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Water leak from outside

3 years ago

I have water leaks on my outside wall and i considered painting it just with drylock but then a landscaper contractor thought a more efficient idea is to pour the dug out part with ready mix concrete instead. he insists this would fill in any cracks for good and waterproof the outside wall. is this ok or was this a crazy idea???






Comments (4)

  • 3 years ago

    Landscaper stick to your last!


    Concrete is not a waterproofing material.


    However, waterproofing materials can be now applied to the concrete, such as Xyprex waterproofing cement. I've used that on new builds, but even it will not bridge larger cracks in a foundation.



  • 3 years ago

    I'm not exactly sure what's been done between pics. And do not know where your leaks are. But, according to the first picture, there is a concrete foundation (slab presumably) with a transition to a stucco'd exterior wall above it. In this pic I see remnants of soil above the stucco, and on other pics wholely above the stucco, with plantings too close to the wall to boot.

    The grade needs to be minimum 6" clear below this transition from foundation concrete to stucco finish. And then slope down away from house to discharge water.

    It appears, again not sure with perspective, but that a concrete "bank" was built from the grade up to the bottom of stucco, in just about an 8' length of wall. Placing concrete on grade will not stop water penetration by whatever opening it is getting into your wall. Bad idea:

    - stucco should be able to drain (water/moisture that gets behind it) which is why it overhangs the foundation and also provides a capillary break

    - water will still get behind the gap from this "bank" and the wall (there may not be a gap now but yes there will be a gap, and water can rise up from below too)

    - concrete "absorbs" moisture, so now your entire wall can wick up moisture from this "berm"

    - pests love moisture and tiny cracks that you don't even notice

  • 3 years ago

    plantings should not be touching the house and grade must slope down and away to avoid a water trap. You may have created a concrete trap. Only time will tell.

  • 3 years ago

    Don't discuss solutions before the problem is understood.

    Water penetration through the foundation is usually solved by pros who excavate and apply waterproofing materials to the exterior and fix the weeping system. Sometimes you get lucky and find that landscape grade and/or downspouts can direct water away.