I have client that has a home with a poured basement (1950’s) that leaks on occasion….at the floor/wall intersect and at assorted places on the surface of the wall. He wants me to assist and direct him in insulating and finishing the basement.
Gutter and landscape considerations have been addressed & corrected.
Currently the occasional water leak is readily handled by a shop vac.
I need some input on the design of the wall system to allow for water drainage, moisture evaporation and exclusion of water from the framing, insulation and wall finish. Floor will be epoxy coated with removalable area rugs where required.
Bill (client) and I have discussed several scenarios…..BUT we would like to have some experienced persons advice, or a good article/reference to help solidify our design.
Thanks……………..Iron Helix
Replies
Some people around here have used the plastic "baseboard" drain systems, with mixed results.
But if you have the entire basement vacant, I wonder if it wouldn't be best to simply cut it up and install tile under the floor. (At least if you can't dig down on the outside and install footing drains.)
My previous house was wet any time it rained. I hammered up the floor large enough for one of those plastic sump liners (about a 2' dia.)and put a float operated pump in it. Problem solved. I never had a drop of water again. Then I went on to finish the basement.
The liner and pump cost about $200.
You also might want to think about a back-up power source. Lots of rain and no power would spoil the party
Sounds like a forward pass to me: only 3 things can happen and 2 of them are bad.
"It is as hard for the good to suspect evil, as it is for the bad to suspect good."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)
If you don't mind, Bob, I think I'll add that one to my quiver!
That was one of the old line fpptball coaches, I forget which one ....
"It is as hard for the good to suspect evil, as it is for the bad to suspect good."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman, orator, writer (106-43 BCE)
Woody Hayes...
The Man, The Myth (not many of the stories are myth; most are true), The Legend
There was a discussion a while back (w/in 2 weeks) about basements and within that thread someone posted a site of a company (or organization) that dealt specifically with 'what's the best way to design a dry, warm basement'. They had about a 15 page whitepaper and one section dealt with retrofitting an already in place basement. It woudl eb worth the read.
One recommendation was to cut away the floor near the interior basement wall (18" along the inside perimeter) and install gravel and a drain line and then fill it up and re-concrete. Lot of work but it may be an option.
The site is building science . com.
http://tinyurl.com/5ncpn
Jon Blakemore
Great resources......I'm headed to Louisville today to see what we can work out at the site.
I'll check back in when we make some design progress.
Keep the good stuff Rolling In.......this site continues to always amaze me!
Thanks......Iron Helix & Bill
That's the one...really good info.
Woody Hayes, the man, the myth, the legend, and the mean right hook. :)
Guess where I went to college.
Clemson maybe? Or would it be "that school up north"? Gotta be one of the two.
If from Clemson... good for you. Great school.
If from that school up north... my sympathies. ;)
OK, I'll take a shot. Hopefully others add to my ideas. I'm thinking first a good concrete waterproofer on the walls and floor (ex...Dryloc, etc). Then, how about a perimeter drain system around the perimeter of the basement dumping into a sump pit to collect any moisture that does get in. You would frame your walls around the inside of the perimeter drain. Finally, use a product called dry-core as a subfloor under the carpet. It' ll keep the carpet dry even if the floor gets damp.
Edited 8/18/2004 5:16 pm ET by RICHIE921