How can I fix a wet basement on the cheap?
by
Lisa
I have been trying to fix all the problems with the house but having my basement flood twice in less than a year has taken it's toll on me and my money. I can't even afford a dehumidifier. So please help me on a cheap way to fix my wet basement I use lots of fans but it's not enough to dry out the floor.
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And you don't have a sump pump? Cause that usually helps and sometimes if you have one and your neighbors are cheap and don't use theirs they force yours to do all of the work. First, make sure that your ground be it a lawn or whatever is around your home is graded away from home. That means the water will flow away from home. So in other words it's like your going on a slight angle up towards your home. That's the first and easiest self to do project. If you have bushes it doesn't mater even if they are in the way make sure that the area behind them does not slop towards your home. While you are at it check for any tiny or big cracks in foundation. They sell stuff for you to fix these cracks you just need to dig until you can get to bottom of Crack then use the products. If you have a Crack paint the inside of basement as well with the proper water sealing paint for basements. Those you can do on your own as well. Next or I should say first,you have to have windows, clean out the Wells they have drains. Next cover them because they obviously can get water in them and cause this problem or add to it and if you have to caulk them and paint with that water sealing paint but do not paint egress window shut you need a way out.
Buy a can of spray foam used for plumbing leaks. Try to find the wall or foundation seam where most of the leaking comes in. Use a bunch of towels or an old blanket to dry up as much water as you can right then. Then spray that foam in the seam. This foam expands and becomes as hard as plaster. One can—it’s worth a try! ☺️
You need to find where the water is coming from. If there is a hill sloping towards the house, or you get alot of rain -you will need to install a French Drain to move the water out to the street storm drains - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMbO5RIji_Y&t=532s
When I saw water pooling by the foundation, I simply added long extensions to the rain gutters, the other side has these in the ground extensions.
If you have a wet concrete block foundation, you can paint the inside with Drylok and the outside with Liquid Rubber by digging down to the footing... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RosQjZ3-Alo&t=33s
Do fill any foundation cracks with the right type of caulk for the foundation, Drylok has one.
Lastly, if needed a sump pump maybe the solution but I would add an outside sump pump first.
If the water comes up through the concrete floor - seal the concrete, you will need to dry it throughly first.