How to Repair a Basement Leak in Your Concrete Foundation

Your home or business has, unfortunately, begun leaking.  Perhaps there was recent flooding in the area.  Perhaps the winter snow is melting.  Or, maybe you really have no idea why the heck there is any leaking at all – there shouldn’t be!

But, for whatever reason, your home’s or business’s basement does leak.  And, you could use this space for storage.  Leaks are often very difficult to repair because it’s really hard to determine their source.

But, we do have some guidelines that can help, and if it’s just too much for you, keep in mind you can always ask for help from professionals.

Why is my Basement Leaking?
There are many different reasons a basement could leak.  Before your foundation was poured and the concrete walls were installed, a hole larger than the foundation was dug.  Then the foundation was poured and walls were installed.  Between the walls and the hard, undisturbed soil, there was a gap several inches wide.  This gap was then filled with loose rocks and soil.

This soil is called “backfill” soil, and it will never be as hard as the undisturbed soil surrounding it.  When water flows around the foundation, it can fill the porous spaces in the backfill soil much more easily than it can in the harder undisturbed soil.  The water then leaks through every opening and crack imaginable.

The additional weight of the water in the backfill soil puts extra pressure on your basement’s concrete walls.  The walls then crack in various places, and you have leaks!

How do You Repair Your Leaks?

When repairing basement leaks, you have several different approaches.  Here is each approach and how you can use each to repair concrete in a basement leak:

Negative side sealant – This strategy involves using waterproof pain or hydraulic cement to coat the interior basement wall.  All cracks will be sealed, and moisture will not be allowed through.  This solution does not work permanently, however.

Exterior excavation – This involves digging all the way down to the concrete footing from the outside.  Next, a waterproofing membrane is applied and a protective drainage board is laid over it.  However, this solution does not work permanently either.

Interior footing drains – These are the same as exterior excavation, except they are done from the inside on the concrete surface.  And again, it is not a permanent solution.

Baseboard system – Weep holes are drilled in the floor/wall joint or in the wall itself.  Next a vinyl baseboard is epoxied to the floor.  The water is then  directed into a sump pump system, which drains the water from the area through a pipe.  This solution is only used with monolithic floors or other rare instances.

WaterGuard Basement Waterproofing System – This is the best overall solution.  This system remains totally free of clogs and drains water effectively and reliably away from the concrete floor.  Installing a sump pump and feed pipe from the WaterGuard is highly recommended.  This solution is permanent, and it works in every situation.

Call a Professional!

Repairing concrete on your own is incredibly difficult and challenging to do.  Instead, talk with a professional who can help you find the right solution and implement it correctly the first time!