Water in Basement: How to Fix a Leaking Basement
A leaking basement is undoubtedly one of the problems that homeowners want to get rid of as soon as possible. It is common knowledge that a leaking basement can cause different types of problems ranging from insect infestation to mould and mildew growth, and lots more. To stop these problems, you need to fix the leaking basement and make it dry.
Here are ways to fix your musty, leaking basement:
1. Detect the Cause of the Water Leak
The first step in fixing a leaking basement is to find out the cause of the leak. Identifying the problem with the basement and making it a leak will make fixing it possible and hassle-free. Some of the areas to check as possible causes of water seepage in your basement include the gutters, downspouts, the basement floors, wall joints, and lots more. You should also check if any of your pipes are leaking. Also, check if the ground does slope toward your home because the ground grading may change after some time. All these factors should be critically examined.
2. Preparation of the Basement Surface
Having detected the cause of the basement leaking, the next step is to start the basement waterproofing procedure by preparing the surface of the basement. Given this, you should remove pools or puddles of water on the surface of the basement. Leaving your basement wet will make it musty and seriously wet, which could cause the formation of mould and mildew.
Remove anything that is damaged in the basement like broken or loose mortar, debris, etc. Clean the surface of the basement thoroughly in full preparation for the basement waterproofing.
3. Seal Walls
The next step is to seal the basement walls with sealant using a polyester or nylon bristle brush for the first coat while you can use a masonry roller. Ensure that the sealant gets to every part of the walls, and apply two coats. Do not spread the sealant too thin to get the best result. Leave the sealant to dry. Inspect the basement after some days. If the basement is still wet, some small holes are still open. Then, apply additional coats to seal the area completely.
4. Seal Cracked Floors
The final step to fixing a leaking basement is to seal the cracks in the basement wall joints. The best material for sealing cracks and holes is hydraulic cement. You may need to chisel some cracks to make the inner hole bigger than the outside and fill it with sealant.
Takeaway
The steps discussed above will ensure that the cracks in the basement are sealed. As a result, the leaks in the basement making it wet and musty will stop. This will allow you to make the best use of the space in the basement.
