sherm03;1403062 wrote:What did you use to seal the concrete walls?

The two fixes that we've done so far (repairing our front porch that was sloped back towards the house, and moving the side downspouts out of the original clay pipes that feed under the house and into a new pop-up drain) have helped to stop the water from coming in. But I'd like to seal up the walls as an extra preventative measure.

LJ;1403134 wrote:The outside of the walls need sealed if you are worried about water intrusion. If you seal the inside, you are just going to trap water in the block and it will wear the block out even faster. Interior sealing is a crutch that is just out there for duping people into spending money.

LJ;1403134 wrote:The outside of the walls need sealed if you are worried about water intrusion. If you seal the inside, you are just going to trap water in the block and it will wear the block out even faster. Interior sealing is a crutch that is just out there for duping people into spending money.

ZWICK 4 PREZ;1403153 wrote:so water can permeate through the side of the block, but won't go down through the bottom of the block huh?

LJ;1403158 wrote:Huh? So you are saying that a foundation should adequately drain through hollow blocks? Concrete is porous and will absorb water. Sealing from the inside only just allows water to soak in only. Then there is no airflow to dry out the block. The hollow block is NOT a drainage system.

ernest_t_bass;1403161 wrote:No, but what prevents the water from going DOWN? Does it hit the sealant and just stop?

LJ;1403134 wrote:The outside of the walls need sealed if you are worried about water intrusion. If you seal the inside, you are just going to trap water in the block and it will wear the block out even faster. Interior sealing is a crutch that is just out there for duping people into spending money.

sherm03;1403165 wrote:Ya, that's not an option for me. The wall I'm looking to seal up is up against a thin patch of grass (maybe 4 feet) before you get to my neighbor's driveway. With that small of an area to work with, I can't imagine that we'd be able to dig all the way down to properly seal from the outside.

I've already stopped the few leaks I had seen on that wall by rerouting the downspouts out of the clay pipes. But I just want to do a little extra to be sure. I may have to go to my plan B...which is planting a series of shrubs or bushes along that side of the house to absorb most of the water from the soil.

LJ;1403166 wrote:You should maybe see if you can get down far enough for a new weeping system. That may get enough water away. Do you have a window on that wall? Improper drainage on window wells cause tons of leaks too

Shane Falco;1403194 wrote:First off my basment walls are poured not block. Second the out side of my walls were sealed and lined with a plastic membrane before before it was back filled when I built the house 14 years ago. I "sealed" the inside of walls with a mold and mildew proof paint before framing interior walls.

Trust me its being done right. It 's not my first rodeo.

LJ;1403158 wrote:Huh? So you are saying that a foundation should adequately drain through hollow blocks? Concrete is porous and will absorb water. Sealing from the inside only just allows water to soak in only. Then there is no airflow to dry out the block. The hollow block is NOT a drainage system.

ZWICK 4 PREZ;1403216 wrote:No it's not an adequate drainage system, but its not going to trap it in there. Water will always find its way down. The damage to the block is the real problem.

justincredible;1402426 wrote:Homeschool.

dlazz;1403657 wrote:Home school is great if you want your kid to grow up socially ****ed.

gport_tennis;1403660 wrote:Yes please take social tips from dlazz

gport_tennis;1403660 wrote:Yes please take social tips from dlazz

dlazz;1403676 wrote:Do you want a kid to grow up and become a dbag like Tim Tebow?

gport_tennis;1403677 wrote:If my son grows up to be the best Tim tebow, I'll consider job well done.

dlazz;1403680 wrote:You want to raise a 25 year old virgin?

More power to you.

gport_tennis;1403683 wrote:If my child grows up to be a respectful millionaire, I will consider job well done.

dlazz;1403657 wrote:Home school is great if you want your kid to grow up socially fucked.

P.S. I rent, but one of these days I'll buy a dining room table and maybe some bar stools.

Probably not, though.

justincredible;1403706 wrote:You can homeschool a kid and still get him involved in sports and other stuff in the community.

dlazz;1403676 wrote:Do you want a kid to grow up and become a dbag like Tim Tebow?