NFT: Basement Leaking through Foundation

RadonSeal Deep-Penetrating Concrete Sealers

I’d hire a oroessional and do it right.

While I would hire a professional, they won’t come for a month or more. I may try and then hire if it doesn’t work

Also weirdly enough , can be the sign of a very well built old home, foundation gives in the right ways instead of fatally cracking one day it just gives to the water which will always win the test of time

and water works to find a way though the pores.

if you care the best solution is to install an interior french drain and a sump pump.

I did this and it worked 100%.

I had crack-ex and other foundation repair people come and paid them hundreds and it would work for one storm and then I'd have water the next one as the water is powerful and finds ways to get in.

The interior french drain cost me around $10,000 but i haven't seen a drop of water since and we've had some historical rain and massive snow melts

Now, after three years of zero drops of water I finished my basement, but if you don't have anything valuable down there or don't care to finish it then might not be necessary for you.

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ground is saturated and it has nowhere to go but up. Sealants and “water tight” paints won’t do it. Your best bet is French drains and pumps which relive the upward pressure of the water. If you ever plan on finishing the basement, don’t half ass it with some other approach. Nothing worse that sweating water in your finished basement every time it rains. And do it before you finish any part of the basement.

Many times a simple drainage correcting will work wonders. Start with the downspouts from your gutters, are these pitched away from your house. If these are buried do you know where they go and is the outlet open. Try running water through them and walking your property perimeter if you don’t know where they exit. While your at it are your gutters clean and working properly. If water is pitched towards your house maybe it can be graded differently. If it isn’t those little catch basins and some 4 inch pipe can also work. A 4 ft level and a shovel and start digging if there’s a lower spot on your property. Good luck.

I’m probably going to try the patch and waterproofing approach for the temporary solution. Then look into longer term solutions like French drains.

What type of contractor would you approach for this type of solution?

In comment 14036452 thomasa510 said:

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I’m probably going to try the patch and waterproofing approach for the temporary solution. Then look into longer term solutions like French drains. What type of contractor would you approach for this type of solution?

A french drain around the perimeter of your basement is not hard to do. It is a DIY project if you research it well enough. You can also rent the tools from Home Depot

In comment 14036490 EricJ said:

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In comment 14036452 thomasa510 said: Quote: I’m probably going to try the patch and waterproofing approach for the temporary solution. Then look into longer term solutions like French drains. What type of contractor would you approach for this type of solution? A french drain around the perimeter of your basement is not hard to do. It is a DIY project if you research it well enough. You can also rent the tools from Home Depot

Are you sure you mean the same thing? Exterior french drain maybe, but interior?

I watched the guys do it at my house they jack hammered around the entire inside of the basement floor ending at the sump pump, to about a foot deep maybe 6 inches wide, with the right slope so water flowed where they wanted (toward the sump pump), put down gravel and sand and filled over with concrete level with the basement floor so you can't even really tell there is a french drain. Additionally they put up a vapor barrier along the walls and silicon over the french drain area to repel moisture (I could handle those last two)

Seems like outside of most people's DIY capabilities. I mean I'm maybe not the best gauge, I can do anything that I have good directions for and all the right tools to do, but this seems hard and I wouldn't even attempt it. I'd end at jackhammering which was step 1.

In comment 14036507 pjcas18 said:

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In comment 14036490 EricJ said: Quote: In comment 14036452 thomasa510 said: Quote: I’m probably going to try the patch and waterproofing approach for the temporary solution. Then look into longer term solutions like French drains. What type of contractor would you approach for this type of solution? A french drain around the perimeter of your basement is not hard to do. It is a DIY project if you research it well enough. You can also rent the tools from Home Depot Are you sure you mean the same thing? Exterior french drain maybe, but interior? I watched the guys do it at my house they jack hammered around the entire inside of the basement floor ending at the sump pump, to about a foot deep maybe 6 inches wide, with the right slope so water flowed where they wanted (toward the sump pump), put down gravel and sand and filled over with concrete level with the basement floor so you can't even really tell there is a french drain. Additionally they put up a vapor barrier along the walls and silicon over the french drain area to repel moisture (I could handle those last two) Seems like outside of most people's DIY capabilities. I mean I'm maybe not the best gauge, I can do anything that I have good directions for and all the right tools to do, but this seems hard and I wouldn't even attempt it. I'd end at jackhammering which was step 1.

yeah I was talking about interior. I know you need to cut a 6 inch trench. Then a 3 foot deep hole too for the sump pump. A plastic barrel, gravel, etc. It is not rocket surgery. You never used a jackhammer before PJ?

