Basements leak. It happens.
Over time, your basement may throw a few curve balls your way that require you to hire a professional, or at least do a little home maintenance yourself, to solve some of the problems that can arise.
There are a number of reasons that your basement could be leaking and ironically enough, some of them have nothing to do with your actual basement. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons your basement could be leaking and the possible remedies for each.
Cracks in your basement foundation wall
Every basement foundation eventually gets cracks but some are way more severe than others. It’s going to be pretty obvious to you if a crack in your foundation is the cause of your leaky basement. You see the crack, you see water leaking out of it. Not the greatest detective work ever done.
The issue is whether the crack is severe enough that you need to call a professional or not. If the crack is severe do not wait to call for help. Letting the problem go on will only compound the headaches it creates. It will cost you more money in the end as well. However, if the crack is not severe you may be able to patch yourself using hydraulic cement, which is a concrete that sets very fast and will actually expand inside the crack you are trying to seal.
Clogged gutters
Many times, especially during the fall, gutters will clog up, causing water to unnaturally flow over the side of the gutter and pool against your home’s foundation. This over-pooling of water can be absorbed by your foundation and then in turn cause your basement to leak.
Make sure you keep your gutters clean on a regular basis or invest in some good gutter guard to prevent your basement from leaking.
Lack of positive drainage away from your house
When water runs over the sides of your gutter and splashes next to your house, it can wear away the ground next to your foundation. After time that area will cease to be able to channel water away from your foundation.
There can be many other causes besides a clogged gutter that can cause the ground around your foundation to wear down. The important thing to remember is that whenever this happens, new dirt should be put down to create a drainage path for any rainfall that lands next to your house.
If a leaky basement has ruined your finished basement then call Marvelous Basements. Our team of experts can not only help get those leaks fixed but can restore your basement to it’s original form.