At the initial stage, a leaking basement may not look a problem. However, if the leaks continue and there is a rain or excess flow of water into the b
At the initial stage, a leaking basement may not look a problem. However, if the leaks continue and there is a rain or excess flow of water into the basement, you would realize that this could be a dilemma.
The dilemma could affect the structural integrity of your home and cost a lot of money to repair. So, if you notice a leaking basement, you should not wait until a disaster happens before acting to fix the leaks.
What can you do to fix a leaking basement? Here are 5 solutions for you:
1. Regrade the soil
If there are low spots close to the foundation of your home, water will be draining near the foundation as well as the house. This will force the water to create critical pressure against the wall and cause cracks which will lead to leaks. You can regrade the soil near the foundation to take care of this issue. This will make the foundation to slope away. This will get rid of the water that is causing the basement to leak. For better results, you should use this method along with downspouts and roof gutters.
2. Fix the gaps
If you can see the gaps where water is coming into your basement, you should patch them up. You only have to get inexpensive polyurethane caulk or hydraulic cement to block the leaks and your basement will stop leaking. Nonetheless, this solution can only work if the holes only allow water from wet soil or surface runoff to come into the basement. In case the water is leaking via the floor or the area where the walls and floor join together, this method will not work.
3. Repair the footing drains
Look at the basement and consider where the water is leaking into it. If the leaks are from the walls or the areas where floor and walls meet, be assured that the cause of the issue is hydrostatic pressure that is forcing the water to move up. Check the footing drains and you will note that they are clogged. Just get a garden hose and use it to flush the pipes. However, this may not fix the problems in some cases. So, you should contact a plumber to fix it for you.
4. Consider basement waterproofing
Basement waterproofing is meant to prevent the penetration of water into the basement where it could be catastrophic. If your building is at or below the ground level, you are required to do basement waterproofing. In a situation where the basement is leaking, basement waterproofing can come in handy to fix the problems. Notably, basement waterproofing involves several methods such as exterior drainage, foundation crack injections, exterior waterproofing coatings, floor sealers, and interior water drainage.
5. Fix it with a curtain drain
A curtain drain is known as a form of a French drain. This drain is usually shallow with a depth of 2ft and a width of 1.5ft. It is filled with a perforated piping system and gravel that arranged to block the water coming from the upper part of your house and send it into the slope in such a place that is safe. This solution is often best recommended for houses without a functional footing drain.
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