Stopping basement leaks
These days, basements are used more and more as rooms and not as places to store junk. This is why a leak can be a distressing problem, no matter what you are using the basement for. Solving a leak problem is not hard at all because you only need some tools and materials.
How to find the leak
If you suspect leaks in your basement, you should spend time looking for them. They could be produced either by a broken pipe or even by the water coming in from outside the house. Identification of the source is the first step for solving the problem. You may not see it and in this case a damp meter will need to be used in order to track it down. Another solution is to look closely to your house from outside to find any cracks that may be seen in the walls.
How to locate the crack
When the leak is a consequence of a crack in the wall, you may need to find the crack first. You shouldn’t have problems with this but sometimes is much easier to look from outside.
How to prepare the crack
You can start by scraping any lose material that may be found inside the crack. Also the outside part of the crack can’t be neglected or otherwise the cement will not stay on the wall.
How to fill the crack
When it comes to fill the crack with cement, you need to pack it good and level it with the wall. After the cement will get completely dried, you need to use silicone caulking which doesn’t let the wall to crack when it is drying.
The sealant
If you’re using a dry-lock sealant paint, the wall will need to be wet or else your job will be useless. The advantage of using this kind of sealant is that it will protect your home from water infiltration, damp and moisture.
Other professional options
If you are thinking of hiring a professional, you must know that they will use injection of epoxy or polyurethane. This means that the material is better pumped into the crack and the protection is much higher. Polyurethane is very good for this kind of things being a sure waterproof material. After you have fixed the wall, the redecoration can be done without thinking that there is a serious problem which can damage part of your house.