A Leak in a Concrete Wall After Jackhammering

Using Jackhammer

• Jackhammers are useful for activities such as breaking up a concrete slab patio or steps outside your home. If possible, use the jackhammer only when you're not working directly against your house, as doing so increases the risk of causing damage to your concrete foundation. Use the jackhammer to break up the edges of the concrete slab furthest from your home and finish the job with a sledgehammer and chisel.

Home Inspector

• Upon detecting a leak in the concrete wall in your home, contact a home inspector to examine the damage. Damage to a home's foundation can be a serious matter than can cost a substantial amount of money to fix. The home inspection will be able to give you an idea of how severe the damage appears to be and what course of action you should take to repair it.

Patching Concrete

• Repairing a concrete wall is a substantial job for which you might wish to hire a contractor. You or the contractor must dig out all the dirt around the affected area to determine the scope of the issue. You can then use special concrete designed for patchwork to patch the cracks. After mixing the concrete with water, apply it with a putty knife and allow it to dry for the specified amount of time. When the patch is dry, replace the dirt around the home. You can also buy special compounds that you inject directly into the cracks to seal them.

Repairing Drywall

• If the leak in the concrete wall has led to water damage inside your home, you will need to repair it, too. Wet drywall can lead to mold issues in your home. Indoor water damage is likely if the inside of the basement wall if finished with drywall. The drywall will show large water marks, indicating the water damage. Cut out the damp drywall, remove and replace any wet insulation in the wall and patch the drywall with mud, tape and a new piece of drywall.