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Concrete Foundation Leaks Under the Top Plate

Leaks into the basement or crawl space from beneath the sill plate -- which is the treated wood plate that fits on top of the foundation wall -- are probably the result of faulty workmanship. The top of a foundation wall isn’t perfectly even, but the contractor should level large gaps with mortar and install a moisture barrier between the wall and the sill plate. Even if a small gap remains, when siding is installed correctly, it extends below the sill plate, protecting the gap from water that can blow in during a storm. You’ll need some flashing to remedy the problem.

Things You'll Need

  • Chalk line
  • Nail bar
  • 3-inch flashing
  • Aviation snips
  • Hammer
  • 8d galvanized siding nails
  • Paint (optional)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Snap a chalk line 1/2 inch below the top of the concrete foundation wall, parallel to the bottom of the siding and extending the entire length of the wall from side to side.

    • 2

      Loosen the bottom piece of siding with a nail bar. If there is a starter strip beneath the bottom piece of siding, loosen it as well by slipping the flat end of the nail bar under the siding or starter strip and prying upward carefully. Pry the siding or starter strip no more than 1/4 inch away from the wall.

    • 3

      Slip a 6-foot strip of 3-inch flashing under the loosened siding or starter strip. Work the flashing upward until the bottom of the flashing is even with the chalk line.

    • 4

      Ask an assistant to hold the flashing steady while you nail the siding back in place, using 8d galvanized siding nails spaced 16 inches apart. Drive the nails about 3/4 inch up from the bottom of the siding.

    • 5

      Tap siding nails back into place. When you loosened the siding with the nail bar, it might have pulled some of the nails out slightly. When you push the siding back into place, the nail heads might still extend.

    • 6

      Repeat the process around the rest of the house, overlapping each strip of flashing about 2 inches over the previously installed strip.

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Exterior Home Repair
  1. My Kenmore Dishwasher Leaks at the Top Left of the Door
  2. What Causes Flaking on the Top of Concrete?
  3. How to Add a Knee Wall to the Top of an Eight-Foot Poured Concrete Foundation
  4. The Surface Is Crumbling on My Cement Block Foundation
  5. Is It OK to Put Flashing on Top of the Shingles on a Roof?
  6. How to Connect Trusses to the Top Plate
  7. My Basement Leaks Under the Deck
  8. How to Get the Pea Gravel to the Top of the Concrete
  9. Flashing Between the Brick Rowlock & the Vinyl Siding
  10. My Attached Porch Leaks
  11. How to Install Step Flashing Under Siding
  12. What Can Be Used to Level the Concrete Foundation Under a New Wood Floor?

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