Water is the main culprit for a large part of foundation problems. Whether the foundation is poured concrete, concrete block, or stone, continuous water seepage creates cracks that can often be disastrous if ignored.
Cracks due to seepage of water are found in the corners of the walls, or where bricks, stones or concrete slabs meet. If the groundwater has enough hydrostatic pressure to allow the water to seep through the foundation, cracks occur. These cracks start out as fine little cracks and widen as time goes on.
There are two basic methods to repair foundation leaks in your home or basement: urethane injection and drain tile repair.
Injecting urethane is a relatively simple process. In this process, the crack is sealed first to prevent water from escaping. Then holes are made in the crack and an epoxy resin is injected into the crack. The repair is complete when the resin fills the entire crack. Urethane injections cost only a few hundred dollars and the time required for all the work to complete will not extend beyond a couple of hours. However, urethane injections can only be applied in small cracks. There is also the danger that the crack will reopen and the water will seep in once more.
Drain tile repair is a long process. First, the floor tiles are pulled from the affected area and a drainage tile is laid. It is then connected to a sump pump or any other legally permitted water extraction system. Once this is done, the floor tiles are replaced. This process takes a few days and costs run into thousands of dollars. However, this is a much more permanent method than injection. A problem may be a malfunction of the sump pump. This can cause flooding due to excessive leakage.
Urethane injections are fine if the crack is small, but if the crack has been ignored and has become large and open, it is best to repair it with a drain tile. For larger leaks outside the home, a more extensive method is used. A trench is dug in the affected area and the drain tile is replaced if necessary. The trench is then filled, first with coarse gravel to make it more waterproof and then with soil. This method is used even when dams have a foundation leak.
Repairing foundation leaks is an expensive business, but more than that it is a laborious and time-consuming process. However, it is one of those repair jobs that simply cannot be ignored.