Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 8:24:19 AM

So I've tried the french drain and landscaping option and it didn't work so I need to find a firm that can fix this for good.  Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 9:53:11 AM

I am not an engineer but lived in the Omaha, NE area two different times while on active duty.  We bought a house both times, and they were both pretty well built into the side of a hill.  The first one leaked so badly that we often just had to ensure there wasn't anything on the floor that the water would damage.  We also tried the landscaping method, but to no avail.  The second home we bought had drainage tile around the outside of the bottom floor slab that actually drained through a small opening into a drain just inside the house in the laundry room.  When we experienced long periods of wet weather we could see the water flowing through that opening into the drain, and never had wet basement problems.  For an existing home, replicating that method would require significant excavating to be able to get the drainage tile low enough to be effective.  If you consult a real engineer they might have a solution that would require less drastic measures, such as drilling vertical drain shaft(s) and strategically placing sump pumps to reduce or eliminate the hyrdostatic pressure.   Good luck and let us know what you find out.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 10:51:25 AM

I believe the only way to insure it not leak is to excavte below the basement grade and install a proper drain, with the outside walls coated and covered with membrane.  With that being said I was about to the point of doing that to my house in Childersburg because one back corner of the crawlspace had a pool of water almost continuosly.  It would dry in really dry summer heat sometimes, but rarely.  Then somebody clued me in to what he thought was happening.  Over time erosion had caused the ground by the vent close to that corner to rise to the level that when it rained hard the water was running in through that vent.  A few shovel scoops later and the problem was solved.

Of course a basement is differnen in that it has no vents but my point being that sometimes a simple fix can be found, but not usually...lol.  It is a major problem but have as many folks look at it as you can becasue sometimes folks see things defferently.  I had several "professionals" asses the problem and none saw what was happening.  Its not like they were just trying to sell me a job either becuase two of them told me it had to be done, but they didn't do it.  The one that figured it out was a carpenter freind who stopped by and the subject came up.  He looked at it, told me to dig it out.  Never had a water problem again.  I certainly don't envy you.  It can be a major hassle and expensive as hell.

Good luck.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 10:56:59 AM

Had the same problem on the other side of the house that was fixed by pouring concrete form the boat ramp right up to the house.  Don't think that will work for the front of the house.  WHen I had the landscaping work done they exposed a part of the wall and there was a black sealant there so someone probably tried to fix it that way.  I really want to avoid the trench and sump inside the house approach.  I am wary of the firms that do this work and know it will be expensive.  We get water in there 2 or 3 times per year and it is a pain.

Name:	alatraveler50 -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 11:06:40 AM

You might try AFS.  Used them about 5 yrs ago and basement is down from a leak to a damp spot.  I know there are several other people in the same business.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 11:24:56 AM

Thanks.  Went to their website and asked for an inspection.  We shall see what they come up with.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 11:38:21 AM

You might want to check in with Hilltop Landscaping.  Because of the way our house sits on the lot, Eric Brown was able to figure out that we would have a serious drainage problem.  They put in drains (both french drains and pipe drains) and we have never had an issue.  

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 12:25:37 PM

Those guys are good at what they do for sure, but they ain't cheap. Quality costs.

Name:	Mikcle -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 1:50:46 PM

I would recommend to know the difference between distance and displacement...

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 2:42:09 PM

Thanks for the suggestion but I already went the landscaping route.  I think I need to bite the bullet and get this fixed right.  Ugh!

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 5:49:11 PM (updated 8/24/2020 5:52:29 PM)

Do the walls get wet? Is the water coming up through the floor? Is it where the wall meets the floor? The black you see on the outside wall may be the original black sealer that the builder used on the wall. I assume this is a 8ft basement. 

wMany, many years ago when I was around 10, my parents bought a cottage at the beach. The basement get water after hard rain and they had someone come in to install a sump pump. They started to make a hole and said the floor is like 3 inches thick. They ended up tearing out the floor and pouring 16 inches of concrete and installed the pump. It ran alot in the spring according to the neighbor. The basement had only the furnace and the floor was only under half the house.

Behind the house was some woods but we never explored it  as the owner had it posted.

Awhile back, I was looking at old pictures of the beach and the cottage. I went online and found it.  What fascinated me is the satellite view...look at what is behind the place...must have been an undergorund stream or high water table under the house. Our cottage was lower right.

Name:	Rooster -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/24/2020 6:06:51 PM

Second AFS.  Used 3 times in MTG ( different issues ) and well satisfied!  Also lifetime guarantee!

Name:	JJ -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/25/2020 8:33:27 AM

Phillip Goolsby 256-234-1209

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/26/2020 9:01:14 AM

Can you tell me a little more about him?

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/26/2020 9:06:20 AM

Goofy, the walls don't get wet.  They are cinder block and it appears the water comes in where the concrete floor connects to the cinder block wall.  I know some companies come in, dig a trench in the floor to collect water to drain to a sump and pump it out but I was hoping to find a way to keep the water out.  Hodja suggested a drain tile system which I looked and it may work if I can get the fundation exposed and set it up to gravity drain.  Any way I look at it this is probably not going to be cheap.  :-(

Name:	Rooster -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/26/2020 2:57:49 PM

Another solution is to paint exterior foundation wall with a good elastomeric paint.  Basically putting a rubber coating over the blocks.  I was the bdlg manager for the Normandie Medical Building Mont before retiring.  A hard blowing rain made water seep thru masonry joints around bricks.  Hired a company to paint entire bdlg with that stuff and never had another problem.  This was done at least 4 years before I retired. Good luck!

Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/26/2020 7:24:28 PM

MM call johnnie white he is the builder of your home. he would know about the basement and type backfill, waterproofing ect. lives here in dadeville. he built alot of the homes out here. william fuller would be who johnnie used on your septic system also.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/27/2020 9:48:12 AM

Do you happen to have the contact info for the builder?

Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/27/2020 10:06:32 AM

dont have phone #. he lives at 8392 dudleyville rd. right across street from lebanon church. big 2 story home. he is retired now. name is jonnie and brenda white.  dudleyville rd. goes out of dadeville towards buttson. its about 10 miles or so. cant miss it, on the right when you see the church. might try william fuller in  pt. cloxston. jonnie lived next door to you where larry mann lives now. he built your house for june and roger clark. his son derrick white built carla and jims. also marylyn next to them l belierve. paul porter next to you knows how to get in touch with william fuller. he did your septic and may have been the one who backfilled your foundation to. sorry l cant be of more help.

Name:	krtracker -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/27/2020 10:13:56 AM

found old number for johnnie white  256 825 4812 was his wifes phone # may work dont know

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/27/2020 10:28:07 AM

Thanks!

Name:	boataholic -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/27/2020 8:42:31 PM

If you go to the trouble to dig it out and coat it with the elastomeric paint, you should also add a plastic drainage mat while you are at it to give you two layers of protection.  It is an inch thick plastic dimple grid covered with a drainage fabric facing the dirt.  Easy to add, it will channel the water down to a drain at the bottom.

Name:	Mikcle -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	8/31/2020 3:23:22 AM

I also researched some blogs and found this comparison review https://differencebtwn.com/difference-between-distance-vs-displacement

Name:	JJ -	Reply
Subject:	Basement water problems
Date:	9/3/2020 7:59:09 AM

He waterproofed my brother's house when it was being built over twenty years ago, no problem with water in his basement. Phillip waterproofed a friend's basement last year in the Real Island area. If you want the job done right, I recommend Phillip.