One leak, one path, one repair
Basement leak repair in Tigard
When water comes in at one place, the repair can be small. The work is in proving where that place is.
Where a single leak usually is, and how it is closed
A crack in a poured wall
A hairline that weeps in storms. It is sealed by injecting resin through the full thickness of the wall, so the repair is inside the crack and not a smear on the surface.
Around a pipe or cable
Water follows the outside of a sewer pipe, water line or conduit where it passes through the wall. The gap around it is cleaned out and packed with a flexible sealant.
A basement window
A window well full of leaves holds water against the frame. The well is cleared and given a drain, the frame is resealed, and a cover keeps debris out.
The top of the wall
Water runs in over the top of the foundation when soil, bark mulch or a patio sits higher than the concrete. The cure is outside: lower the ground and slope it away.
Tie holes and honeycombing
Small round wet spots in a row, or a rough patch where the concrete did not fill out. Each is plugged or injected in the same way as a crack.
Tracing it yourself before anyone comes
Mark the wet edge with a pencil and the date. Do it again after the next storm. A stain that grows from one point tells the company more than a description does.
Go outside and stand opposite the wet spot. Look for a downspout, a low patch of ground, a outdoor faucet or a window well directly above it.
If the house has finished walls, the wet carpet may be several feet from the entry point. Water runs along the bottom plate before it shows.
When one repair is not the answer
Several leaks along one wall, or water at the floor edge on more than one side, means the soil is saturated. Sealing each spot sends the water to the next weak point. That is a job for a drain.
A crack that is wider at one end, stepped through block, or paired with a wall that leans is a structural question as well as a water one. Ask the company whether an engineer should see it before anything is sealed.
Ask about the repair
- What makes you sure this is the entry point?
- Is the crack being injected from inside, and with what material?
- If it leaks again at the same place, what happens next and is that in writing?
Leak repair questions
Will waterproof paint stop a basement leak?
Not for long. Paint sits on the surface with water pressure behind it, and it blisters. It can help with damp air on a sound wall, not with a leak.
Is a leaking crack a foundation problem?
Most hairline cracks in poured concrete are from shrinkage and only matter because they let water through. Cracks that move, widen or step are different and need a structural opinion.
Ready to have someone look at it?
Describe what you are seeing and where in the house it is. The company on the phone will tell you whether it is work they take on and when they could come out.
Get a waterproofing company on the phone
For homeowners with water coming into a basement or crawl space, or a yard that drains toward the house.
Call (503) 555-0120Calls can be recorded. Read how the referral is paid for and what happens to your details.