Water Leaks Through Basement Floor
Surface water and subsurface groundwater.
Water leaks through basement floor. However ensure that it is not actually a result of water running down a wall or dripping from the ceiling. When you have water leaking into your basement between where the bottom of the wall and the floor meet this is caused by what is called hydrostatic pressure. When you discover water in your basement it is natural to think that you have a basement leak. If not caught very quickly there will be no chance of repairing the hardwood floor.
Ignoring cracks in your concrete floor even those as small as 1 8 inch wide is like inviting water into your home. To seal up these cracks use a concrete patching compound available from hardware and home improvement stores. A single cubic foot of water weighs 62 pounds so this means you could have thousands of pounds of water pressure just looking. Hydrostatic pressure is the pressure that standing water creates.
Certain types of sealers and patching compounds cannot be applied over painted surfaces. These materials come pre mixed or in concrete like form that must be mixed with water. Step 2 prepare your surfaces. Typically when the soil surrounding your basement is soaked with water typically after you have had a lot of rain or a lot of snow has melted.
When your basement is unfinished and there is water on the floor and no evidence of a leaking foundation crack or anything else in the foundation wall what should you think. The same hydrostatic pressure that forces water into the basement also presses upward on the basement floor and can cause it to crack. They are there to provide a clean solid base. For this reason a professional should scope out the situation before you enter freely if you do in fact live in a multi level establishment.
To figure out what s causing the problem tape aluminum foil to your basement wall and inspect it a few days later. There are several sources of basement leaks most of which are minute openings in basement walls or floor. Aside from a plumbing leak or local flooding there are two major causes of water in the basement. That water is somehow finding its way through your foundation wall.
Typically a leak in your basement floor comes from a crack in the floor or the seam where your concrete floor and foundation meet. Here are the three most common symptoms and the causes of each of these problems below. Then read the labels of. The standing water can cause the flooring and sheetrock below to be compromised and it could collapse altogether.
The easiest way for water to leak through concrete is to come in through any cracks in the floor. Water seepage where the basement wall meets the floor is a common cause of water in the basement. Water can leak through cracks or it can penetrate porous concrete or masonry walls in the form of water vapor. Another reason water seeping through the floors is such a serious issue is if you have a two story home or live in a multi level apartment complex.
Once the crack is clean apply the patching compound with a putty knife or. Rainwater melting snow or groundwater can saturate the soil around your foundation and leak in. Water is forced to the basement by 2 different forms of pressure. In fact many homeowners report that they observed that.
Floor cracks basement floors are thin layers of poured concrete typically 2 4 inches in depth that have no structural role in the home s foundation. Rising groundwater causes hydrostatic pressure and that causes soil to push on your basement walls and floor.