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How important is grading? I'm getting some water seeping in (only in one area) during heavy rain, and it looks like grading may be an issue.
I looked at Jersey Dry's website. For your job, are they digging the outside of the foundation or something else? Can you tell me what they're doing and the approximate cost? I haven't spoken with anyone yet and am trying to get an idea of cost and type of work involved.
Grading can be critical. Should aim for 5% fall for the first 10 feet from the structure in all directions, where possible, which is 6" elevation drop from the face of the foundation/exterior grade interface. Rule of thumb thereafter is to achieve 2% fall away from the structure across the rest of your property. You don't want grade sloping downward toward your foundation or even flat/level grade. The hydrostatic pressure after heavy rains can really stress your foundation and the subsurface water will look to go somewhere (i.e. seep into the wall through small cracks).
Exterior foundation waterproofing is the way to go. Any other way you have to "invite" the water in just to pump it out.
I think that's my problem. It looks pretty much flat on the side of the house that's getting seepage, only after really heavy rain.
So just use dirt for grading? Won't water penetrate that?
Try to get that side sloped downward rather than flat and then see if you can grade a shallow swale perpendicular to this slope that runs either toward the front or toward the back to direct surface runoff away from the immediate area.
Exterior foundation waterproofing is the way to go. Any other way you have to "invite" the water in just to pump it out.
How far down do u have to dig? I assume to bottom of basement floor?100 % on the money
I did the exterior wall waterproofing on my house (front & 2 sides) including perforated pipes leading to a exterior sump pump. It worked like a charm. 6 years without a drop or any dampness The material costs less than $3K and I used high-end materials.
good luck.
How far down do u have to dig? I assume to bottom of basement floor?
How far down do u have to dig? I assume to bottom of basement floor?
I live in Hillsborough and get dampness and mildew on a cinder block wall in my basement. Has anyone used a company they'd recommend using or not using?
Thanks in advance. I wanted to get this in before the season starts.
How far down do u have to dig? I assume to bottom of basement floor?
French drain is the Swiss Army knife.Bumping this - So has anyone had any work done to there basements because of water issues? French drains seem to be the most popular. My basement is half crawl half unfinished. I have about a 1.5" gap between the basement floor and wall. There are some weep holes drilled already. Certain ones bring in more water then others. Sometimes in the crawl I get some water that seems to be coming from under the floor. I am more concerned with the non crawl area though. I realize both are an issue. All my downspouts are extended 10' from the house.
I know you can seal the walls from the outside but this option is more expensive and requires digging up a paver patio that was installed already when I moved in. I dont wanna go this route. Another option is a french drain outside the house. I read this should not be directly up along the foundation but a few feet away as if there was ever an issue with this and it was right against your house all the water would be against your foundation.
As for a french drain inside there are so many options. Most are the slotted drainage pipe, some are the crate style. Some go on the footer and some say go below the footer? I've watched a bunch of videos the last few days on this. It seems like every other company says one is right and the other is wrong. Im also looking to upgrade my sump pump and get a battery back up.
Any time I finish a basement (one of our businesses is construction) we do a French drain along the perimeter of the foundation and at least one sump pump (two if we can fit it in different locations) with a water powered backup incase power ever knocks out.Bumping this - So has anyone had any work done to there basements because of water issues? French drains seem to be the most popular. My basement is half crawl half unfinished. I have about a 1.5" gap between the basement floor and wall. There are some weep holes drilled already. Certain ones bring in more water then others. Sometimes in the crawl I get some water that seems to be coming from under the floor. I am more concerned with the non crawl area though. I realize both are an issue. All my downspouts are extended 10' from the house.
I know you can seal the walls from the outside but this option is more expensive and requires digging up a paver patio that was installed already when I moved in. I dont wanna go this route. Another option is a french drain outside the house. I read this should not be directly up along the foundation but a few feet away as if there was ever an issue with this and it was right against your house all the water would be against your foundation.
As for a french drain inside there are so many options. Most are the slotted drainage pipe, some are the crate style. Some go on the footer and some say go below the footer? I've watched a bunch of videos the last few days on this. It seems like every other company says one is right and the other is wrong. Im also looking to upgrade my sump pump and get a battery back up.
I bought my house over 40 years ago and got water when we had a 3 inch rain or so.French drain is the Swiss Army knife.
Yes , building code textbook is seal and membrane properly on the outside.
But a French drain gets the job done. That’s why it’s been around so long and still used.
