Leaking basement?

Question

We have one small long crack in our basement wall. Whats the best way to stop it from leaking when it rains out?

Answer 1

Lowe's etc, sells small buckets of leak stop cement.   They get hard pretty fast.  They also sell a 50 pound bag of this stuff you can use a brush and apply it to the entire wall.  If you have a power washer clean the cement up before you apply anything.

Answer 2

They make special sealants for basements that you coat the wall with.  They might sell it at Home Depot.  I had professionals come in and do it.  Also, check your roof gutters, if they are clogged up, it will make your basement take in water also.  Basement mold can really make you sick, and also lower your home value, so don't let it go untreated.

Answer 3

roofing cement on the OUTSIDE of the crack

Answer 4

First make sure your downspouts all have extensions on them to get the rainwater away from the basement as far as possible.

Next you may need to bring in some extra dirt to insure ground slopes away from the house. If you have basement windows you would need to install area wells around these windows which will allow you to build up and slope soil away from the basement more.

Next, rent a small angle grinder and put a diamond tuckpoint wheel on it, grind out the mortar joint that is cracked.

Get some hydraulic cement such as waterplug , made by Thoro. Mix a  small amount of this special cement up and force it into this crack. Mix up just a little as it sets up quick.

Push it back in the joint if it very deep, and then make another pass later (1hr) to fill it completely up.

If this crack is more than 24" above floor you may be getting water building up around basement walls and when it reaches this crack it comes in.

Keep an eye on all the basement walls, if water builds up you can usually see condensation on the block. You don't want to have a basement wall collapse due to pressure from water building up on the outside of your walls. If this happens you may need to install a basement sump pit and pump and a piping network to direct this water into the sump pump.

Come back to "yahoo answers" if you feel water is building up too much on the outside of your walls.

Good Luck