[deannew]

Hi everyone
I am in the process of remodeling my basement and have a very small water issue. I am getting a small amount of water coming into my basement, i believe where there was an extension put in by the previous owner.
With it not being a huge flow of water, i can't seem to pin point the access point.
Just curious if anyone has any tricks or tips as to how i go about pinpointing the entry point?
It's a cinder block foundation and i noticed it coming from the end point of where they had done some parging...so naturally i thought, remove the parging and fix the problem correctly, the re-parge. That's not the case though. I used hydrolic cement properly, expanding the crack slightly and that hasn't fixed the issue.
Going a little batty trying to track it down.
Any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for any help!
D

 

[firehawkmph]

Iwanna,
without pics or more info, it's tough to diagnose. However, some things to look at: Start from the outside and rule out the basics. Are the gutters and downspouts functioning properly to direct the water away from the house? Is the grade sloped in such a way to not allow water to pool up against the foundation? It should cause the water to run away from the house. Also, if the grade is higher than the waterproofing, the brick/block can wick water through. Where is the water coming into the basement at, up high, at the base of the wall, etc.?
Mike Hawkins

 

[deannew]

hey mike
thanks for your reply! sorry no pics...but here is a little more info.
noticed that my downspout was pooling a bit last fall...so bought an extension. i also had my eaves cleaned late last summer...so those should be good. the grade is pretty good...though there is a concrete pad/porch out back with a few cracks in it. but from what i can tell, this isn't where the water is coming in.
the one thing i have no clue on is the waterproofing and if it's high enough. though, would i not expect to have water coming in from more than one location theoretically?
im giong a little batty trying to figure this out!

 

[user1007]

Worked on an addition to a cutey of an old Victorian once. Problem with it was gutters and downspouts that were near impossible to keep clean until equipped with gutter helmet type filters. There was an also an old cistern people had forgotten about.

One other project involving an oldy but goody kept seeping water to the point the basement sump pump went on all year round. I finally put a perimeter system in and whatever was causing the problem was sucked away and the basement has been dry since.

 

[firehawkmph]

You didn't mention how or where the water is coming in at. Is it a trickle at the base of the wall? Is there a wet spot on the wall somewhere with the water sort of bleeding through? Do you have any wet spots up near grade level on the block that are shaped like an upside down christmas tree? That would indicate too high a grade at that spot causing the water to wick through the block. Main points to consider: if water is allowed to sit against the foundation, it will eventually find a way in. Water has to be directed away from the house. So if your downspouts aren't hooked into anything and just spill out a foot from the house, that water will saturate the ground and cause problems, especially this time of the year.
Also, as far as waterproofing, pull back a little dirt and see if you see the foundation coating. It should be higher than the grade. A lot of the time, people build up flowerbeds with mulch against the house and cause problems. Let us know what you find.
Mike Hawkins