How to Use Quick-Drying Cement for Drainage Problems

Standard cement takes days to fully dry and become hardy enough to bear weight. Fast-drying cement takes only a few minutes, making it a much-favored alternative for most people when it comes to fixing water leaks in existing concrete caused by poor drainage. If water is not drained effectively, it will begin seeping through your walls and cause damage. By applying quick-drying cement to the leak, you prevent water from penetrating the surface and give yourself time to fix the drainage problem.

Trowel
Breathing mask
Gloves
Pail
Hammer
Chisel
Wire brush
Cement
Water

Instructions

- 1
  Locate the leaks in the existing cement. You should see a tiny to moderately small gap where water has been leaking through. Use a hammer and chisel to widen the gap so that’s it noticeably larger. Don’t widen it so much that you have a gaping hole, but enough that you can easily clean the crack with a wire brush. Thoro Consumer Products suggests a gap at least 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch.
- 2
  Prepare the crack by wetting it and scrubbing it with a wire brush. You may have to put a lot of effort into scrubbing so that you remove all oils and debris from the cement.
- 3
  Mix the cement to the manufacturer’s directions in a pail with a trowel. While all quick-setting cement hardens quickly, each manufacturer has varying directions on how much cement and how much water to mix. Wear gloves and a breathing mask when mixing the cement and always mix in a well-ventilated area.
- 4
  Apply the now-mixed cement to the gap in the wall with a trowel, smoothing it over to ensure it’s flush with the pre-existing cement. The wet cement will settle and harden within five to 10 minutes.

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