Basement Water Leaks

Basement water leaks have enough potential to spoil all your hard work and money. Water is the most common enemy of basement. It is a common problem especially during rainy season. Noticing it in its inception can easily solve many problems. If not stopped in its early stages then it can easily ruin your entire basement. The ultimate solution to basement leakage is directing water away from your house.

Action to be taken while basement water leaks

• Clean the area where water is stored. Generally, concrete blocks and slabs leads to water blockage which causes water storage especially during the rain. Avoid this concrete accumulation during basement construction which leads to future damage.
• Target areas to fix the problem. You have to locate the place where water leakage has started. Wipe the area either by an old towel or rags. Mark this area so that you can repair it.
• Locate the chipped places. These places can be the holes, cracks or blocks in the walls or doors.

  

• Clean the area before starting the waterproofing process.
• Apply some cement to those chipped places. Wait for a day at least so that the area dries up completely. Make use of fast setting hydraulic cement to stop this leakage. Product such as “Fast Plug” Drylok really works. Mix Fast Plug powder in 3:1. That means 3 scoops of powder in 1 scoop of water to make a thick paste and then apply this on the basement walls.

  

• Next treat the entire basement wall with masonry waterproofing.
• Repeat the steps for all the leakage points. It is quite troublesome but not more than spending your time under leaking basement.
• Another sure shot solution to above problem is injection of formulated epoxies or polyurethane grouts into the cracks. After that paint the wall with waterproof paints.

Basement door leakage problem

Following are the major reasons of basement door leakage

• Weatherproofing
  
• Framing
  
• Worn out Weather seal
  
• Missing Caulk

Solutions

• Gutter must be clean and ensure that they are properly draining away the water.
• Make use of a tennis ball to check the slope surrounding your house. Notice the direction in which ball rolls. Note the place where they stop. This spots the flats and low spots in the slope.
• Make sure water should never flow towards the foundation of the house.

Precautions before basement water leaks

• Never avoid basement waterproofing.
  
• Do not neglect even a single water leak in your basement to prevent future damage.
• Properly construct the site drainage around the house and roof drainage during house construction to prevent basement water leaks.

  

• Ask your constructor to check the site grades around your house. These grades must be designed in such fashion that they direct water to move away from the house.
• Check the topography of your house. Look for any stagnant surface water location. Look for the mountains or hills. Avoid constructing a basement there or take help of an expert architect or civil engineer.
• Keep a good record of underground water. Sometimes a sewer line leakage can also lead to basement water leak. Immediately contact that particular department of your area to solve this problem.
• Keep checking the gutters and downspouts of your house regularly. These things must be absolutely clean so that there should be no water blockage.
• Low permeability clay around the house also directs water to move away from the house.

Basement water leaks can lead to mold, musty smell and stuffiness, rotting wood, condensation on the windows and wet stains on ceilings or walls. Take few measures and precautions and you can easily avoid basement water leaks.