- Where do basement walls leak?
- Four Basic Types Of Basement Walls
- How To Fix A Basement Wall Crack?
- Can I Prevent Any More Cracks From Forming On My Basement Walls?
- What, besides cracks, indicates a leaky basement?
The house’s foundation and walls are constantly exposed to an adverse environment, which leads to cracks. Ground water comes in through cracks in basement walls, contributing to increased humidity. As a result, there is an unpleasant smell of damp, pink stains and mold in the room. If you do not caulk the crack in time, it will eventually begin to expand and lead to the destruction of the building.
Where do basement walls leak?
Most basement leaks and cracks occur in several places at once. Water seeps near the ductwork, through gaps in the wall surface, and at the junction of the ceiling and walls. Even if there are no visible leaks, if the wall is wet, you need to seal a leaking basement wall, which is better to order in our company.
Four Basic Types Of Basement Walls
Form a leaking crack in basement walls appears regardless of the surface material. There are four types of basement walls:
- Concrete. Walls are cast in concrete and often have reinforcement inside. Pouring is carried out using particular forms.
- Brick or block walls. It was built of rectangular concrete blocks or cinder blocks.
- Reinforced concrete precast. The wall is built off-site and then brought in and installed.
- Clay tile walls are often found in older homes. Because these basements and homes are over a hundred years old, they often require fixing cracks in basement foundation walls and sealing.
Cracks can be vertical, horizontal, and staggered. The last type of crack is the most dangerous because it indicates a foundation movement.
Basic Causes Of Basement Wall Cracks
Mostly foundation cracks in basement walls are caused by:
- Pressure and lateral load on the foundation and the structure’s wall from the ground side.
- Settling the soil will cause the foundation to move.
- Proximity of groundwater and high soil moisture.
- Concrete shrinkage after the first pour.
Mechanical damage or earthquakes can also cause cracks to appear. When cracks appear, it is urgent to seal cracks in concrete basement walls to prevent the destruction of the building.
Shrinkage Cracks
Shrinkage cracks are caused by changes in the volume of concrete during setting. Shrinkage cracks are also caused by poorly compacted soils and excessive moisture in the ground. These cracks mostly appear in new buildings because the weight of the building causes the building to “grow” into the ground. The subsidence is uneven, which leads to the appearance of cracks.
Vertical Cracks
Vertical cracks indicate differential subsidence of the building. If you see deep cracks, you need to fix a leaking basement wall by filling it with a special cement mortar or epoxy resin. When one of the sides of the wall shifts, there is a risk of collapse of the structure. The wall can come off the corner because of the incorrect distribution of gravity. Also, cracks appear due to moisture seepage and freezing. It causes the crack to widen. Patching the situation is repairing leaking basement wall cracks by first cleaning and drying them. You also need to take care of drainage and waterproofing.
Horizontal cracks
The pressure of the ground causes horizontal basement cracks. The wall becomes convex or tilts in the basement. If the building is on a mountainside or hill, the pressure will come to the side that is on top. If the ground is wet, there is a lot of pressure on the wall, which is the main reason for the seepage of water through the cracks that have formed. You can fix it with good drainage and basement sealing or install a pump to pump the water out. Burst water or sewage pipe near the basement could also cause damage. A horizontal crack in a basement wall can occur for several reasons:
- When soil backfill occurs after the foundation is poured.
- Wet soil and a lot of pressure from the side of the ground on the foundation.
- After the concrete is poured, heavy equipment is placed along the foundation, or a large-sized load is transported. A crack and micro-cracks appear because of vibrations.
- the concrete is poured in frosty weather.
- During the pouring of the foundation, used poor quality fittings.
If the situation is not corrected, a fixing of leaking crack in the basement wall will take place, creating comfortable conditions for mold and fungus development.
