How to Eliminate Leaking in the Basement
Eliminating moisture in your basement is a necessity for avoiding much more expansive damage later on. A leak in the basement has the potential to lead to health problems related to the spread of mildew. Moisure accumulation in your basement also presents the possibility of dangerous structural problems to the foundation of the house. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Begin by locating the source of the leakage. Your observation checklist should include finding any gaps in your siding or cracks in the foundation wall. Make sure that your gutters still allow water to slope away from the foundation. Look for condensation collecting on the interior basement walls.
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Start the repair process on a dry day by placing a garden hose outside the basement area where the leak is located in the basement. Once the water begins seeping into the basement, draw a circle around the crack with a fat felt pen. Go back outside and turn off the water.
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Strike your mallet against a cold chisel to open the crack until it about the width of an inch. Place the chisel at an angle so that the bottom of the hole in the crack will be larger than the top. This is done to help the cement adhere when it is applied.
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Use the wire brush to scrape away loose concrete. Turn the water hose back on again with just enough pressure to create a trickling leak. Pour hydraulic cement into a bucket, add water and mix to putty consistency. Create a rope of cement by rolling it between your hands.
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Press the cement into the crack in the basement wall while the water is still trickling through. Use a pointed trowel to continue pressing the cement until it slightly overfills the cavity in the wall. Smooth the patch using a circular motion with your trowel. Be sure to clean the trowel before the cement has had a chance to harden. Turn off the water and recheck your patch job after the next rain.
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Improve the grade of your gutter system. The author of "Ortho's Home Improvement Encyclopedia" recommends using splash blocks or leaders to make sure the water is carried away from the foundation 8 to 10 feet with a slope that is at least one-half inch per foot for the first three feet.
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Tips & Warnings
You can just use a sealer that is brushed onto the wall if the leak is minor.
Caulk basement-level windows and doors that lead outside.
Moisture collecting on the floor may be caused by a high water table in your neighborhood. Installing a sump pump may correct this problem and make your drainage flow as efficient as possible.
