Outdoor basement issue

[Downaski]

Hi all! Need advice on how to seal the door of an outdoor basement to stop water from entering, despite the entrance being slightly elevated. Although the entrance is higher than the surrounding ground, heavy rains still cause water to seep into the basement. Any suggestions?

[TinyTool]

Hi there! Water seeping into the basement, even with an elevated entrance, can be quite a challenge. Have you checked the drainage situation outside the basement door? Poor drainage is often a primary culprit when water seeps into elevated areas during heavy rains. If water tends to pool near the entrance, it might be time to consider improving the drainage system. Installing a trench drain or French drain just outside the door can effectively redirect rainwater away from the basement, keeping the area dry. Additionally, you may want to ensure that the ground around the entrance slopes away from the door to prevent water from collecting near it. Proper grading combined with effective drainage can significantly reduce the risk of water infiltration. This, along with sealing the door frame, using a weatherproof threshold, and possibly adding a door sweep, should help tackle the issue. Let me know if drainage improvements are something you’ve considered or tried!

[Downaski]

Thanks for the suggestions! You're absolutely right, there’s no proper drainage outside the basement door, which I’m sure is the main issue. Adding something like a trench drain or French drain could be a great solution. Do you have any recommendations on which type of drainage system works best for this kind of problem?

[TinyTool]

You’re welcome! If there’s no proper drainage outside the door, a trench drain is probably one of the most effective solutions, especially if water tends to pool right at the entrance. It’s great for capturing water and directing it away from the house. French drains, on the other hand, work well for larger areas or if you need to deal with water accumulating further from the door.

If the problem is mainly around the door, I’d suggest starting with a trench drain. Make sure to position it slightly away from the entrance and slope it toward a safe drainage area or a dry well. You’ll also want to check the grading around the door to ensure water naturally flows toward the drain.

Have you noticed whether water pooling is more of a surface issue, or could it be seeping through the ground? That might help narrow down the best option!

[Downaski]

Thank you for the suggestion! A trench drain does sound like a solid option, especially since most of the water tends to pool right outside the basement door. As for your question, the water issue is mostly surface-level, so I’m thinking the trench drain will solve the majority of the problem.

Thanks again for your input! One more thing, do you think combining it with a catch basin would provide better results?