I have a customer that would like her basement finished. She used to have a water problem which was addressed by installing a french drain. Normally when I finish a basement I use rigid insulation, 2×4 walls (pt bottom plates) and then drywall.
Will this system cause any problems with the french drain system? Should I leave a small gap at the floor for better circulation behind the walls?
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No Help?
Anyone?
I used to be a landscaper now turned carpenter. In the midwest we call a french drain a large hole in the front or back yard. Approx. 6-8 ft. deep and 4-5 ft. wide were all the down spouts in the front or back are tied into with corragated drain tile. The hole is also about 20 ft. away from the house. The thing the other person is referring to is a swail used to catch surface water and channel it away from the house. The system you use will work fine if the outside system is kept clear.
Ok, I hear your cry for help! To me a french drain is a swale outside to catch surface water. I can't see that would affect the inside.
Explain, in 25 words or less.
If you mean something i/s to catch the water, then you've got problem.
cheers
***I'm a contractor - but I'm trying to go straight!***
Are you talking about "dry basement" system where they tench out the concrete and install drain tile to a sump and then cover it with concrete?
If so why would finishing the basment be any different.
It should end up with a system like a modern basement on the inside.
But won't have drail tile on the outside or vapor barrier under the slab. And probably no damp proofing.
I would check the slab and walls with some poly taped up and check for moisture coming through the concrete.
You got it! Its been trenched and the h/o said that stopped the problem. Good idea about the poly. I think I will do that. There was a smell of mildew in the basement when I got down there but i'm assuming thats from the knotty pine on the walls and will go away when they do.
I was considering also just using sleepers on the concrete walls but then I cant figure out how to install outlets.
Looking at u again, i wonder why rigid ins if u use framing? Either save the expense of Styro SM and stuff f/g ins in as per normal, or use Wallmate and skip the 2x4s
ciao for niao
I may be wrong but i was under the impression that rigid was the better insulation choice for basements.
What is Wallmate? I'm not familiar with it.
This system (to me) is more of a bandage then a fix. The way I understand it you trench around the foundation install a drain and it keeps water out of the basement. My problem with it is that it still allows water to run down the foundation to the footings and into that drain.
That is why I was concerned about excess moisture build up.
Edited 7/10/2005 2:53 pm ET by MSA1
Wallmate is stryofoam sheets with groves where you put in furing strips.I am not a pro, but I have done this twice. Once not knowing what I was doing, and the 2nd time sorta knowing what I was doing.And it basically agrees with Andy's article a while back.I used 2" EXP foam. sealed it top and bottom and edge to edge with greatstuff. So basically all moisture, if any thing less than a flood, will stay behind it.Then 1 5/8 steel stud walls in front and DW.
Okay, i've used wallmate before and was also considering using it for this job. I just didnt know what it was called. Thanks