this post was submitted on 14 Jan 2024
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Home Improvement

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1950s house with block foundation. I’ve patched these areas with hydraulic cement. That didn’t work so I stripped and cleaned the areas thoroughly then repatched. It improved but still getting lots of leaking where the foundation and floor meet or just above.

The main trouble spot sits next to the water heater where some old oil tank lines were. Can I safely cut those out with an angle grinder and try to patch that up? There’s a giant concrete hump that encases them where the water leaks over too.

Our exterior is naturally moist. We’ve got a sump pump, French drain, gutters discharges all well away from the house. Short of digging up and putting in new footer tiles (which I definitely can’t afford now), I’m at a loss.

Any suggestions would be helpful. Waterproof paint? Block filler?

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago (1 children)

No expert, but maybe look into foundation patch, for where I am, it's a rubberized sheet that would glue to the outside around the affected area. Once back filled, the pressure from the dirt is more than enough to keep it in place. I have done that kind of repair before, and it worked for years after till the place was sold. As repairs go, it's inexpensive. You just need a shovel time and the patch. Just do your homework as to it being a viable solution for a block foundation as mine was poured, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. As was said before, trying to fix it from the inside is an uphill battle.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 8 months ago

That’s a whole lot of digging! What’s strange is that the corner where I ripped the wood sits under our entry stairs, which has a 3’ overhang and is almost always dry. The other site sits under concrete so my hands are tied to the interior for now.

Thanks for the suggestion.