[Nefertiti42]

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me out.

We bought this 1890 house last fall, and the basement was spray foamed when we purchased. With the spring melt, we had a leak through the polyurethane where you can see the foam no longer sealing to the floor. It wasn't anything major, but I would still consider this a vice and need to get in touch with the previous owner about fixing this.

The basement structure is stone but it was partially redone on some exterior walls. The foam was sprayed not long ago, just about two years. When I look online, I can't find anything about it as search results just give me "use polyurethane to fix leaks" regardless of what I enter in the search box...

I was hoping someone here could help me out and give me a clue as to how to proceed? Any input will be most helpful!

 

[Nealtw]

Is the foam on the wall or the floor above?

 

[Bud9051]

They covered up a leak problem to make it look good so they could sell it. I can't see everything you are seeing but a wet basement will almost always be wet. Exception would be an extensive and expansive upgrade.

Even if you get the previous owner to fess up, there is little he could do besides refund some unknown loss of value.

I wish you luck, but you are not alone in being fooled by the "curb appeal" approach.

Bud

 

[Nefertiti42]

Is the foam on the wall or the floor above?

The foam is all around the walls in the basement. It seals up around the cement floor as well and the beams holding up the floor above. It's not sprayed on the ceiling which is just the wood flooring from the main floor.

 

[Nealtw]

The foam is all around the walls in the basement. It seals up around the cement floor as well and the beams holding up the floor above. It's not sprayed on the ceiling which is just the wood flooring from the main floor.

So it was put there for insulation. I doubt if anyone thought it would water proof anything. It wouldn't have held water for 2 years so the leak is likely new.

The fix is ugly, either dig up the outside and find someway to water proof the wall and add a drainage system or remove the foam, dig a trench around the perimeter inside add a drain system and drape the walls to run the water under the floor to the drain and pump it out.

 

[Nefertiti42]

When we purchased the house they filled out a Residential Information Checklist, and did note the following: "Before basement was spray foam, along the walls and floor it was wet, humid."

But I don't know if this qualifies as a total disclosure as between something being humid, and having a puddle on the floor to me are 2 things.

Should I contact someone to evaluate before I contact the owners?

 

[Nealtw]

When we purchased the house they filled out a Residential Information Checklist, and did note the following: "Before basement was spray foam, along the walls and floor it was wet, humid."

But I don't know if this qualifies as a total disclosure as between something being humid, and having a puddle on the floor to me are 2 things.

Should I contact someone to evaluate before I contact the owners?

I wouldn't pick a fight before I knew for sure what my legal rights are.

An inspector reading that should have told you it was doomed for failure.

Any mention of moisture behind insulation is a red flag. At best is should have come with the results that proved it was just condensation.

If you didn't seek advice on that detail, I think you are hooped. :crying:

 

[SPS-1]

"Before basement was spray foam, along the walls and floor it was wet, humid."

Well worded on their part. Says walls and floor were wet. I am no lawyer, but would say their butts are covered.

 

[Bud9051]

"along the walls and floor it was wet, humid.""
Sounds like full disclosure to me and should have been a red flag for you. Unfortunately few of us buy enough houses to get the practice we need.

I'm not being a PITA but rare to get even that much of a disclosure. Normally they just say "unknown".

Bud

 

[Nealtw]

You know you are in trouble when @Bud9051 likes all my posts,

 

[Bondo]

When we purchased the house they filled out a Residential Information Checklist, and did note the following: "Before basement was spray foam, along the walls and floor it was wet, humid."

But I don't know if this qualifies as a total disclosure as between something being humid, and having a puddle on the floor to me are 2 things.

Should I contact someone to evaluate before I contact the owners?

Ayuh,..... Leaks like yer's are usually fixed from Outside the house,......

It sounds to me, that yer on the hook to fix it properly,......

Spray foam is Not intended to hold back water,......

 

[Nealtw]

Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me out.

We bought this 1890 house last fall, and the basement was spray foamed when we purchased. With the spring melt, we had a leak through the polyurethane where you can see the foam no longer sealing to the floor. It wasn't anything major, but I would still consider this a vice and need to get in touch with the previous owner about fixing this.

The basement structure is stone but it was partially redone on some exterior walls. The foam was sprayed not long ago, just about two years. When I look online, I can't find anything about it as search results just give me "use polyurethane to fix leaks" regardless of what I enter in the search box...

I was hoping someone here could help me out and give me a clue as to how to proceed? Any input will be most helpful!

You mentioned snow melt, so we should talk about run off, downspouts and anything else that can be done to move water away from the house.


If it just started with the melt perhaps it can be fixed at the surface.