ACK!! My basement is leaking!

odusgolp

So, if anyone can tell me anything about water in the basement (fixes for it, etc) I'd super appreciate it! I have a contractor coming to look at it this evening, but would love to have a clue about this stuff before he gets here.

Simply:

1100 sq foot poured concrete basement from the early 60's. No Sump Pump. Cracks in the floor. Walls are dry, but water is seeping up through the cracks in the floor. Pic below. We have had non-stop rain all week and the snow that just melted... It's very excessive and not normal, but a problem none-the-less.

I don't know if we're talking about just putting in a sump, or if this is a dig around the house and waterproof, blah blah blah. I'm very un-knowledgeable on this one... So whatever anyone can tell me

UsedToBeHusky

<<<< no expert

But I'm thinking you are going to have to put down some sealant at the very least.

odusgolp

<<<< no expert

But I'm thinking you are going to have to put down some sealant at the very least.

Also no expert, but I think the cement needs to be dug up and a sump pump installed at the very least... ??

tomomatic

Ummm... this may call for more foundation work. Do you know what the source of the water is? If it's from gutters not carrying away the water, than this is fixable/manageable. Good luck.

Unknown

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Unknown

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maab_connor

<<<< no expert

But I'm thinking you are going to have to put down some sealant at the very least.

Also no expert, but I think the cement needs to be dug up and a sump pump installed at the very least... ??

at the LEAST. don't mess w/ the foundation. if you have the ability to dig out and put in some wicking and a french drain system, that would be best. but at the LEAST you need to jackhammer up the cement, get in a sump pump and re-pour a properly-graded floor.

kikicooks

We just had waterproofing in our basement done last week. Our water came in through wall cracks, not the floor though. From the way things were explained to me it seems you may need done what we just got done though. Sealing cracks will help but will just force water to try to get through somewhere else. We had pipes put in along the perimeter of the whole basement, leading to a sump pump. Maybe you won't need something as extensive but if so, be prepared for it to be costly. Good luck!

gr8grl68

We had water in the basement and my husband fixed it by using the hydraulic cement and then used a paint that acts as a membrane to keep water out. We also re-routed some of our downspouts outside to keep water further away from the house. We already have a french drain as well (and no sump pump) and we are nice and dry. If you don't have actual standing water in the basement, I would do the most economical thing first to see if that takes care of the problem. Also--don't ignore the gutters--they play a huge role in keeping water out of the basement.

kikicooks

Also--don't ignore the gutters--they play a huge role in keeping water out of the basement.

Agreed! Keep the gutters clog free and have the downspouts emptying water at least 4 feet away from your house.

tomomatic

If you owned the house, I would recommend making sure that all the rain water is directed away from your foundation to prevent further damage. But the fact that water is already seeping upwards kinda suggests that it might be too late for this.

1. Sump pump - you should absolutely have one if your house is located below sea level.
2. Gutters - make sure that they aren't clogged. Consider getting a gutter system that's capped so leaves/squirrels don't try to build nests in it.
3. If you're downhill from another house, or street, make sure that the water is directed AROUND the house and not pooling around your house. This may require some landscaping/regrading soil.
4. Make sure that the drainage for the sump pumps and gutters don't empty out right next to the house. I had this issue with my house. The water was just going in a circle. A simple corrugated pipe can carry the water away.

odusgolp

Also--don't ignore the gutters--they play a huge role in keeping water out of the basement.

Agreed! Keep the gutters clog free and have the downspouts emptying water at least 4 feet away from your house.

I DO know that the gutters aren't the problem here, it's the mass amounts of rain that it's literally seeping up through the floor.

It was dry before this but deathly dry weather last summer....


Here's the rub, I'm currently renting this house and was just starting to pursue purchasing it as the landlord wants to sell. So frankly, finding this problem now before I even go to a bank is certainly in my favor. I can't purchase a house with a foundation problem, plain & simple.

kikicooks

Also--don't ignore the gutters--they play a huge role in keeping water out of the basement.

Agreed! Keep the gutters clog free and have the downspouts emptying water at least 4 feet away from your house.

I DO know that the gutters aren't the problem here, it's the mass amounts of rain that it's literally seeping up through the floor.

It was dry before this but deathly dry weather last summer....


Here's the rub, I'm currently renting this house and was just starting to pursue purchasing it as the landlord wants to sell. So frankly, finding this problem now before I even go to a bank is certainly in my favor. I can't purchase a house with a foundation problem, plain & simple.

Good to know the problem now! Looks like the lanlord needs to get this fixed if he wants to sell or drop his price so the buyer can take care of it. Hope it all works out...