Sealing a cement filled old duct hole in foundation wall.
#1
03-14-19, 01:33 PM
Sealing a cement filled old duct hole in foundation wall.
Due to crazy weather (lots of snow immediately followed by lots of rain) and improper snow shoveling, I managed to create an ice dam on my driveway.
Which in turn caused my foundation wall to leak water at what appear to be an old duct hole, and only leak at that spot. The old duct hole has been filled with what appear to be regular cement, with some yellow stuff around it which I assume is some sort of epoxy? That spot is the only place where water is coming out of. The location is about half a foot to a foot below grade, right beside the driveway. The house is about 50 years old.
Now, I'm looking to fix the ice dam from the outside, but just wondering what can be done to seal the old duct hole. Can I cover it with some hydraulic cement? What about membranes and such? Is this a DIY or should I get professionals to come in?
I don't recall that area leaking during summer or fall, but it has constantly leaked in the last months or so due to the freeze thaw cycles as well as ice damming. The house is located in eastern Ontario.
Photos of the duct hole.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JLj...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DNy...ew?usp=sharing
Photos of the ice dam.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ne5...ew?usp=sharing
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.
Which in turn caused my foundation wall to leak water at what appear to be an old duct hole, and only leak at that spot. The old duct hole has been filled with what appear to be regular cement, with some yellow stuff around it which I assume is some sort of epoxy? That spot is the only place where water is coming out of. The location is about half a foot to a foot below grade, right beside the driveway. The house is about 50 years old.
Now, I'm looking to fix the ice dam from the outside, but just wondering what can be done to seal the old duct hole. Can I cover it with some hydraulic cement? What about membranes and such? Is this a DIY or should I get professionals to come in?
I don't recall that area leaking during summer or fall, but it has constantly leaked in the last months or so due to the freeze thaw cycles as well as ice damming. The house is located in eastern Ontario.
Photos of the duct hole.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JLj...ew?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DNy...ew?usp=sharing
Photos of the ice dam.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ne5...ew?usp=sharing
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.
Last edited by PJmax; 03-14-19 at 03:30 PM. Reason: added pics from links
#2
03-14-19, 02:38 PM
Group Moderator
Hydraulic cement expands as it cures so it's best inside a hole like that, not covering the outside.
#3
03-14-19, 03:31 PM
Group Moderator
Chop out the entire patch and replace with fresh hydraulic cement.
Not sure where the water is coming from outside but that needs to be addressed too.
Not sure where the water is coming from outside but that needs to be addressed too.
#4
03-15-19, 08:06 AM
Thank for the feedback everyone.
I took a closer look today, and it appear that the cement filling used is hydraulic cement, but it has small cracks inside of it, and there are obvious epoxy or some sort of hard adhesive sealing (the yellow stuff) around the filling. So the cement obviously have failed at some point and no longer offer a complete seal.
Can hydraulic cement fill a hole as big as half a feet in diameter? Also, how deep do we need to chip out of the old cement filler? No idea how deep the cement filler goes.
I have chipped away the ice blocks thanks to the super warm weather in the last two days, and there is no more water coming in despite the constant rain. So the problem is temporarily resolved for this year. However, the grading of the driveway is still not ideal, and the problem could still return next winter.
I took a closer look today, and it appear that the cement filling used is hydraulic cement, but it has small cracks inside of it, and there are obvious epoxy or some sort of hard adhesive sealing (the yellow stuff) around the filling. So the cement obviously have failed at some point and no longer offer a complete seal.
Can hydraulic cement fill a hole as big as half a feet in diameter? Also, how deep do we need to chip out of the old cement filler? No idea how deep the cement filler goes.
I have chipped away the ice blocks thanks to the super warm weather in the last two days, and there is no more water coming in despite the constant rain. So the problem is temporarily resolved for this year. However, the grading of the driveway is still not ideal, and the problem could still return next winter.