As I mentioned I have an interior French drainMy landscaper screwed me. One of His guy left my hose on for 45 mins running on the side of my house. Got so much water in the basement. Problem is now that water found a way in whenever I get a heavy rain it finds that way in. Was crazy mad. Finished basement too.
All this foundation and membrane type stuff looks crazy expensive. Hand digging a trench with a half dozen guys. What!
I was thinking of maybe one of those interior French drains and sump pump. I’m don’t want to start excavating the outside of my house.
That's horrible what they did. Since I moved into my house in 2014 it seems to be getting worse. I never actually got water on the basement floor itself but need to fix the issue before it does happen. For the exterior they either hand dig or use a machine. This is definitely more expensive and invasive then doing one inside. The main problem is the water will still come in now your just depending on the inside one working properly.My landscaper screwed me. One of His guy left my hose on for 45 mins running on the side of my house. Got so much water in the basement. Problem is now that water found a way in whenever I get a heavy rain it finds that way in. Was crazy mad. Finished basement too.
All this foundation and membrane type stuff looks crazy expensive. Hand digging a trench with a half dozen guys. What!
I was thinking of maybe one of those interior French drains and sump pump. I’m don’t want to start excavating the outside of my house.
Don't forget about planting trees and shrubs. Their job is to suck up water and if you are cutting down big trees around your home that also cuts off a major resource for soaking up wetness. My Dad used to do French drains outside the house with drainage pits etc. Drywells are becoming popular and sometimes mandatory in a lot of towns depending on the size and scope of the project.That's horrible what they did. Since I moved into my house in 2014 it seems to be getting worse. I never actually got water on the basement floor itself but need to fix the issue before it does happen. For the exterior they either hand dig or use a machine. This is definitely more expensive and invasive then doing one inside. The main problem is the water will still come in now your just depending on the inside one working properly.
Grading is a big factor for the outside. My paver patio that was installed before I moved in does not have proper pitch on the back side of my house. The other side that has an issue my neighbors yard I can tell by looking at is higher then mine. That side would be easier to regrade then the paver side. An exterior french drain is an option as well.
I have one company coming tomorrow afternoon for my first quote.
Backup battery or water line pressure.If you don’t have the pitch then French drain is really the best choice. Then pray the power stays on in a big rain event. Otherwise your basement will flood again in that scenario unless you have a generator for backup.
having a sump pump that you know is used frequently and NOT having a car battery back up is nonsensical...also be aware of the condenstation pump if you have forced hot air heating sustem.in basement ir attic,,.one of them went and cause a headache...the new designs automatically turn your furnace off if the condenstation pump fails...Backup battery or water line pressure.
Battery gets you a few hours
Water line works if you don’t have a well. Battery is good but I did the gravity drain because power was out for 2 weeks during Sandy. It’s a matter of risk tolerance I guess.Backup battery or water line pressure.
Battery gets you a few hours
With the water powered sump pump I believe u need to have at least 60psi incoming and a 1/2” water line pipe. When u say “gravity drain” is this on the outside of your home? I think this is the same think as a French drain along the outside, just a different name? Two weeks oof, I was a few days after Sandy and it felt like forever.Water line works if you don’t have a well. Battery is good but I did the gravity drain because power was out for 2 weeks during Sandy. It’s a matter of risk tolerance I guess.
My friend just did one. Seemed like a decent company . But they were slow as crap took them about 6 or 7 days. I think he paid 10k for a 1,000 square foot basement.Ended up getting an interior French drain installed on Thursday and Friday. I got a bunch of quotes and ended up going with the most expensive one. I got a better deal paying in cash. It was a process as the crew showed up late both days and were here to past 7 the first day and around 8 the next day. The English language was barely spoken by the job foreman and the rest of the crew I could not communicate with at all. Sucked
The ended up jackhammering away from the basement walls and putting 4" triple wall pipe along the footer. They put a mud guard and sock around the pipe. Covered it with stope then topped with concrete. Got a new 1/2 HP sump and battery backup. There is a cover on my sump now so I cant tell how high the water level is. Im not a huge fan of this. With my old set up (the pump was 14 years old) I was able to see if it was about to overflow at least. Hopefully I wont have to worry about it though and it will work as should.
Now I gotta repaint the block walls and floor. Already started scrapping all the loose paint off the walls. Lots of effervescent on the one wall. A bunch of weep holes were drilled so hopefully that does not happen again. I heard a bunch of pros and cons about using a water proof paint on the interior walls. Not sure what to use for this?
I had a quote for an exterior French drain and the price was about 10k over what I thought it may be. The contractor also wanted it to drain near my shed and that is already a low point in my yard. I declined this option.