Basement Waterproofing

Bud Cline

What's wrong with that picture?
Are you sure this is who you want to take advice from?

jgfranklin

I was told that without the Bentonite the one company would not warranty the walls.

The first company said they would dig a 3-4 foot trench in the basement, put drains in my window wells and move and cover everything and bring in a machine to make sure the dust doesn't go everywhere. Nothing exterior. In fact he never even went out and looked at the exterior.

The second company wants to use the bentonite, only dig a 1 foot trench in the basement, we move it all, we cover it all, and no dust remediation. Plus they cost more. However, he did walk outside and just kind of looked but gave no other helpful hints....other than bentonite. Apparently they are the only ones that do that in my area.

The landscaper I mentioned fell on rough times with his small company due to the economy plus he was going through a divorce at the time. I don't think he would give me bad advice.

Broughton

I've read through all of these posts and OP you might should also. These guys who you came to for advice have told you to fix the outside grading and drainage issues first. Multiple guys have said that. Your response was to say you are confused as to what to do.

The guys telling you to fox the grading know what they are talking about. For even more data there is an anecdote about doing all of the interior work of sump pump and drainage tiles and now that owner is saving up to do the outside work.

It seems clear to me you should start by regrading and performing any above ground work like gutters and extending downspouts, then of there has to be more, I would look I to the bentonite, interior options should be a last resort because by the time the water gets to the sump pump, it has already intruded the walls.

Bud Cline

...and that's the bottom line right there.

Spending money on all that other malarkey is just spending money until you find out the simpler solution won't work. I am confident it will. If it will make you feel better jg just send me a check for $10,000.00, that's with your discount.

jgfranklin

Well it is a damn shame that neither one of you live near me then you could come out and tell me exactly how and what I'm suppose to do to fix the outside. I guess I'm starting with a landscaper then or a handyman or something like that.

coderguy

Well, I should have been positive earlier.

I added gutters to my garage; I also fixed/added a missing downspout at the front of my house. I then removed a basement window at the front-side of the house and the window well. I added a truckload of dirt to that area; grading it away from the house. Finally; I extended the two front downspouts away from the house by about 3 feet. The front half of our basement is now dry; even in heavy rain.

For the rear of our house; we plan to dig it out and treat the outside (add exterior drain tile and waterproof the exterior foundation walls).

It's a crummy problem to have and everyone seems to have a different opinion. I've been researching and dealing with this since April. Please share any progress or info you find!

jgfranklin

What does a truckload of dirt cost? Plus I have the added problem of having a pool deck about 10 feet from the house. Ugh!!!!!!!! I could do the side wall. I have gutters but you know the rain overruns them when it is really hard and they are not clogged. I do have a pretty long extension on it so it goes out maybe 6 feet or so. The side of the house does not have a soffit so any rain just hits the house and falls right next to the wall.