While most homeowners are lucky enough to have basements that stay dry, there are some unlucky few whose basement windows flood with water after a rainstorm. If your window is one of those affected by this problem, don’t panic! With just a little bit of elbow grease and time, you can fix your flooded basement window, so it stays nice and dry. Here’s how!
Basements tend to get flooded when water seeps through cracks and holes in the window’s frame or walls. If this happens, you can fix your flooded basement window yourself instead of calling a professional. Fixing a flooded basement window isn’t too difficult and requires mostly common household tools such as pliers, sandpaper, caulking gun, and paint. Depending on where your window is located and what type of basement it is, you may need to do some painting or staining.
Tools:
* Hammer
* Pliers
* Sandpaper
* Caulking gun and caulk
* Paint and paintbrush (if necessary)
Steps you should Follow:
- Fixing a flooded basement window requires you to inspect your basement and the surrounding area. Map out the cracks and holes in your window frame, paint over them or use caulk to seal them off. If you do not plan on painting your windowpane, be sure to wipe it down before applying it to caulk. Next, take a small nail and hammer it into any loose bricks around your window’s frame. This will give you a solid base to work off of.
- Turn your attention towards the window itself. If it is broken, either due to flooding or age, be sure to take it out. Place any loose pieces in a safe place, so they don’t get lost during this process. Don’t forget about any pieces that are still stuck within the window’s frame. Once your window is out, be sure to wash it down with water and soap so you can see exactly what type of damage has been done.
- Once you know where the damage is, sand away any rust or corrosion in these areas, sandpaper may also help you remove loose pieces in your window’s frame. You are now ready to apply the caulk. Caulking is a beneficial tool in any repair job, so be sure to use it generously for this project. If the window frame has any cracks at all, seal them up tightly with caulk. Next, take your caulking gun and layer caulk over bare metal or wood on your window’s frame. Be sure to smooth it out evenly and make sure there aren’t any bare spots.
- Now that your window is ready, you can put it back up in its frame. First, take your caulk tube and gently squirt a small amount of caulking over the top lip of the window’s frame. Next, carefully push the window back into place, taking care not to scratch it. Hold the window tightly in place with one hand and use your other hand to position the caulking tube over where you just smeared caulk. Squirt a generous amount of caulking around this area. Smooth out the caulk with your finger to make sure it isn’t visible after you are done.
Fixing a flooded basement window won’t take you very long at all, so don’t be afraid to give it a try if your window gets damaged! If the frame is broken in multiple places but not in a way that can easily be fixed in this process, it may be a good idea to replace the window altogether. If you aren’t sure where to start when choosing a new window, visit your local hardware or home improvement store for water damage restoration!
