Repair a Basement Leak
Water leaks in a basement are an unfortunate fact of home ownership. Not all basements leak, but all basements have the capacity to leak. Leaks appear because of cracks that form in the concrete walls from either poor construction, high groundwater, your house settling or other similar causes. Heavy amounts of water will damage the structure and anything stored in the basement, and small leaks may lead to dangerous mold formation. Immediate attention to repairs and constant vigilance to discover leaks as soon as possible are important to the well being of the house. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Determine the location of the leak in the basement. Clean the area surrounding the leak to remove anything that might become saturated or otherwise damaged by the leak. Mop up any standing water, and remove any mold or mildew that might have formed from the dampness. Use a room dryer to get the leak and surrounding walls as dry as possible.
2. Fill small cracks, from hairline to about the thickness or a pencil eraser. Fill the cracks with liquid polyurethane using a caulking gun, and fill the cracks evenly so as to not have thin areas. Use more than one layer if necessary for deeper cracks.
3. Pack larger cracks, or major depressions with concrete patching compound. Fill with a trowel, and smooth the repair patch flat by threading the concrete out over the rest of the wall. If depressions are very deep, you may need to build up with multiple layers to make a strong bond.
4. Paint concrete walls and ceilings with waterproof paint sealer. Products are available that coat and seal concrete so completely that even in standing water the moisture doesn't permeate the material. The paint is applied with a paintbrush or roller in much the same way any surface is painted.
Tags: Basement Leak, concrete walls, Repair Basement, Repair Basement Leak, standing water, that might