A leaky basement is a warning sign that some kind of foundation repair is needed.
Whether it is a seeping wall that requires foundation wall repairs, a cracked floor, or some other issue, there are numerous repairs that can be used to fix this problem.
Using the right foundation leaking repair depends, first and foremost, on knowing the cause of the leak.
Once the cause is known, an appropriate foundation repair can be made.
- Basement Waterproofing - A coating of basement waterproofing paint is an easy, inexpensive foundation wall repair if the problem is minor. Dampness due to slow seepage through porous foundation material and fine hairline cracks can sometimes be stopped with just a coat or two on the walls and floor to seal the moisture out. It is a popular leak repair solution that can work very well as long as there is not a more serious problem lurking.
- Foundation Crack Repair - When cracks in the walls or floor exist and they are more than just hairline defects, a simple coating of basement waterproofing is not enough. An actual foundation leak repair made by a professional foundation repair service is necessary. There are a number of methods used to repair cracks to stop basement leaking. The most common crack foundation repair involves injecting epoxy into the cracks so it can expand and stop the water from leaking in.
- Basement Encapsulation and Sump Pumps - Another foundation leaking repair solution when there is widespread slow leaking due to numerous fine cracks or defects in the foundation is encapsulation. Basement encapsulation is the process of applying an interior sheath around the walls to keep moisture out of the basement, diverting it instead to drip into a sump drain system. Like all other foundation repair techniques, encapsulation and the use of sump pumps is suitable when there is minor leaking, but it does not address the source of more significant leaks.
Basements with water problems due to fine cracks and other minor leaking issues can frequently be repaired using one of the above foundation wall repairs.
Significant leaking due to larger cracks, bowing walls, and other major foundation problems require more attention from a foundation repair specialist.
The best advice for anyone seeing water in their basement, even before applying that first coat of waterproofing, is to have the leaking diagnosed so the right foundation leaking repair can be used.