Water seepage is a common problem in most basements, and there is nothing more dangerous or damaging to your foundation than leaks. If you live in wet areas with moist soil, your cellar could be at risk. Although basement waterproofing is essential, there is never just one way to do anything.
Signs of Leakage
Basements often leak due to water buildup outside your foundation walls. Water collects in small pockets in the soil next to the foundation and begins to form hydrostatic pressure. Over time this pressure increases until the moisture is literally pushed through the wall (i.e. "bleeding") Usually you'll find seepage in corners or joints where the wall meets the floor. Though the process is typically slow and probably won't have immediate consequences, you'll want to remedy the problem as soon as possible. If ignored, it will not only ruin the look of your cellar but also cause bigger setbacks down the road like bowed walls and cracked foundations.Sloping and Grading
Look at where the soil meets your walls. Is the ground sloping away from the foundation? Biggest reason for water seepage: it has nowhere to go but in. If this is the case, you'll want to hire a professional grader to help slope the ground downhill and away from the house. Clean your gutters as well. If they're clogged, the water will simply spill over the edge, down your walls, and into the foundation.Downspout Extensions
Even if water is being properly diverted, is it being carried far enough away? If your drainage systems allow water to seep back towards the home, then invest in some downspout extensions to ensure its permanent evacuation.Drainage Systems
Basement waterproofing requires a lot of separate equipment: gutters, grading, sealing, etc. Regularly check your interior drains to assure they're not clogged. Also, it's a great idea to invest in a sump pump that will literally push the water away from the home. IF the problem gets worse, you may want to invest in some tile systems under the basement floor.Prevention Methods
Here are a couple mitigation methods for those do-it-yourselfers:Sealant: Buy a product that seals your entire interior. You patch up the joints and seams, prime the area, and then literally paint on a couple coats of sealer. It creates an impermeable, almost rubberized surface and repairs any leaks or cracks.
Baseboard Guards: These metal baseboards run along the seam where the wall meets the floor, permanently sealed in place to collect any escaping moisture. This collected water is then guided to a drain or sump pump. It's a very effective system but requires some prep work. For poured concrete, you'll need to seal the corner joint above the baseboard. For concrete block, holes may need to be drilled into the core of the bottom row in order to alleviate the hydrostatic pressure and let the water run free.
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