Residential Foundation Repair
I have been living in my house for 15 years and recently I have noticed water seeping into my basement. My children use my basement for a playroom and this slight amount of water is a real nuisance. What can I do about it?
Herbert Webster
Columbus Ohio
Good question, Herbert. First examine your exposed foundation wall and see if there are any cracks. If so, you’ll need to inject a water urethane resin into the cracks and holes. The urethane resin reacts with any water present to form a flexible waterproof gasket. If the wall moves again, the gasket moves with it without breaking the seal. This product can be purchased at any home improvement center.
Once you have properly sealed the leaks you have to turn your attention to diverting the water away from your foundation. Before you start digging, be on the lookout for water service line or telephone lines. It would be a safe bet for to call the utilities locator service to find out exactly where these lines are. Damaging one of these lines could be very costly to repair.
French drain
A French drain is a pit or trench full of gravel and covered over with regular yard plants or grass. It has to be located far enough down slope from your house to collect and hold all the water that has been going into your basement. A perforated, plastic drain line set in gravel will run from your trench out to the drain. The French drain allows the water it collects to slowly pass into the surrounding soil.
Category: Foundation, Home maintenance
