I recently began a basement family room for a client. I’d just finished the rough framing, and replacing the built up wood beam with steel, when the client called with water problems effectively halting production. The water is seeping in around the foundation walls in a couple spots, not everywhere. as I’ve just removed the drywall, I’ve found past evidence of water, but they’ve never had a problem.
I have to find a solution, other than digging up the entire perimeter of the foundation(if possible). There was an addition at one time, and they filled the original sump hole with plastic and concrete, I wonder if the first setp woulb be to try and re-activate use.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Such as the method of injecting the waterproofing around the outside of the foundation?
Replies
I'd excavate the sump hlole and find out what's in there. I can' imagine having a basement without having a way to get the water out.
Then I'd look outside to see how they're dealing with runoff from the house. Maybe they've changed something that's now causing the problem?
That's where I thought we should start, I checked the eavestrough (bad to non existent) they will be doing that first, and I checked the yard around the foundation and there is no pooling and the grade is decent around the house. I want to open the sump hole and put in a pump. I also forgot the jack post I removed under the B.U.W beam had water in it to the top of the slab(I haven't cut the post off yet). I was going to plug it with concrete. But I have the feeling the garvel unedr the slab is just saturated and with only one sump it can't keep up.
Any thoughts
Is the owner paying you for tracking down the water infiltration problem or is there an accusatory tone - hinting that you may have caused problem? Is time for detective work, and I concur with other opinions, about 90% of basement water infiltration is due to poor landscaping and water collecting near foundation. High water table will, of course, require sump pump. Look in interior for other signs of previous water infiltration. I'd go on the offensive (nicely of course) and provide owner with a number of options for addressing water problems - starting with landscaping/eave troughs/sump. Talk to neighbors and see if water has been a problem in the area. Some will be anxious to share info about their neighbor's home.
Remember the basic rule: Last man to work on anything gets blamed for everything!May sound cynical but it happens to many.
There is a dark side to the human condition and likely most have seen it. In my experience most folks will not admit to previous water problems (or any other problems associated with their homes), so you've got to protect your butt! Some time back I had a homeowner threaten suit against me because he said I ruined his well when I turned off the power to do some work. As ludicrous as it sounds, he was very serious. During my efforts to protect myself, and prepare for possible legal action, I came across a well driller who was familiar with the individual. The driller had told the owner about a year before that the well was shot and should be replaced - he saved me from a very expensive legal defense. I provided the owner with that information and never heard from him again!
Injecting material around home to combat water infiltration? Many years ago (20?) I read of such a method but not since. No doubt it ended up where it belongs - in disrepute.
Some thoughts - Randy Rogers (still Raynchylde but hopefully not much longer)
Ray,
I know what you mean about placing blame. There was a news story on the local TV station on Sunday evening about a man in a newly bought $350K home somewhere around Atlanta. His basement wound up with enough water in it to need a pump to get it out. The owner was upset and asked the builder to correct for the problem. Here is the problem in Georgia:
In the state of Georgia builders are not held accountable by the state for poor or bad decisions made by builders that cause severe consequences. This builder deliberately built the home well below grade and did nothing to control water into this owner's basement. Although logic and rational thinking would have immediately determined a proper course of action, many builders in Georgia are taking an unethical position in their practices because they have nothing to lose.
Compromise was attempted, but the several thousands of dollars quoted by a sub to control water from entering the home was something the builder flatly refused to pay. The best the builder was willing to do was pay half, and let the now-owner of the property pay the other half or all of it. Well, being a homeowner feeling like he was being taken advantage of, he got local recognition of his problem and is taking the builder to court. Of course, considering the state's position ...
This is only one of many thousands of similar cases in which builder's in Georgia get away with everything under the sun. I hope this sub doesn't become the victim of the owner's emotional consequences if the problem wasn't caused by his activities. Its just unfortunate that problems like this are typically left to run amuck when some states allow builders to practice in manners that are tantamount to malpractice. Sure, no one is going to die, but then again ...
Thanks for the input. The owner is defintely not laying any blame as they have had water before (as i've since learned) We just want to fix the problem before I finish a home theatre for him.I thouhgt along those same lines when it came to injecting a waterproofing. Cutting the channel and drilling into the base of the wall to manage water infiltration also seems drastict but may be the best solution. I will be opening the old sump hole to try and reactivate it as well.
Thanks again for the input!