Waterproof Your Basement for LOW COST.

How would you like to waterproof your basement or fix a leaky cracked foundation for very little money... and only a few days of work? This system places FIVE barriers against leakage!   I did this to a house i lived in 30 years ago.  The basement stayed DRY the 19 years I lived there.. AND this only costed less than $100 dollars per wall.  Only 2 of my walls had leaks (I fixed).  This method stops water OUTSIDE the foundation, which is preferable.  A friend recently asked me if I knew anything about fixing a cracked basement wall and leak?  I printed it out for her... and decided to make an INSTRUCTABLE for others who may need the information.   LEGAL: NOTICE:  These instructions are no guarantee you will fix your problem. Whatever you do to YOUR house is your decision and your responsibility solely.  (but this worked for me, and might help you too). Digging the trench is the most difficult step... but not as difficult as we imagined before starting.  It took us about a day and a half to accomplish digging up ONE side of the house.  A couple days to do all the chipping, tarpainting, and placing the plastic sheet.  then one day to fill trench back in.

Step 1 Diagram of Leaky Wall and Overview of project

The diagram shows the simple solution to the leaky problem.  Water is SUPPOSED to flow down to the FRENCH DRAIN. (pictured at bottom of diagram).   Cracks often occur below windows and usually go all the way down to the concrete floor.   After digging down to the bottom of the wall... about 3ft deep.... you may hit a layer of GRAVEL.  That is the french drain.  Dont dig up the gravel.
The main part of this system is the plastic sheet which is TARRED up against the wall.  Plastic sheets will last many years under the ground.  Some environmentalists say it may last 100 years.  The sun does not shine on it and the wind does not blow on it... so it should last a LONG time.  This repair is also COMPLETELY HIDDEN  and not visible because it is under ground. so don't worry about how it is going to LOOK !

Comments

[fredellarby]

Yup. It's an awful way to die. Even a fairly sloped wall can collapse.

[fredellarby]

Please be VERY careful working in any kind of trench. We regularly lose people when the trench collapses. When the pros do it, they use HEAVY reinforcement.

[mark429]

I was about to say yeah right but just searched for the terms " man dies digging trench" yeah, 770,000 results.... Wow Thank you for the warning!