Hey everyone! We recently found water leaking into our basement, especially in the area with concrete blocks. This seems to happen after heavy rain, likely because the ground gets too saturated and forces water through the walls. So far, we've installed new drain downspout extenders to help redirect water away from the house.
We're planning to follow this up with an interior sealant and are considering a few products: DRYLOK® Extreme Concrete & Masonry Waterproofer, Hydro-Seal 75, and Blue Max® Liquid Rubber Waterproofer.
We're looking for something easy to apply, durable, and that can be painted over concrete. If anyone has experience with these products or any other suggestions, we would love to hear from you. Thanks in advance!
3 Answers
Honestly, you can’t completely stop water from entering from the outside. It will find a way in. The best approach is to excavate around the foundation, re-tar it, and then add a dimple board followed by a good drainage system near the footing. This will help manage the water before it even reaches your walls.
It sounds like you really need to address the drainage issues rather than just waterproofing the inside. If water can get through the walls, sealing them will just create pockets of water that can cause peeling over time. I'd recommend grading the land around the first ten feet of your foundation to slope away from the house. If there’s no natural runoff, a French drain system could really help.
I just came across this video that gives a different take on sealing basement walls: [YouTube Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgA7FqD2IR8). It might give you some new ideas about how to tackle the problem. Just remember, interior sealing alone won’t really fix the underlying issue if the water is coming from outside.
Totally agree! Fixing the drainage first is crucial before applying any kind of sealant.