Not all cracks on your basement floor are problematic. Keep an eye out for any changes. If left untreated it could develop into structural damages, leaks, and/or foul odor. Typically the fix is to waterproof the perimeter of the wall from either inside or outside. Depending on your access to the area and the length of the leak, repairs can cost from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. The most common solution is to divert the water to a sump pump or to a drainage system.
Issues
For a Do-it-yourselfer, please don’t try to seal the leak yourself – you’ll only be temporarily diverting the water elsewhere which will create more hydrostatic pressure and will eventually cause your floor to crack.
Cove joint seepage is mainly caused by damaged/blocked inadequate drainage systems.
Check your landscaping for insufficient grading. Does rainwater run toward your house?
After heavy rainfall or flood, do you see the pool(s) of water where the foundation wall meets the floor?
Dimensions Required for Quote
Height of basement [basement floor to ground level] = _ feet
Parameter of the wall where the leak is located = _ feet
Solution
The remedy for cove joint leaks is to call in the experts. Each company has its method for waterproofing a building but they all have one thing in common — diverting water away from your home. If it doesn’t involve diverting water – it is not a solution. The solution also depends on the type of waterproofing you desire: Interior Waterproofing or Exterior Waterproofing.
Interior
These tie rods holes can be filled using pressurized injection sealant. For more severe leaks, an interior parameter drainage waterproofing system might be required.
Exterior
Fix all landscape grading issues.
Most homeowners would prefer not to rip up their finished basement to fix the leak so the best option is to excavate the exterior wall of the leak. This approach requires more prep time to gather information on underground gas pipes, water pipes, electrical wiring, etc. Furthermore, extreme cold/snow usually delays excavation. This technique channels water away from your basement which reduces and eliminates hydrostatic pressure on the basement floor hence preventing floor cracks. This sounds expensive and indeed it is but this solution will put all your concerns to bed.
Note
The linear length of the wall needing to be waterproofed determines the cost. Also, obstacles such as decks, trees, concrete, interlocking, etc. within the waterproofing area increase the cost.
