Any ideas as to what this is? basement tar? [Pic]

08-12-2012, 01:00 PM	#1
Draino3112 Newbie   Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 1	Any ideas as to what this is? basement tar? [Pic] Looked at a house recently and this basement (house built in 1930) had this on 2 of the 4 rock foundation walls. Never seen tar on the inside before and it looked like the tried to stick insulation to it? Any info on why they would do this would be great...

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08-12-2012, 01:31 PM	#2
mikegp Member   Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 450	Any ideas as to what this is? basement tar? [Pic] Some type of waterproofing attempt made long after the house was built? Just a guess.

09-01-2012, 05:37 PM	#3
notmrjohn Bombastic Idiot     Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Mesquite, Texas Posts: 761	Any ideas as to what this is? basement tar? [Pic] I think the insulation just fell out from between the joists and got stuck there. Gadzooks! what a mess. Maybe they sealed a body up in there. Probably the guy who did that insulation job. __________________ Measure twice, cut once. Look at the nail, not the hammer. Watch the fence, not the blade. If you hook your thumb over your belt you won't hit it with the hammer or leave it layin on the saw table.

09-01-2012, 05:46 PM	#4
joecaption Member   Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Hartfield VA Posts: 18,206	Any ideas as to what this is? basement tar? [Pic] That's what it is. Instead of waterproofing on the outside like it should have been there did it the "easy" way. And that insulation never should have been in direct contact with that wall. Sure way to end up with mold.

09-01-2012, 06:00 PM	#5
AtlanticWBConst. Lic. Builder/GC/Remodeler     Join Date: May 2006 Location: New England Posts: 7,554	Any ideas as to what this is? basement tar? [Pic] Petroleum/tar-based water proofing agent. __________________ - Build Well -

09-01-2012, 06:20 PM	#6
Thunder Chicken Member   Join Date: May 2011 Location: Massachusetts, USA Posts: 320	Any ideas as to what this is? basement tar? [Pic] Whoever did that should be tarred and ... fiberglassed.