Basement Leaks
A home’s basement is a very important part in keeping your house safe, and energy efficient at the same time. From time to time, the basement should be checked duct to confirm that it is not leaking or broken as this can cause damages to the home or building it is in. Basement leakage brings problems to our home as they can cause issues in temperature and costs us a lot of money as well. You could fix the leakage of your basement if you have the access to proper tools.
Most of basement\’s wall is located beneath the ground which is prone to leaks and floods. This could be a major problem if the water table around your home is high. Problems that might occur are additional home maintenance, mold and mildew, unwanted bugs, pests and mice. If you want to keep your basement free from any leaks then you have to make some effort but with some patience and the right equipments, this is a project that you can accomplish. Here are the steps on how to seal the leaks of your basement.
You will need:
- Cement
- Mason\’s trowel
- Water Hose With Spray Nozzle
- Bucket
- Sand
- Sandpaper/Sandblaster/ Stiff Brush
- Waterproofing Compound
Steps:
- First, remove any old paint to prepare the wall surface for the next step. You can use sandpaper, sandblaster or a stiff brush depending on the amount of paint and other debris that needs to be removed.
- Make a mixture of 1 part of sand and 2 part of cement in a bucket and add water to the dry mixture to produce a stiff paste.
- Then, use the cement-sand paste to patch any large cracks or holes in the foundation with a mason\’s trowel.
- Patch by covering the damaged area at least 2 inches past the edge of the crack or hole. Leave the patches to dry for at least eight hours or leave for overnight for best result.
- Next, take a garden hose with a sprayer and wet down the leaking area. Leave the area until it is damp and there is no standing water on the surface.
- Prepare your waterproofing compound by following the manufacturer\’s directions inside a large bucket until it becomes into a consistency of a thick cake batter.
- Use a stiff brush and the waterproofing compound and apply to the wall. In a circular motion, put the waterproofing compound starting at the bottom and then working up to the top. Feather the edges of the compound to secure and to cover the entire leaking area. Leave the seals to dry for two or three hours or dry test with your hand touch without rubbing it off.
- Use a garden hose to saturate the waterproofed area and allow it to sit overnight. Next morning, re-wet the waterproofed area and allow it to dry until it is just damp but not dripping wet.
- Use the same technique to apply the second coat of waterproofing mixture. Make sure to feather the edges about two inches out from the first coat. Then, leave the area to dry.
Additional Reading:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5093066_seal-basement-leak.html
Image Credit:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/massdep/4561312694/
