WHAT IS WATER SEEPAGE? HOW TO AVOID SEEPAGE OF WATER

Water seepage in the wall results in damage that is virtually beyond repair. Every season, it has to be repaired by repainting. However, if the right measures are taken during the building, problems with water seepage on the walls can be avoided. Through this article, our experts from PropCheck will provide you with information about water seepage. So, keep scrolling!!

Introduction

India is a tropical nation that experiences a lot of annual rainfall. It is bad news for your home or flat, though. The walls of your home acquire cracks and fissures after being exposed to heat and rain for an extended period. The majority of traditional Indian dwellings are not constructed properly to withstand wall seepage. 

They are also not prepared to take the full impact of the recent irregular climate fluctuations. This caused several buildings affected by water leaks to collapse. Therefore, what initially seems to be a little break in a wall might eventually result in the collapse of a whole structure.

What Is Water Seepage?

When water seeps through tiny pores or porous material, it moves from one location to another. It’s a common problem that typically happens after a lot of rain. Rising groundwater levels and more water in the earth cause hydrostatic pressure against your home’s foundation. 

The smallest fractures in the basement walls and floor are forced open by this pressure, allowing seepage of water into the basement and to the entire house. Additionally, water may leak through the tops of the foundation walls.

What Are The Signs Of Seepage Of Water?

Sometimes it might be difficult to detect water seepage. As a result, if you’re unsure, there are symptoms you may search for. You will undoubtedly notice a decline in the quality of indoor air due to excess moisture. It will feel muggier than ever. 

On your walls, you could also see ugly cracks, bubbles, peeling paint, warped paint, or stains. This suggests that the foundation of your home may have dampness. The appliances may also have corrosion on them. Although there are several indicators of moisture-related problems, a pool of water on the floor is the most glaring indication of water seepage.

What Is The Cause Of The Seepage Of Water?

Use of subpar raw materials or a failure to take waterproofing precautions seriously during construction may be the cause of seepage in walls. Because the concrete building’s outside walls are exposed to the elements, extended exposure to precipitation can cause cracks in the outer coating and allow moisture and water to seep into the wall. 

The walls are moist as a result of the seepage. If water seepage in the walls is not addressed quickly, this moisture penetrates the interiors and ruins the wall paint.

Other factors that contribute to seepage in walls include:

• Wall seepage may be caused by sewage line, bathroom, kitchen, or water tank leaks.
• Seepage in walls can be caused by leaks in water supply lines, bathroom sanitary fittings, and drainage pipes.
• Wall seepage may result from water leaking through bathroom tiles.
• Severe seepage in walls can be caused by faulty plumbing in a home.
• Buildings’ exterior walls without plastering may experience wall seepage.
• Risen ground moisture causes seepage in walls and flooring.
• Lack of drainage pipes can cause water to accumulate on the roof or balcony, which can cause seepage in walls.
• Inadequate window frames or liners may also be to blame for seepage in walls. Water trickling and moisture buildup can result from fractured putty between the glass panes, broken caulking at the window seats, and inadequate paint seal around the glass edges.

Seepage In The Wall: The Negative Consequences In Your Home

Your health, as well as the beauty of the home, are both negatively impacted by seepage through walls. While a home with significant wall seepage is unsightly, it also causes wet walls and floors, which may be harmful to your health. Wall seepage damages the paints, the wall coverings, and in extreme circumstances, even the tiles. 

Additionally, this spreads to deteriorate the household’s highly used furnishings, particularly wooden furniture. The growth of fungus and mould on damp walls also affects your health. Seepage through walls is bad for the lifetime of the house’s construction since it ultimately affects the foundation, which includes iron bars, bricks, and other building materials.

How Can I Detect Water Seepage In Your Home’s Walls?

• Check the inside walls of the house for wet stains or seepage of water.
• Look for the source of any wall leaks caused by water. Water seepage on the wall may be caused by leaking water tanks, damaged water pipes, or outdated plumbing problems.
• As water seepage in the walls is conceivable through this gap, ask your structural engineer to examine if there is a space between your home and the one next to it.
• The inferior quality of the external plastering materials is a major contributor to the seepage of water. To learn more about this element of your home’s building quality and to avoid seepage in walls, speak with your builder or contractor.

How To Treat The Seepage In The Wall?

Interior Wall Seepage Solution

Since cracks are initially seen there, seepage in interior walls starts around the windows, door, or ceiling. Before painting it, fill up the gaps and use a water-resistant compound to treat the moist spots. Next, construct hollow walls to stop seepage between outside and internal walls.

The use of low-quality paint on the walls is one of the primary causes of the seeping of water through your home’s interior. These paints cause harm to the walls by allowing moisture to penetrate the concrete and soak into the walls.