Diagonal And Stair Stepped Cracks
Diagonal cracks indicate ground movement, which causes cracks in the wall and problems in the foundation footing. If the crack comes down from the corner, it is caused by soil pressure. A crack also appears as a result of a damaged or poor-quality basement slab used during the basement construction. Sometimes cracks appear when the wall was filled in before the first floor was built. As a result, the wall leans inward into the basement, resulting in a diagonal crack. In this case, the best crack repair for basement walls involves caulking the crack and strengthening the base of the wall.
How To Fix A Basement Wall Crack?
No matter how serious the situation, you can always fix wet basements by repairing the crack. To do this, you need to:
- Take a chisel and knock the wet concrete out of the crack.
- Clean debris from the crack and dry it with a construction dryer.
- Drill and insert a dowel in the hole every foot.
- Tighten the pins using a ratchet tool.
- Screw the tip onto the pin.
- Apply cement mortar around the pin, but do not cover the tips.
- Take an epoxy syringe and fill the crack with the mortar, using the oilers placed on the pins.
- Once the resin has dried, caulk the crack with putty and smooth the surface.
To prevent any more water from leaking through the crack in the basement wall, waterproof the walls.
Waterproofing Paint
After you have sealed a fixing crack in the basement foundation wall, you should apply waterproof paint that can be found at any building store. It prevents the penetration of moisture by creating a vapor barrier. This type of sealing interior basement walls has been effective for several years. If the paint starts to peel, the old layer is removed. The walls will need to be cleaned of debris, and the paint will need to be reapplied.
Dampproofing From The Exterior
The waterproofing cracks in the basement wall must be done correctly. Sometimes the outside wall of the basement is covered with a waterproofing mortar to prevent water from the outside. It is not correct because sooner or later, cracks will appear anyway. To avoid the sealing basement leaks and to be durable, you should install a special membrane. To do this, completely excavate the foundation around the house’s perimeter and remove nearby paths and flower beds. Such work is expensive and takes a long time, but it is the best way to fix basement leaks, prolonging the operation of the structure.
How to fix a crack in a wall?
Correctly done concrete basement wall crack repair is an effective solution to a wet basement problem. Choosing a suitable sealing material is essential so it won’t expand, peel or shrink. If you need to fix a leaking crack in the basement wall, contact our company, our masters have extensive experience in solving such problems. Using modern materials and techniques, experts will quickly carry out sealing and provide a guarantee for the work performed.
Waterproof Wall Panels
We recommend not covering the surface of the walls with waterproof paints. To make a quality wet basement repair, install a unique wall panel. It will reinforce the surface and prevent moisture from seeping through. We suggest using these types of panels:
- Insulated.
- Waterproof panels.
- Prefabricated insulation.
- With a thermal barrier.
After draining the basement, we can also help you install a finished basement system.
Call In A Professional
You need to fix the water leak in the basement wall and leave an application on our company’s website. The team consists of professionals who will quickly and accurately fix the problem. The master will examine the building and pick up a suitable waterproofing method, considering your budget. All work is stipulated with the customer, and an estimate is made before work begins.
Can I Prevent Any More Cracks From Forming On My Basement Walls?
It’s challenging to prevent cracks from forming on walls and foundations. Over time, under the influence of external environmental factors, sooner or later, sealing basement cracks and waterproofing will be necessary. However, postponing this process will help to install water-repellent membranes during the construction of the house. If the building is already built, you need to carry out several repairs of cracks and microcracks with further waterproofing.
What, besides cracks, indicates a leaky basement?
Pay attention to the contact between the walls and the basement ceiling. In this place, most often, there is water seepage. Also, moisture will come in if there are hollows near the foundation or there is no water drainage. If you notice wet spots on the foundation, pink or black spots on the wall, or lime scale but no cracks, moisture is seeping through the micro cracks. Do not try to repair the water leak in the basement wall yourself. Call a master to find the root cause of the problem and then have the cracks sealed according to established standards. Our company provides professional crack repair and waterproofing services of any complexity. Save your time and nerves by ordering services from us!
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