Plastic well covers are often missing from windows, causing leaks. These are inexpensive and worth the cost.
Most window well leaks are caused by the ground sloped inwards toward the house. The ground near the wall, and at the base of your window should slope away from the house. If water flows toward your window it will accumulate against the wall and end up in the basement. The problem can be solved by adding a window well that is properly graveled, drained and has the fill dirt slope away from the wall.
Water can also leak through seams on window frames. Seal these seams with silicone or polyurethane sealant.
Mulch piles deep around the windows are another common cause of leakage from window wells. After a heavy rain, the mulch pile will hold water and keep the wall moist. Replace the mulch with soil and slope the area away from your home.
As always, I hope you have success in solving your waterproofing issues. Try not to be discouraged when things do not go smoothly and quickly, as they often do. Take it in stride. Don’t take it personally. You’ll feel great when you finish the task.
Our technicians have encountered some bizarre situations or mistakes in the waterproofing of basements. We would like to share these with you and collect your stories.
Contact a professional prior to attempting any “necessary repairs”, especially if your foundation is at risk.
A home owner from Virginia called us in an emergency. He told us that his house was slowly being submerged in water due to basement leaks. Rodents were building castles in the basement and terrorizing his family. If help wasn’t given as quickly as possible, he would burn down his house.
We were expecting all kinds of thoughts and did the weather check which revealed that there was no flooding or heavy rains in Virginia at that time. The basement was exactly as described when we arrived. However, the leak was caused by “Mr Jack Hammer”, who had attempted to repair the basement in violation of all waterproofing laws.
Mr Jack Hammer thought that the best way to solve every problem of a leak was by creating a new hole in the floor. This would give the water a place to escape. He broke the basement floor, used a jackhammer to smash foundation walls and rerouted sump pump pipes himself. He was finally calmed down when we told him to consult a professional before performing any basement repairs.
Basement waterproofing tips you can Use
Clean gutters: Surface water, groundwater and roof water can cause basement leakage. Proper disposal of water sources such as these will reduce basement leakage Lekdetectie Veendam.
Installing underground gutters, drainage containers and PVC pipes to redirect water from the roof.
Place your water spouts away from the foundation.This will spray water on your lawns. You can limit the amount water that is sprayed out by the spout.
Do not use unnecessary landscaping treatments and decorations. The bricks, stones, and cement blocks used to create your flower beds must be placed in a manner that does not interfere with the flow of water around your home.
