Hello to all. i have attached a drawing of a section of our basement in our 1938 vintage home. the old well has been sealed off in this little room. we get rainwater coming into the basement thru the block walls. we are wondering the best solution to this. the block walls in the little room are pretty dingy, moldy, etc. i havent had much experience with this type of problem so im not sure where to start.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
There are a number of ways to achieve a level foundation and mudsill.
Featured Video
How to Install Cable Rail Around Wood-Post CornersHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I would guess, maybe wrong, that there is no downspout in that corner of the porch-so we might be able to rule that out as a source.
However, many of those - cold room - type spaces below even covered porches seem to draw a leak. Most often you can look to the joint of concrete slab/wall. Further, if settling has occured there might be an entry point where the porch wall joins the basement foundation wall.
Best of luck.
A great place for Information, Comraderie, and a sucker punch.
Remodeling Contractor just outside the Glass City.
http://www.quittintime.com/
1. Check your downs spouts - are they draining too close to the house?
2. Is there weeping tile at the footings? If not, put'em in! If so, is it functioning properly? Is there any blockages?
3. Trench around the house and install Delta MS Membrane against the foundation. Install weeping tile at the same time.
Dave
I have a cold room under the concrete front steps. When we first moved there, it leaked real bad during any rain. The house needed tuckpointing, and I explained the problem to my mason. He repaired some cracks around the stairs and it's been dry for 5 years now.
1. Direct rainwater well away from the house. Add downspout extensions if necessary. (The plastic, telescoping ones are convenient because they can be moved when needed without detaching). Install gutters and downspouts where they are needed, if dripping is a problem.
2. Sealing/waterproofing the interior wall won't work for long--the hydropressure of water from outside will push off any interior sealant. Waterproofing works on exterior walls only (water will push the sealant ON to the exterior wall) if you're willing/able to dig. A trench would have to be dug to a level below the foundation and drainage stone added so water drains to a level below the bottom of the the foundation wall and floor.
3. If you can't stop water from entering, a perimeter trench can be dug in the basement to collect water as it comes in. The water is then carried to a sump or drain in the floor. Danger here is that the floor can crack if it isn't thick enough to withstand jackhammering, and the process creates a lot of dust. The trench is lined and then covered with a grill.
4. Use a dehumidifier to deal with moisture coming through the walls. Below 50 percent humidity, mold cannot grow.
5. If you have anything in your basement that draws air, such as a clothes dryer or furnace, be sure you provide an in vent to pull that air directly from the outside, not through/from your damp basement walls.
thanks so much for the info... i like the trench idea, is there any other product that will do the same thing without diging a trench? i thought i remembered a gutter (?)type product that goes around the perimeter on the floor, i could research it i suppose on the net.
Yes, I've seen that interior gutter-type device somewhere, too--maybe the This Old House website? But I suspect that it, too, would need to be sunk below floor level to be effective, otherwise water that seeps into the basement between the wall and floor could go under it and not be caught. I wonder if the gutter-type device isn't just a fancy (and possibly more costly?) trench solution?If your water problem is just in the one small area, maybe all you need is a sump hole and pump right there, and slope the floor slightly down to it? We got a lot of good information (that I've just passed on to you) from an independent contractor recommended by someone on our neighborhood email group/listserve. (I'd posted a query looking for someone--great way to find dependable service people.) I have a feeling a basement waterproofing contractor would have sold us on some expensive and ultimately ineffective treatment of the interior walls. The guy we found was honest about what would work and what wouldn't. But the cost of even the cheapest solution was pretty steep, so for the moment we've decided to live with the water that comes in. It only appears in heavy rain, and it's not so bad that it will flood the basement.
"But the cost of even the cheapest solution was pretty steep, so for the moment we've decided to live with the water that comes in. It only appears in heavy rain, and it's not so bad that it will flood the basement."
yup, that is the boat we are in. the water doesnt flood the basement, just gets the floor wet near our washer/dryer & we have to squeegie it into the drain. the rest of the basement gets moist on the walls, but dont leak standing water. i can probably route the water that comes in this room to a drain near by it with a caulk "gutter" on the floor...
Edited 10/24/2007 5:00 pm ET by jimscustomwoodworks
Sounds like a good, inexpensive approach and worth trying. I forgot to mention that we lessened the amount of water coming in by caulking along the exterior where the foundation and driveway meet with a driveway joint caulk.