If the alternative is $10k.. I am doing it myself.

I grew up in the "city" in an apartment most of my life (in fact moving almost every year until college - single mother). I never even used really a lawnmower or weed whacker until I was an adult.

I did some laborer jobs, put in pools, paving, etc. but I never operated any machinery, I was always "the labor"

So like I said if I get good instructions and have the tools I can do it, otherwise I'm not the best gauge about what is doable for DIY stuff.

Friends of mine rent backhoes and bobcats for various landscaping work I'm just not comfortable learning when my house is the "lab" or classroom.

And I also had some bad experiences with electrical and plumbing stuff I tried that was supposed to be simple but I wound up creating near disasters, LOL, so I learned my limitations.

In comment 14036572 pjcas18 said:

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I grew up in the "city" in an apartment most of my life (in fact moving almost every year until college - single mother). I never even used really a lawnmower or weed whacker until I was an adult. I did some laborer jobs, put in pools, paving, etc. but I never operated any machinery, I was always "the labor" So like I said if I get good instructions and have the tools I can do it, otherwise I'm not the best gauge about what is doable for DIY stuff. Friends of mine rent backhoes and bobcats for various landscaping work I'm just not comfortable learning when my house is the "lab" or classroom. And I also had some bad experiences with electrical and plumbing stuff I tried that was supposed to be simple but I wound up creating near disasters, LOL, so I learned my limitations.

yeah I understand. It is not for everyone.

In comment 14036572 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

I grew up in the "city" in an apartment most of my life (in fact moving almost every year until college - single mother). I never even used really a lawnmower or weed whacker until I was an adult. I did some laborer jobs, put in pools, paving, etc. but I never operated any machinery, I was always "the labor" So like I said if I get good instructions and have the tools I can do it, otherwise I'm not the best gauge about what is doable for DIY stuff. Friends of mine rent backhoes and bobcats for various landscaping work I'm just not comfortable learning when my house is the "lab" or classroom. And I also had some bad experiences with electrical and plumbing stuff I tried that was supposed to be simple but I wound up creating near disasters, LOL, so I learned my limitations.

I can relate. My attempt to save $10K would result in having to hire a pro for $20K to correct my mistakes. LOL. Besides not really having the expertise, I don't have a lot of time available to be doing anything around the house that isn't quick and easy.

and do you have extensions that directs water at least 5 feet from house?

sounds like a B dry system. water outside the foundation wall is channeled through footings of foundation, then pumped out?

You might get away with doing some excavation on the outside of the house.

I've seen that done. Expose foundation wall, then use plastic of vinyl sheeting. Have also seen it done with spatch & tar (I think).

Temporary is okay but you often cannot fix these things w/interior patching alone.

expense of installing a drain and sump pump include a battery back up system. Many severe storms come with temporary power loss.

If you do not have experience using a jackhammer, do not attempt to do the work yourself!
I have worked for Connecticut basement systems for many years, dealing with your problem is what we do.
My advice is to call a professional, the problem will only get worse the longer you wait.

In comment 14036490 EricJ said:

Quote:

In comment 14036452 thomasa510 said: Quote: I’m probably going to try the patch and waterproofing approach for the temporary solution. Then look into longer term solutions like French drains. What type of contractor would you approach for this type of solution? A french drain around the perimeter of your basement is not hard to do. It is a DIY project if you research it well enough. You can also rent the tools from Home Depot

Water flow is my business too. If you can DIY without killing yourself or making the problem worse, go ahead and try. This can get tricky because of soil conditions so if you have the slightest worry about your ability, hire a pro.

Things you need to look for: depth to water table, shallow clay or hard pan layers, shallow bedrock. Sealing cracks in the foundation is a good start, but if the water is always in contact, eventually the problem will occur again.

In comment 14036235 pjcas18 said:

Quote:

and water works to find a way though the pores. if you care the best solution is to install an interior french drain and a sump pump. I did this and it worked 100%. I had crack-ex and other foundation repair people come and paid them hundreds and it would work for one storm and then I'd have water the next one as the water is powerful and finds ways to get in. The interior french drain cost me around $10,000 but i haven't seen a drop of water since and we've had some historical rain and massive snow melts Now, after three years of zero drops of water I finished my basement, but if you don't have anything valuable down there or don't care to finish it then might not be necessary for you.

I did this as well. A year after we bought our house I discovered streamers and others areas where water was coming through. It was an annoyance that had the potential to be a big problem over time since we had a half finished basement.

We pulled the trigger and have not had a problem since, especially this year considering we’ve had 7 inches of rain over the 7 weeks. Piece of mind was worth the time and inconvenience.