How to Fix a Foundation Leak From the Outside
Water seeping through foundation walls causes a host of problems including mold, high humidity, wood rot, metal rust, and basement flooding. A professional inspection can find drainage solutions and prevent these problems from damaging the structure of your home.
Hairline cracks up to 1/2 inch wide often result from house settling and may not pose a structural problem, but should be sealed with a caulk compatible with concrete.
Check the Ground
A good foundation repair company will do a comprehensive inspection and recommend repairs that prevent further damage. You can spot early problems by doing a few simple checks around your home.
Look for small cracks, especially ones that change direction. Vertical cracks that run up and down walls aren’t usually serious, but those that follow mortar joints in a stair-step pattern do indicate structural damage. These changes are often caused by shifting soil, putting different amounts of pressure on the foundation.
If you can hear water dripping or see water pooling outside your basement, it may be time to call a professional. A clogged gutter or improperly sloped ground can cause rainwater to saturate soil around your foundation walls, creating intense hydrostatic pressure that can push against foundation wall. This can lead to leaks that even plugging holes won’t solve.
Look for Cracks
Foundation cracks are a common sign that something is wrong. It's important to monitor them for a while, but you should always have a professional take a look.
Non-structural cracks, those that don't threaten the structure of your house, are usually caused by concrete shrinkage. They're easy to spot and can be monitored by writing the date on both ends of the crack with a pencil, or by lining up a tape measure next to it and taking a photo.
Structural cracks, on the other hand, are a different story. If they're wider than a dime or show a stair-step pattern as they grow, it could be structural damage.
It's also a good idea to keep an eye out for any crack that admits water, as this is a major cause of problems for foundation walls. If a crack is wet, the source of the water must be identified and corrected as part of the repair process to prevent it from happening again.
Seal the Cracks
When a crack in a foundation leaks it can lead to serious health and structural problems. Water can enter and ruin drywall, mold can grow in a crawl space, and it’s extremely difficult to finish a basement when there is a leaking crack.
To prevent a foundation leak it is important to make sure the soil surrounding your home is graded so that water drains away from the foundation rather than toward it. This can be done by installing gutters, downspout extensions, and by adding soil to the yard that slopes 2 percent or more away from the foundation of your home.
It is also important to seal any cracks that appear in the walls of your home. Hydraulic cement is a great option as it is strong, dries quickly, and is easy to use for sealing concrete cracks. However, it’s best to use a waterproof masonry sealant when filling in the crack as hydraulic cement alone won’t do the job.
Divert the Water
Moisture can get into homes from two sources: water vapor that condenses in the basement, and the actual moisture that comes through the walls. The main source of moisture in the basement is from rainwater or groundwater seeping into the soil under the foundation. This can occur when the exterior drainage system is either nonexistent, clogged, or poorly graded. Adding a French drain or another landscaping strategy that redirects runoff away from the home can protect it from water infiltration and prevent costly damage to the foundation, crawl space, and flooring.
If a plumbing leak is causing a foundation leak, it will also show up in the interior of your home as warped flooring or damp carpeting. These problems can affect the health of people who live in a home by fostering mildew and mold growth that can cause respiratory issues. Water that can’t flow out will rise so if you notice a musty odor, standing water or mud in your yard, or residue on the wall inside your home you should call in a professional to fix the problem before it worsens.
Foundation Repair Company Sugar Land
https://sugarlandfoundationrepair.com/
Water seeping through foundation walls causes a host of problems including mold, high humidity, wood rot, metal rust, and basement flooding. A professional inspection can find drainage solutions and prevent these problems from damaging the structure of your home. Hairline cracks up to 1/2 inch wide often result from house settling and may not pose…