Fixing Leaky Basement Walls in Ohio
If you have leaky basement walls or a flooded basement there's an easy way to return the space to dry, usable conditions. The process is fast, effective, and cost-efficient, and once installed in your home, leads to lower energy bills and a basement that's warranted to be dry.
For a free estimate on waterproofing your concrete block wall basement, call or e-mail us today! We serve Northern Ohio, including Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain.
Damp and Leaky Basement Walls
Concrete shrinks as it cures, and the concrete curing process of basement walls can continue for six months to ten years (in extreme cases) after the home has been built. This means that it's common to have several small cracks form in any type of basement wall -- even in a new home -- and those cracks are openings for water to make its way through.
Additionally, concrete block basement walls in Ohio hold large open cavities inside that run up and down the walls. These walls are made out of concrete, a porous material that easily allows water vapor to soak through and enter the basement. If you've ever had a leaky basement, a flooded basement, or have watched concrete dry, you know what we're talking about.
As water passes through the concrete, it can reach the large hollow gaps in block walls or force its way through basement wall cracks. Block wall cavities can fill with water, soaking the concrete and seeping through to the home, and water can push its way through the basement wall floor joint and flood the basement. At Ohio Basement Systems, we've seen this problem throughout the region, including the areas of Barberton, Sandusky, Lakewood, Cleveland, Akron, Warren, Niles, Canton, Youngstown, Massillon, Wooster, Cuyahoga Falls, Ashtabula, Ashland, Mentor, Euclid, Lorain. For a free estimate on a basement waterproofing, call or contact us online today!
Repairing Leaky Basements and Stopping Flooding
Repairing wet concrete block walls is part of what the staff at Ohio Basement Systems does every day. The basement waterproofing process can be completed in a singe day, sometimes two, and involves a sump pump, perimeter drainage system, a vapor barrier, and, in the case of block walls, weep holes drilled in the block walls. We recommend working with an expert basement contractor, as having a basement leak can be very damaging to personal items stored inside, and repairing the leak can require heavy equipment like a jackhammer.
Steps to Waterproofing Concrete Block Walls:
1. Install a Basement Sump Pump and Battery Backup
Install a sump pump with a reliable liner in your basement. The sump pump liner should be large enough to allow enough water into the basin that the pump can run a full cycle without turning on and off constantly (called "short-cycling"), which burns out the pump prematurely.
A battery backup sump pump should also be included to ensure that your sump pump can run during power outages or a blown fuse. A battery backup sump pump can also offer you protection if your primary sump pump fails for any reason. Click to learn more about sump pumps in Ohio.
2. Dig a Perimeter Trench and Drill Weep Holes
A trench should be created around the basement floor, leading to the sump pump. If you have concrete block walls, weeping holes should be drilled in the basement walls into each block cavity at the base. This stops the water from building up inside your walls and sends it to the sump pump.
3. Install a Perimeter Drainage System
This important basement waterproofing step is sometimes passed over by Akron, Ohio waterproofers when they're attempting to repair a leaky basement. A PVC drain, such as the innovative WaterGuard Subfloor Drainage System (similar to a French Drain system) provided by Ohio Basement Systems can effectively direct flooding basement water to the sump pump while resisting clogging. A wall flange is included in the drain's design that reaches slightly up the basement wall to gather leaks coming from the wall. Laid in a bed of clean crushed stone, the drain is cemented over on top, making for a nearly invisible installation in your home that's warranted to stop water for the life of the structure (see warranty for details).
4. Cover the Block Walls with a Vapor Barrier
Once the water has been kept out of the basement and removed from the walls, you can rest assured that you no longer have a wet basement. However, because water vapor will still be absorbed by the concrete and pass into your home, you do have a damp basement! How can this be addressed?
One effective and cost-efficient way to prevent wet concrete walls from leading to a damp space is to install a waterproof vapor barrier on the walls. These vapor barriers can be combined with our perimeter drainage system, tucking into the wall flange to direct any water entering from the basement walls into the drainage system.
Ohio Contractor Specializing in Flooded Basements
If you live in Ohio and would like a FREE, no-obligation basement concrete block wall waterproofing estimate, call or contact us today! Ohio Basement Systems of Alliance, Sandusky, Cleveland, Akron, Canton, and nearby, specializes in leaky basement waterproofing -- we have the experience, equipment, and best practices you need to keep your basement dry all the time!