What Causes Leaky Basements?

Leaking basement isn’t something to ignore and underestimate. Water leakage in basement could be a quite irritating situation. In case the situation is left unaddressed, the situation could intensify and could lead to damage to the structure of the house along with furniture and goods within the space. Furthermore, the situation could cause damage to appliances, peel paint and/or stimulate the growth of mould and mildew. Leaking basement can be due to several factors.

Cracks in basement walls are generally formed because of thermal movement, drying shrinkage, settling and additional causes. As time progresses, minor cracks could expand and lead to undesired situations, such as water leakage, leaking basement wall, etc. After the formation of crack in poured concrete basement wall it’s likely for water to seep in the basement through the crack.    

The Solution

Luckily, an economical and very effective solution is present for repairing both structural and leaking cracks in poured concrete basement walls. The solution is low pressure concrete crack injection. The concept behind the method is to inject a liquid polymer (generally epoxy or two-part polyurethane foam) into the crack. The method lets the material to move all over the crack and efficiently fill it after curing. Moreover, the method is not only economical, but also an efficient repair solution for the reason that it really deals with the void spaces that form the crack.

Additional causes

Besides cracks in poured concrete basement walls, some additional factors that could cause leaking basement are clogged gutters, downspouts not positioned correctly away from the building, inadequate landscaping, excessive hydrostatic pressure, fractured pipes, faulty washing machine or sump pump, broken water heater, etc.

It’s imperative to determine from where the leak is sourcing and take necessary measures to stop it/them. In several instances, the situation is caused by inadequate landscaping. In case it inclines towards the house, in that situation water could seep into the foundation. In case it is even, in that situation water from snow or rain that moves over the land surface might as well accumulate around the building and begin seeping into the basement. Excessive water pressure from exterior may perhaps as well lead to the situation. That could be the situation in case water is leaking from walls.  

In this situation, it’s a good option to hire a professional waterproofing contractor such as DryShield. Professional waterproofing contractors carry out full basement inspection. They determine the actual cause/source of the problem and thereafter suggest the most appropriate and optimal solution to take care of the situation.