Protect your home from water leaks with low-cost remedies and simple sealing techniques

As the rainy season continues in Mexico City, water saturation can cause serious damage to homes. For people working with limited budgets, construction guides and recommendations shared on social media offer several ways to deal with leaks.

TikTok user @primaveratun recommends an inexpensive homemade mixture for repairing cracks: two kilograms of tile adhesive, two kilograms of cement, one liter of white glue and water added gradually until the mixture fills roughly half a bucket. Users responding to the video also mentioned high-temperature silicone as a possible complement.

Technical guides on waterproofing and sealants point to acrylic plastic cement as another option. The material comes ready to apply and is designed to seal cracks, joints and other points where water commonly enters. It can be used before waterproofing, helping close small openings in a roof before the final protective coating is applied.

The article emphasizes that waterproofing alone is not enough. Proper surface preparation plays a major role. A housing-maintenance manual from Mexico’s Federal Consumer Protection Agency says persistent leaks can lead to mold, bad odors and deterioration of plaster, concrete, wood and paint.

The recommended process begins by identifying the source. Direct leaks often leave yellow or black stains that appear with rainfall, while condensation-related dampness comes from trapped vapor in bathrooms and kitchens. Surface cracks should be cleaned with a wire brush to remove dust, mold and loose waterproofing, then filled with plastic cement or polyurethane sealant and left to dry. In severely damaged areas, an acrylic waterproofing layer, reinforcement mesh and a second coating can provide focused protection. Clearing leaves, rubbish and soil from drains and downpipes before the rains also helps prevent standing water from degrading roof coatings.