How to Fix Cracked & Leaky Basement Walls

Cracked basement walls can let in water from the outdoors.

Cracked basement walls can cause a lot of damage to your basement if left alone. Water from the soil outside the basement wall can leak in, causing mold and even creating floods. Badly placed downspouts from your roof gutters will exacerbate the problem by pouring water directly into the soil outside the basement wall. Patching the crack in your foundation will stop the water from coming inside the home and prevent further damage from moisture.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloth
• Chisel
• Sledgehammer
• Hydraulic cement
• Latex gloves
• Trowel

Instructions

1. Set a drop cloth underneath the crack in the wall to catch debris.

2. Place a chisel inside the crack and hit it with a sledgehammer to widen the crack into an inverted "V" shape. Clean out the dust from the hole using a vacuum cleaner. The narrow part of the "V" should be toward the wall's surface.

3. Mix hydraulic cement in a bucket, according to the instructions on the packaging. It should be as thick as peanut butter.

4. Put on latex gloves and grab a handful of the cement. Push the cement into the hole by hand.

5. Push more cement into the hole using a trowel until it is tight, then smooth the surface with the trowel. As the cement dries it will expand, sealing the hole.

References

• The Family Handyman: Affordable Wet Basement Solutions
• This Old House: How to Fix a Leaky Basement Wall