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How to deal with this water problem (pics inside)?

5K views 49 replies 13 participants last post by  JamieH4 
#1 · (Edited)
I have a 2.5-year-old walkout basement home, brick front with siding on back and sides. I just noticed that water appears to be getting in at the foundation in the front of the house.

Here are photos of our storm shelter area in the basement. If you’ll notice the yellow arrows, they indicate where on the plywood flooring above I have black, damp discoloration. It spans about a 5-foot length. Is this black mold?





These are photos of the front of the house, where I believe the water is getting in. The 5-ft length of black discoloration in the photos above pretty closely lines up with where the downspout is in the photos below.





Questions:

1. Do you believe this is the most likely cause of the black discoloration I see on the plywood in my storm shelter?
2. Do you believe it is black mold, or something else?
3. Should I simply first try installing a downspout extender to direct the water to the end of my flower bed where the stone wall is?
4. What should I do about the black discoloration on the wood – how should I treat it (if even just to cover up the unsightliness)?
5. Do I need to call a professional yet? If so, who do I call (e.g. plumber, foundation contractor, etc.)?

Thanks in advance!
 
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#39 ·
You can caulk that joint now with Vulkem or something along those lines.

Look at the post from Jomama.

If it isn't water coming from above to rot that wood (which you will temporarily fix), then it will be condensation forming there.

So you need to insulate it as well.

And somehow your builder needs to start building these in a sustainable way.
 
#42 ·
The way that I have seen a recessed entry done is that as the brickwork is coming up, some brick (which will be below the slab) are set in a bit, in order to allow a piece of plywood to be supported.

The slab is then poured on top of this piece of plywood.

This system is wrong, because as the plywood deteriorates, the only thing holding the slab up is the bond along the brick veneer and on top of the brick on the outside.

This bond is usually sufficient.

However, the best way to do this would seem to be to set up a form inside the bottom of the stoop to support the floor pour, then go below and strip it later.

Next, the bottom of the stoop could be insulated.
 
#43 ·
Where the landscaping meets the wall, is there any protection that would handle an excessive amount of water and moisture.
Is there a sprinkler system, that would add insult.?
In the other areas mentioned a simple caulking would help but, I doubt that's your problem.
You may also have a problem to the right of the side walk.?
 
#48 · (Edited)
I know that's probably the right way to do it, but that would be extraordinarily expensive. I know we'd probably run into some unforeseen issues that would no doubt add to the cost. Just had someone (my mower/landscaper), who poured residential concrete for 14 years and is familiar with the construction of the homes on my block, over to assess the situation. He agrees the water is coming in at the seams on the stoop/porch, and recommended using concrete patch or the Vulkem I already have to seal the seams, then buy a bucket of concrete sealant and roll on two or three coats over the entire porch. He will also run the downspout under ground and daylight it just outside of the retaining wall.
 
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