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Ever since we moved into our house 16 years ago, we've had a problem with water getting into our basement during and after heavy rains. We plan on selling the house next spring, and want to get the problem fixed once and for all.
We had water coming in from the joints where the floor meets the walls, and it would happen in various areas of the basement. I surmised that we might have drain tile that was clogged (our house is 70+ years old), so I had the interior drain tile replaced, and the weep holes going through the block to the outside cleaned out. The old drain tile and weep holes were indeed completely clogged.
That did the trick except for two areas: the northwest corner of the house, and the room under the rear stoop. We had a very heavy rain last evening, and water came in from both areas.
The northwest corner is a grading problem. The soil in the yard has settled, so we need to build up the grade.
The room under the stoop is a different matter. The stoop extends away from the house about six feet, and there's sidewalk running parallel to the house that abuts the stoop. So there's areas of soil to either side of the stoop that are surrounded by the foundation, the stoop, and the sidewalk.
Years ago I ran the downspouts from the house underground and out to the streets. One of these is next to the stoop.
My idea for a solution to the stoop problem is to remove much of the soil on either side of the stoop, grade it away from the house and the stoop, lay down heavy plastic sheeting, and attach the sheeting to the house, stoop and sidewalks with a waterproof caulk or adhesive. I've seen this done before.
I would then have a "gully" in this right up by the sidewalk, and put drain tile wrapped in yard fabric in that gully, cover with gravel, then with sand. The drain tile ("french drain") would attach to the underground pipes I already have running out to the street. I would then put down topsoil and sod over that.
To help take water away from the stoop area, I'd also do the same thing on the side of the sidewalk away from the house, and join that french drain into the underground drain pipes.
I'd really appreciate anyone's comments, advice or tales of experience with this type of plan.
We had water coming in from the joints where the floor meets the walls, and it would happen in various areas of the basement. I surmised that we might have drain tile that was clogged (our house is 70+ years old), so I had the interior drain tile replaced, and the weep holes going through the block to the outside cleaned out. The old drain tile and weep holes were indeed completely clogged.
That did the trick except for two areas: the northwest corner of the house, and the room under the rear stoop. We had a very heavy rain last evening, and water came in from both areas.
The northwest corner is a grading problem. The soil in the yard has settled, so we need to build up the grade.
The room under the stoop is a different matter. The stoop extends away from the house about six feet, and there's sidewalk running parallel to the house that abuts the stoop. So there's areas of soil to either side of the stoop that are surrounded by the foundation, the stoop, and the sidewalk.
Years ago I ran the downspouts from the house underground and out to the streets. One of these is next to the stoop.
My idea for a solution to the stoop problem is to remove much of the soil on either side of the stoop, grade it away from the house and the stoop, lay down heavy plastic sheeting, and attach the sheeting to the house, stoop and sidewalks with a waterproof caulk or adhesive. I've seen this done before.
I would then have a "gully" in this right up by the sidewalk, and put drain tile wrapped in yard fabric in that gully, cover with gravel, then with sand. The drain tile ("french drain") would attach to the underground pipes I already have running out to the street. I would then put down topsoil and sod over that.
To help take water away from the stoop area, I'd also do the same thing on the side of the sidewalk away from the house, and join that french drain into the underground drain pipes.
I'd really appreciate anyone's comments, advice or tales of experience with this type of plan.
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