Basement drainage?
#1
03-21-19, 02:56 PM
Basement drainage?
So I want to finish off our laundry room in the basement. A few times a year we get a bit of water in this room with a very heavy rain from an unusual direction so I've done some outside work and now it is time for the inside. The exterior walls are cinder block, they had been painted at one time (the home is 70 years old) so I've scrapped them and will plug any holes with Fast Plug and then a couple of coats of Drylok. After that I will stud the room out. On one of the exterior walls there was what I thought was something curious - like a plastic baseboard. I ripped it out and find out it seemed to be some sort of drainage dirverter if that makes sense. Unlike other exterior walls, after taking the plastic out, there was a 1/2" gap between the concrete slab and the exterior wall with dirt at the bottom of the slight trench.
I'm think of plugging this gap with Fast Plug - any thoughts on that? Here's a picture:
I'm think of plugging this gap with Fast Plug - any thoughts on that? Here's a picture:
#2
03-21-19, 04:18 PM
Group Moderator
If you still have any water seepage at all...... I would not recommend covering it up.
Patching the holes will just make the water come out somewhere else.
Patching the holes will just make the water come out somewhere else.
#3
03-22-19, 01:40 AM
Member
I ripped it out and find out it seemed to be some sort of drainage dirverter
#4
03-22-19, 06:45 AM
The bottom of the picture is showing the concrete slab (floor). It almost meets the wall but there is a gap of about ½” before the wall (cinder block and the red which appears to be brick or something). No other walls are like this, the cinder block sits on the slab – no gap. The cinder block has been painted several times and over the years I think effervescence and leaching has made the cinder uneven and pitted.
Hope this helps and thanks for the replies!
Hope this helps and thanks for the replies!
#5
03-22-19, 08:33 PM
Group Moderator
then a couple of coats of Drylok
#6
03-22-19, 08:50 PM
Group Moderator
Just a quick comment. I had seen an active display for Drylok many years ago and though how cool the product was. It is a great idea..... but if the wall gets wet from the outside..... it peels/bubbles off just like everything else. It may help in some places but the two people I know that used it did not have stellar results.
They make similar products to seal deck lumber. We all know how those turned out.
They make similar products to seal deck lumber. We all know how those turned out.
#8
03-23-19, 10:03 AM
Not knowing what the outside grade is like, could the wall (in the picture) and possibly the footing have moved outward the 1/2 inch you see between the floor and wall? There should be some evidence of gaps(cracks) at the corners with adjacent walls if this happened. Also check if the wall is reasonably vertical. I would remove the dirt from the gap and verify there is footing under the entire wall. If any of these checks is negative, I would consult with a foundation installing firm to see if they have any remedies. Even if the gap occurred over 70 years, it is not correct.