The market is currently saturated with high-quality paints that are water-resistant and include ingredients like silicon that provide regions that are most vulnerable to water seepage greater strength. To fill these fissures, apply mortar. It is made of a thick, water-resistant polymer. White cement is the finest solution for cracked roofs or wall tiles since it may stop paint from peeling in humid climates.

Exterior Wall Seepage Solutions

Seepage in walls is caused by using low-quality raw materials and exposing outside walls to severe weather. These can be addressed by: 

• Covering all exposed surfaces, such as boundary and exterior walls, with cement plaster combined with waterproofing chemicals
• Using high-quality paints that are weather resistant
• Pipe waterproofing
• Immediately fixing any outside cracks to stop or control wall seepage

Solutions For Seepage From Ceilings

The main cause of water buildup on roofs is seepage in walls via ceilings. Therefore, repair any cracks or blocked pipes in the roof terrace to stop wall leaks. If you live in an apartment, the seepage in your ceiling might be the result of the inhabitants of the home above you having leaks in their bathrooms. Have it been examined and treated?

Make sure the terrace floor has a slope that prevents water logging from preventing seepage in independent residences or on top stories. Next, apply weatherproof paint to the parapet wall.

Sidewall Leakage Solution

• For adequate ventilation, use exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom.
• It is best to avoid drying clothing inside as it adds a lot of moisture to the house.
• Dehumidifiers may also be used to eliminate moisture from the air and stop the seeping of water into walls.
• Avoid painting walls during the winter months as this might lead to excessive moisture inside the walls and seepage of water.
• Always ensure the steam generated in the kitchen is released as quickly as possible.
• Make sure the angle of the window frame will allow excess rainfall to drain away and prevent water seepage on the walls. Before the monsoon, weatherproof the windows. Weatherstrips for windows are made of rubber, foam, and vinyl.
• Keep houseplants like spider plants, Boston ferns, peace lilies, and areca palms because they remove moisture from the air.

Bathroom Wall Leakage Solution

Leaks in the taps or sanitary fixtures in the bathroom may be the source of seepage in the wall. So fix any leaks you find. Additionally, leaks can be caused by fractures in the floor or wall and gaps in the tiles, which should be fixed with mortar, cement, or other water-resistant materials.

Solutions For Floor Seepage 

When moisture from the ground rises, it damages the tiles and causes seepage on the floor. To fix the floor, use water-resistant materials, and make sure there are no gaps between the tiles as you go. Always use strong water pipes during construction, and make sure the joints are properly sealed. 

Every six months, inspect the drainage system and check for leaks in the plumbing and water tanks. You may also engage experts who can spot seepage on walls and provide specialised treatments using the right instruments.

Tips to Prevent seepage of Water

Wall seepage repairs are time-consuming and expensive. Preventing such leaks and seepages is the greatest approach to safeguarding and securing your home. To assure the same, heed the advice below:

• Use excellent, water-resistant paint to paint the inside and exterior walls periodically.
• Plaster the outer walls with materials of the appropriate grade.
• Inspect drainage systems, pipelines, and other sanitary infrastructure regularly to look for leaks.
• Ensure that rooms are properly ventilated.
• Pipelines and other rooftop installations should be cleaned often to prevent water buildup.
• Cracks and fissures that are already present can be quickly repaired with cement, mortar, or other water-resistant materials.
• For long-term protection, you can use contemporary procedures like grouting, pressure grouting, or installing damp-proofing.

Conclusion

Seepage of water can eventually cause homes and other structures to fall apart if they are not corrected over time. If you are experiencing a similar issue, you shouldn’t be concerned. Find out what you need to examine to avoid further seepages. You may use PropCheck’s professional help whenever you need it. Get in touch with us to find out which approach is ideal for you or what to look for when purchasing a new apartment. Hurry!

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the reason for water leakage in walls?

1. Faulty Internal Plumbing
2. Rainwater accumulation 
3. Water tank leakage
4. Poor waterproofing 
5. Presence of natural underground water 

2. Does ventilation prevent wall seepage?

The proper ventilation allows for the admission of light and fresh air. It stops the development of mould and wall dampness.

3. How do you stop water seepage in concrete walls?

Wall seepages can be avoided using high-quality raw materials, water-resistant coatings, plastering, and contemporary procedures like damp-proofing, blasting, super grout, etc. Additionally, leaks, fractures, and fissures must be quickly found and fixed to prevent water seepage.

4. Is seepage in a wall hazardous to one’s health and property?

Water seepages cause the iron bars that serve as the foundation of homes and other structures to corrode. Long-term seepage can also cause bricks and stones to crumble, which can have a variety of negative effects on your house.