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Got a client with a unique (at least to me) problem – a very slow, low- level water flow underneath her 1910 Denver “square” basement. It shows up in two convenient places: a storage room, and underneath the washing machine. I’ve checked to make sure that its not just a mis-directed downspout. The floor surface is 2″ of very low grade concrete, probably original to the house, and there is always a certain amount of dampness in these two areas (each approximately a foot square) that prevents any kind of flooring from being installed, which is what the client wants. Since I can’t redirect or stop the stream flow, my thinking is to turn the stream into an advantage. I’d like to cut a square hole in the floor, dig out the dirt down about 12 or 16 inches, fill the hole up with washed river rock, and install a heavy-duty plastic grate flush with the finished floor. This should provide a slight amount of additional moisture to the house (and we can use it here in Denver). Anyone got any other bright ideas?
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What's your specialty, Ken? It seems this would be sort of like the same thing in the bottom of a boat, but an engineer might be able to provide a more accurate analysis.
*I would look over the property for proper site drainage, (uphill) and see if it can't be diverted and eliminate the ground water in the basement. Water does not have to come just from the downspout and eaves.If site drainage is not able to be accomplished why not demo the floor, install drain tile, a sump, new floor and get rid of the water.Leaving the water in a old basement is not a recipe for a healthy basement and house to live in, no matter how clean it is.
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Wow. Perhaps you can dig it out along the full length and stock it with trout.
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Here's another idea. Had an uncle who built a sauna in an out building on his farm. In the building was a nat. spring. He formed up a small depression with an overflow and kept his beer in it. Hot sauna and cold beer. He did say he didn't stay in it too hot. Stayed more for the cold beer.
*tap the floor, put a spout on it, bottle it and sell it.
*I don't think I'd advocate cutting a hole and adding gravel for a drain...you may have a cork in a bottle, albeit a leaky cork.I would follow Anderson's advice and look for an outside source- perhaps take up the perimeter of the floor, and remove the water. Hot or cold springs are for health clubs...
*what about addressing the RADON GAS you will need to vent?
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Got a client with a unique (at least to me) problem - a very slow, low- level water flow underneath her 1910 Denver "square" basement. It shows up in two convenient places: a storage room, and underneath the washing machine. I've checked to make sure that its not just a mis-directed downspout. The floor surface is 2" of very low grade concrete, probably original to the house, and there is always a certain amount of dampness in these two areas (each approximately a foot square) that prevents any kind of flooring from being installed, which is what the client wants. Since I can't redirect or stop the stream flow, my thinking is to turn the stream into an advantage. I'd like to cut a square hole in the floor, dig out the dirt down about 12 or 16 inches, fill the hole up with washed river rock, and install a heavy-duty plastic grate flush with the finished floor. This should provide a slight amount of additional moisture to the house (and we can use it here in Denver). Anyone got any other bright ideas?