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Fix Drill Holes in Concrete Foundation Wall

38K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  deeonline  
#1 ·
Hi,

About two years ago I purchased a home in New England. Over the past year, during heavy rain we have gotten water in a corner of a finished basement.

I put in a french drain and reapllied moisture barrier to the foundation wall in this area. I also installed a gutter and routed the down spouts 15' away from the foundation.

I then removed the interior drywall to be sure there was no mold damage. To my surprise I found three 2" drill holes in the foundation wall. These were pathced from the outside with what looks like ordinary cement. Based on the water stains it seems as though all my water problems were coming from these holes.

Any suggestion on how to patch these holes and make a water tight seal? I can post pictures if needed.

Any help you can provide would be great.
 
#6 ·
Maybe I wasn't clear. At this point there is no water present in the holes. There is only a water problem during heavy rain.

Will hydraulic cement work when water is not present? From reading the Quikrete Water Stop specs say "QUIKRETE Hydraulic Water-Stop Cement solves leakage problems wherever active water is present, in all masonry and concrete above and below grade." This seems to imply that water needs to be present to solve the leakage problem. Is this correct or will it solve the problem when the concrete is dry?
 
#7 · (Edited)
Hdraulic is a very compatible cement based grout that is a non-shrink grout. Most other materials you use to fill holes do shrink and that could be a problem.

One advantage of hydraulic cement is that it can be used when the concrete is wet, which is not possible with other materials. The water mixed into the powder is enough moisture for the hydration process. If you are really paranoid you can wet the are before applying and misting later to extend the curing period.

The important thing is to make sure the hole to be plugged is rough and clean AND you force the relatively dry mix into the the void. Just follow the directions. Products like Fast Plug, and Water Stop are usually the time proven hydraulic cement in a packing with a brand name applied.

The holes you see are a very common problem with a poured basement. You normally do not see them or are aware of the if the concrete contractor was good.