Basement leaks: beam and joist
#1
06-26-18, 06:42 PM
Basement leaks: beam and joist
Hey guys... new homeowner here with little to no knowledge about these. It’s bewn raining really hard here in Chicago (thunderstorms and lightening) and I saw a couple places in my basement with active leaks.
I had had a few other ones before but I got the waterproofing done and they seem to be ok now but there are new ones now...
I wanted to get some feedback from members here before I call someone in. The last guy charged me too much and I don’t feel like calling him again and get trapped with his bogus stories. I’m attaching some pictures as well that will give you an idea where exactly is the leak.
now from outside of the house they seem to be somewhere under the patio and I’m wondering if these need to be fixed from both outside and inside or just inside only.
Here are some pictures... any help would be greatly appreciated
Basement Pictures
Thanks
I had had a few other ones before but I got the waterproofing done and they seem to be ok now but there are new ones now...
I wanted to get some feedback from members here before I call someone in. The last guy charged me too much and I don’t feel like calling him again and get trapped with his bogus stories. I’m attaching some pictures as well that will give you an idea where exactly is the leak.
now from outside of the house they seem to be somewhere under the patio and I’m wondering if these need to be fixed from both outside and inside or just inside only.
Here are some pictures... any help would be greatly appreciated
Basement Pictures
Thanks
#2
06-26-18, 06:45 PM
Group Moderator
Leaks are never "fixed" on the inside. The source if the leak is outside and that's where the fix should be. I would be interested in seeing the exterior pictures in these same areas that are leaking.
#3
06-26-18, 07:03 PM
I’ll post some exterior picture as well but there’s a patio so I can’t really see anything behind. However the leak that you see by the beam, I can see a wall crack outside where I think the water is coming into the wall.
The other one which is on the top of the concrete wall and joist has patio and can’t see anything.
The other one which is on the top of the concrete wall and joist has patio and can’t see anything.
#4
06-26-18, 07:06 PM
Group Moderator
Post pictures of the patio then. Identify where the leak shows up on the interior somehow in the picture.
#5
06-27-18, 06:14 AM
Here are some pictures of the exterior and patio. The first arrow on the left is where the crack is. The second arrow on the right is somewhere behind the patio steps.
Exterior pictures
Exterior pictures
#6
06-27-18, 07:15 AM
Group Moderator
Where does water run on the patio when you get a heavy rain? I see dark spots that could indicate that water puddles near the house. It's just a short path for the water to soak through between the pavers and down through the cracks in your basement wall.
The first and easiest things to do are make sure your gutters and downspouts are in good working order and direct the water well away from the house. Everything around the house, including the patio, must be sloped to carry water away from the house.
Fixing leaking basement issues properly can be expensive. The work is relatively simple but in your case the area that needs to be worked on is covered by a patio. The best solution is to remove the patio, excavate along the house and install waterproofing and a drainage system to take water away from the house. Then backfill and re-install the patio with the proper slope.
The first and easiest things to do are make sure your gutters and downspouts are in good working order and direct the water well away from the house. Everything around the house, including the patio, must be sloped to carry water away from the house.
Fixing leaking basement issues properly can be expensive. The work is relatively simple but in your case the area that needs to be worked on is covered by a patio. The best solution is to remove the patio, excavate along the house and install waterproofing and a drainage system to take water away from the house. Then backfill and re-install the patio with the proper slope.
#7
06-27-18, 08:26 AM
Member
So actually what you have is a leak where the beam pocket was cemented in place which left a "cold" joint where the water is leaking in.
Fixing is pretty simple with the exception that a section of the patio will need to be removed,
You will need to dig down past the pocket, clean the wall and use tar and membrane to seal from the bottom of the siding to below the pocket and either side by 12-18".
Fixing is pretty simple with the exception that a section of the patio will need to be removed,
You will need to dig down past the pocket, clean the wall and use tar and membrane to seal from the bottom of the siding to below the pocket and either side by 12-18".
