3 Ways to Prevent a Basement Wall Leak

Have you encountered a basement wall leak at any point of time? If you're a homeowner, you probably answered "yes". The issue with these leaks, besides the obvious, is that they can be the source of harmful mold spores. When you encounter a leak it is best to take action and repair the problem as soon as possible. Fixing a basement wall leak is not an easy job. However, leaks and seepages can be prevented either before or after the basement is built. You would only need to ensure that you take these measures before any leaks appear, since correcting a leak will take you a great deal of effort and time.  

There are several reasons why a leak may have appeared:

• The workmanship would have been bad.
• Cracks in walls or floors could have appeared while the house settled.
• Water pressure from outside might have built up, then forces itself through the walls.

Tip 1  - Preventative Repairs

Repair all holes and cracks in the building, then use a water-proofing compound to ensure your wall is leak-proof. You could fill hair line cracks with regular water-proofing mix, while the larger cracks should be cleaned out and patched. Use mortar for filling in cracks or holes in cement or concrete walls. Before filling the crack, however, it is better to enlarge the cracked area, as this will help the new mortar to hold to the wall better. Once the crack has been filled with mortar, smooth it out with an ordinary towel and ensure that there are no air pockets.

Tip 2 - Plumbing

To prevent leaks that occur due to water pressure, it is most advisable that you get professional plumbing done to prevent future mishaps. If you find that pressure is building up, you could use a weep pipe to divert the force of the water. Once that is done, check for cracks, which will definitely be present due to the water pressure. Use regular mortar to patch up the crack. Always start from the top and come down and fill up to the point where the weep pipe is installed. Hold the cement in place for five minutes so that it sets. Do not expose it to water pressure until the mortar dries.

Tip 3 - Waterproofing

Once the repairs have been done, you would need to waterproof the wall with a good water-proof mix. Moisten the walls with a spray before applying the mix, but ensure that no water is seeping through the wall when you are applying it. Use a stiff brush in circular movements to apply the mix and fill in every pore in the wall thoroughly where there is a seepage problem. Wait for the coating to dry sufficiently (such that is doesn’t fall off), and spray the area with water and let it set overnight. The next morning, wet the area with water again and apply a second coat of waterproofing mix while the wall is still wet. Waterproofing is the most common and effective solution to basement wall leaks.