I want to completely finish the basement of my home. Rain or snowmelt in this Buffalo, NY, climate has occasionally seeped in through the windows in the basement and created a very small puddle. What’s involved in fixing this before I begin the basement renovation?
Frank H. ~ Buffalo, New York
The first thing that you will need to do is figure out what is leaking. Is it the window that is leaking, or is it leaking around the window, is it leaking through the wall, or is it leaking from an area totally unrelated to the window and the leak just presents itself there?
Determining what is leaking can be very difficult. The fact that it is a small puddle does not mean it is a small problem. Small puddles can often be the indicator of a much larger problem. When it comes to water in a basement, you do not want to take any chances; water can quickly ruin lots of great work.
Hiring a contractor who has experience with water mitigation issues for basements is usually a good idea. You do not want to take any chances or make any assumptions here, I wish I could tell you what is involved in fixing your particular problem, but I would not be providing you with sound advice based on the limited information I have. Hopefully, this will get you rolling in the right direction.
I have been a contractor for over 18 years and have run up against this problem quite a few times.
Sometimes installing a window well cover will help fix this situation. If your basement windows do not have a well you can try digging down around the window and applying some waterproofing tar and then cover with about 3/4 of the dirt. Before covering the area with the remaining dirt install some landscape plastic under the top soil. This will prevent the water from seeping through by your window…
Good Luck
Mike
I had to hire a contractor for this very same reason not too long ago and he had to make the drainage a little better by the window and do a foundation crack repair as it wasn’t just the window that was the problem.
Plastic is wrong for landscaping. You’ll find multiple places advising it, but it will create moisture problems for basements and foundations. It seems right to slope plastic away from the foundation to move the water away, however it does not allow the ground to breath and dry out. Thru water table or back drainage underneath the grade, moisture will get under the plastic and not back out. If you don’t believe me, find a building where this has been done, pull it back and sink your probe in it. Guaranteed you’ll find mud. Go next door where it is properly sloped and they used landscaping fabric, or nothing at all, and it will be much dryer. Pass it on, logic doesn’t work on this one. Learned it from a basement repair company who says it keeps him in business.