Filling large hole in basement wall

[JustinL]

I recently bought a house and in the cold storage room/cellar in the basement, there's a large hole in the wall that the previous owner half-assedly threw some vent over. It also appears that it leaks down the wall. I'm trying to think of the best way to permanently fill this hole. My idea was to screw some plywood to both sides and leave a little gap to pour in concrete from one side, would that work. Does anyone have any better suggestions on how to fix it or the best type of concrete to use?

 

[ConCretin]

My first suggestion would be to address the exterior drainage issue that is causing water to run towards your foundation and through the opening

If you decide that you need to fill the opening, start by installing a surface applied water-stop such as these.

https://usa.sika.com/content/usa/ma...01sa50/02a001sa49sa01/02a001sa49sa01sa02.html

Without a water stop, water is likely to continue to enter your basement through the seams between new concrete and old.

Then go ahead a form it on both sides with a 'birds mouth' to get the concrete in. A birds mouth is chute built into the formwork. It's typically built higher than the top of the opening to allow the concrete to build up a little head pressure to help fill the opening. A ******** will help as well.

You can use any decent sack mix to fill it. After the concrete sets a bit, strip the formwork and chip off the concrete that remained in the birds mouth.

Hope that helps.

 

[The Cobbler]

you should keep some ventilation in that space .
but to fill I would fasten ply to both sides ( outside cover completely , inside leave a space at the top) and fill as much as you can with grout . then mix a stiff mix or mortar and fill it in to the top. may need to let it set up a bit & do a few times)

 

[JustinL]

My first suggestion would be to address the exterior drainage issue that is causing water to run towards your foundation and through the opening

If you decide that you need to fill the opening, start by installing a surface applied water-stop such as these.

https://usa.sika.com/content/usa/ma...01sa50/02a001sa49sa01/02a001sa49sa01sa02.html

Without a water stop, water is likely to continue to enter your basement through the seams between new concrete and old.

Then go ahead a form it on both sides with a 'birds mouth' to get the concrete in. A birds mouth is chute built into the formwork. It's typically built higher than the top of the opening to allow the concrete to build up a little head pressure to help fill the opening. A ******** will help as well.

You can use any decent sack mix to fill it. After the concrete sets a bit, strip the formwork and chip off the concrete that remained in the birds mouth.

Hope that helps.

Thank you for the suggestions that sounds like the best way to fill it.

The water issue I'm not so sure about, it's about 10 inches off the ground and I live in the desert it hasn't rained in at least 3 months and rarely ever rains. I think the leaking/staining might be from snow build up blowing on the side of the house and sitting against and melting through the vent.

 

[fasteddie]

It was probably originally cast in the wall as a window opening. If it is all above grade I would brick it up. That hole will take a lot of hand mixed concrete to fill. Bricks will take maybe one bag of mortar. The added benefit, laying brick is fun.

 

[Kaizen]

It was probably originally cast in the wall as a window opening. If it is all above grade I would brick it up. That hole will take a lot of hand mixed concrete to fill. Bricks will take maybe one bag of mortar. The added benefit, laying brick is fun.

Looks like a window opening to me as well. Easiest way to fill hole is a window


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[JustinL]

Haha that's probably the first time I've heard laying brick is fun.

 

[JustinL]

Looks like a window opening to me as well. Easiest way to fill hole is a window


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I actually hadn't thought about it being a window, I'll measure it and see if it a standard size.

 

[fasteddie]

Haha that's probably the first time I've heard laying brick is fun.

Well, in small doses it is. I wouldn't want to build a brick building.

 

[Kaizen]

I actually hadn't thought about it being a window, I'll measure it and see if it a standard size.

See what your neighbors have if a development. If too small for a cellar window look at crawl space vents. They are weatherized. All that water could be from moisture on the inside from a previous window and this was his solution when he should have gotten a dehumidifier


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[JustinL]

Boom! This is the exact size of the hole. Thank you guys I hadn't even considered a window.


https://www.homedepot.com/p/TAFCO-WINDOWS-15-75-in-x-7-75-in-Hopper-Vent-Screen-Window-VV1608/202033268

 

[Kaizen]

Nice. Might want to grab a humidity meter and monitor that area for a year. Strange in a desert to see that


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[alwaysFlOoReD]

I believe that if the room was used as cold storage a vent was necessary. I'm not old enough to have used one but I've seen a few.

 

[Kaizen]

Duplicate post

 

[spam4us]

If it is a cold storage room, I would block off the vent to see if any condensation will start due to lack of air circulation. Go thru at least the beginning of the heating season where the outside temps are < 50 degrees.

I have a similar room that was not vented. During the summer, it was ok but once heating season started, the condensation would rain from the ceiling. This was from the warm air in the house finding its way into the room. There are no vents in this room. Just an interior door for access.

 

[JustinL]

That's what our home inspector suggested, to swap the door to the room to well sealed exterior door after the hole is filled.

 

[Erampu]

Haha that's probably the first time I've heard laying brick is fun.

Laying pipe is fun.

 

[JimNC]

Wonder if someone once broke in through that window. You could use glass block to maintain some light and install a small exhaust fan if you wanted.

 

[pcmeiners]

If that is an original vent it may be supplying the minimum amount of air for your heater's combustion, as mentioned check with you neighbors.

 

[AZ Pete]

Looks like a window opening to me as well. Easiest way to fill hole is a window


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not a window opening. "root cellars" are common in Utah for food storage.


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[Kaizen]

not a window opening. "root cellars" are common in Utah for food storage.


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So if op is not using it for a root cellar a window and change the door to the room will work right?
I know in canada these are built outside the footprint of the house. What is the norm in Utah?


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[NUTTSGT]

My suggestion would be a glass block window. You can buy them pre-made in the the standard size. They can also be bought with a small 8x16 window in them......natural light, ventilation and security all in one.

 

[Hilltopmasonry]

Depending on how old the house is it could have been a coal or ice chute as well

I would put a glass block window In there as well to fill the hole


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[NUTTSGT]

It appears to have poured walls, I doubt it is terribly old.

 

[AZ Pete]

So if op is not using it for a root cellar a window and change the door to the room will work right?
I know in canada these are built outside the footprint of the house. What is the norm in Utah?


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often in the basement, or under the garage. Dirt floors were not uncommon, when I lived there.

 

[larry4406]

It appears to have poured walls, I doubt it is terribly old.

Yes you can see it is a poured wall and lots of honey comb as well. Look at the aggregate and voids at the framing. This alone can lead to water intrusion.

Looks like a concrete form/buck that was never stripped. Not even pressure treated wood.

Depending on grade, I would be inclined to yank it and put in a window. If grade is adverse, then close it off and waterproof as has been suggested. I'm dealing with this same issue in a used home we bought.