How can I keep water from seeping thought my basement cinder blocks?
by
Mtflower
+2
I have cinder blocks in my basement that have water seeping through when it rains, Is there anything that can be done now that the weather has gotten cold.
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I have seen ads for stuff that is applied to the inside of the wall. don't know how reliable it is but might be worth checking it out. google for "leaking basement walls" or something similar.
In addition to treating inside, when the rain stops, you need to address the situation from the outside to prevent damage to the structure in the future. Sounds like the land needs to be regraded to slope away from the structure and not into it. You might even need a French drain system too. Get a consult with a structural engineer to know for sure.
No matter what is says on the can, there is nothing you can apply to the inside that is truly waterproof and as Naomie pointed out, water prevention inside starts outside. How much water is it? If it is not too much you could wait until spring to deal with it. For now, make sure your gutters and downspouts are carrying water away from your foundation. Patch any holes or cracks in your block with hydraulic cement. Run a dehumidifier (yes, even in cold weather) if the humidity is too high. You can buy an inexpensive hygrometer on Amazon to check the humidity level.
We had a similar problem and we found out that our corner downspouts were leaking and filling up the cinder blocks. We disconnected the downspouts and attached them to an extension gutter onto a splash block. Of course the damage was already done inside with the mildew so we cleaned the walls with bleach/water. When dry we painted the walls with a rubber based Marine paint. The kind the malls use in their ponds. Anything you do is not going to work until you find out why the blocks are filling up with water. The best of luck to you. It's a lot of work!
See if your downspouts or gutters are leaking or need cleaned of leaves, etc., which could cause spillage of water toward your foundation.
If water infiltration is significant, you could try placing 6 mil. black plastic against the foundation and 6" up your brick, with brick or rocks to hold in place, but in the Spring, you'll need to regrade soil away from foundation. If it's very severe, you'll need to install a swale, French drain, or Hydro-Blox system in your yard, in hopes of diverting water.