cracks or fissures in the wall surface.
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Step 5
Now that the cracks are filled, let the cement cure for the time recommended on the package. Once the cement is cured, apply a water sealing concrete paint like DryLok or Kilz masonry waterproofing paint. This paint seals the concrete block and keeps water from seeping through the porous cement.
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Step 6
In wrapping up your project, you'll want to make certain that your sump pump (if you have one) works, and is setup properly. If you have a sump pump, be sure that the discharge is sent at least as far away from the foundation as the downspout extension.
