Basement leaks can be very worrying. The basement used to be a place where we all stick our stuff, but modern basements have become useful rooms. No matter what you use your basement for, you will need to ensure that water is not leaking in.

Fixing the leak is actually pretty easy as long as you have the right equipment and materials available. Make sure that you have all of the right tools available before starting this project.

Find the Leak

The first task that must be accomplished is to look for the source of the leak. The leak could be a result of either a broken pipe, or due to water getting inside the brickwork of your home. Identify the source of the leak, and you will be one step closer to fixing that issue.

If you can’t find the leak right away, you may need to use a damp meter to try and track it down. Take a look from at your property from the outside see if any slates have moved, or there are cracks in the walls.

Locating Cracks

If the leak is caused by a crack in the wall then you will need to find the location of the problem. This should be easy, but sometimes you might find it easier to spot the problem from outside your structure.

Preparing Cracks

Use a metal scraper to remove any lose material from inside the crack. You can then use a wire brush to thoroughly clean out the crack so that the cement can stick properly. If you fail to clean out the crack sufficiently, the cement won’t be able to adhere to the surface properly.

Filling the Crack

The cracked area needs to be filled using hydraulic cement. Make sure to pack this cement into the crack. Use the scraper again to make sure the cement is level with the wall, then wait until it dries and fill it using caulking. Its best to use silicone caulking for this, because it allows the wall to flex slightly when its drying.

Sealant

Basement sealant paint, like the kind Mar-flex offers, should be applied to the wall to resolve the issue. You will first need to wet the wall because paints need a wet surface to adhere properly. These paints resist water from trying to penetrate your walls. Although this is an optional step, it will work extremely well at protecting your home from damp and moisture penetration.

Professional Options

There are various other options that professionals often use. Most of the time, for this work, they use an injection of either epoxy or polyurethane. This material is injected directly into the crack. This provides good protection against moisture because it fills the entire crack very efficiently. Polyurethane is often used because it is a great waterproofing material. Mar-flex offers a crack injection system that the homeowner can use. Its never been easier to fill a crack!

Once the wall is repaired, you can redecorate it knowing that the problem is cured, and you won’t have to cope with the same situation.