Plugging Basement Wall Cracks Won't Stop Leaks

Basement waterproofing is a daunting process for many homeowners. It can be an expensive and time-consuming process but the consequences of not getting it done can be disastrous. When a basement starts to leak many homeowners will try to cut out the middleman and fix the problem themselves commonly with an epoxy or resin. They think that if a crack is leaking and it’s filled up then the problem is solved. This is not quite the case, here is why common patch jobs are not effective at stopping wall leaks.

It is important to first understand the root cause of the leaks. When a basement is built the soil removed to make space for the installation is reintroduced. This replaced soil is vastly less compact than the untouched areas around it. During times of rainfall, water will gradually seep into the ground and saturate the soil. After a while, the waterlogged soil will begin to expand creating large amounts of hydrostatic pressure on the basement’s foundation walls. Over time this pressure creates cracks in the wall that causes water to leak in when it rains.

Patching surface cracks can temporarily stop small amounts of water from leaking through but the best way to stop water from plaguing your basement is by installing a WaterGuard drainage system. These gutter-like drainage systems are the perfect solution for leaking wall cracks. When water drips down it flows into tiny open slots straight to the WaterGuard drains before it can leak into the space itself. Because these drains are installed beneath the floor, they take up almost zero space and are nearly invisible to the naked eye. 3 pros basement systems can help you waterproof your basement with a variety of products all just as effective as the fantastic WaterGuard drainage system.