Flooding in the basement

[NoGarageAtHome]

I've got water coming into the basement/garage thru cracks in the concrete. I rent this place so it's really not my responsibility. the owner is a nice older lady that is very fair with rent so I don't mind doing a couple things to help both of us out. While I know we have to do something about the drainage on the outside of the house what would you recommend for hairline cracks? I was thinking something similar to Flexseal but that stuff is nearly $100 a gallon. I'd like to roll something over it and call it good if there is such a thing... and yes the owner knows about the problem... her "handyman" has been busy lately and to be honest I'd rather not have him in here doing something I could do.

 

[Shiftless]

If your basement is below grade, painting something on the inside surface won't help much at all. As you have already hinted at, the problem must be addressed from the outside. The full court press approach is to dig down to the footing on the outside, install perforated drain pipe wrapped in filter fabric and sloped to a logical drainage point below and well away from the house. Then coat the foundation walls with goopy waterproofing sealer and tack on waffle drainage board before backfilling with gravel.
WAY TOO MUCH $$$

On my house (that I own) I dug a pit in the low corner, installed a sump liner and put in a float controlled automatic pump ejecting the water to a solid pipe draining out to the street.
California is getting a LOT of rain. Drought is over.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Epoxy crack filler. You can now purchase it at Menards. If you don't have a Menards near just google it. You can order the kit online for a fairly reasonable price. Contractors charge around 500 a crack up to 8ft in length.

 

[kd3pc]

OP - keep the landlord and tenant separate for a whole host of reasons...you touched it - you own it...is the current one.

There are horror stories of tenants, just wanting to help - here and on the net. Liability next, and so on.

it really can not be fixed correctly from the inside, accept it and let her deal with it.

 

[mcfly107]

I wouldn't do anything to the cracks. The water will just find another place to come in.
Since you are renting I would suggest the least work possible. What I did when I was living in my parents basement as a kid was extend the down spots. We lived at the bottom of a hill and when it rains here in the spring and fall it pours! I had to re drywall and lay new carpet a couple times.
Go buy some matching down spouts at the store and have the water exit further away from the house. I did that 6 years ago and my room (now my younger brothers room) has stayed dry ever since.


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