Not my intention to trigger a JBubba rant, but it’s a typical question in my area, foundation straddles a rock outcrop, and it rains a fair bit around here. This place is 60 yrs old and has probably leaked for 59. Can anything short of dynamite fix this? :mad:
John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca
John
An epoxy injection process is used around here to seal shrinkage cracks.
That might work here
Cheers
The number one reason why moisture is seeping into basement is due to improper grading. Look at the second image. This house needs some linear french drains installed.
Is that foundation sitting on dirt?
I don’t see where it penetrates grading to a footing.
It’s solid rock there.
So they poured a foundation on solid rock and then they failed to correct the grading outside this area? What a mess! Lack of planning on the builders part (60 years ago).
It definitely needs perimeter drainage installed but with the rocky landscape…Good Luck.
I’d tell them to have the grading corrected as much as possible and then to go with some sort of interior basement waterproofing system.
It looks like they didn’t set the elevation high enough, when they built the place, considering the rock.
I think I might try the epoxy too.
Yea, they didn’t test water tables back then.
I wouldn’t even recommend an epoxy injection in this particular home. It’s a wide-open gash at the transition of the foundation and rock. It’ll always seep.
Go with a similar system to this… http://www.bdryboston.com/InstallationProcess.htm
There are all kinds of exterior subterranean drainage applications that can be used. As David posted[FONT=Tahoma][size=2], this is a 6P principle.
[/size][/FONT]I see nothing wrong with attaching the foundation to bedrock, however elevated areas should have been removed to provide appropriate subterranean drainage[FONT=Tahoma][size=2].
Installing this mediation component after construction has a high probability of damaging the structural integrity of the foundation.
[/size][/FONT]We always like to prevent water infiltration, but in this case maybe we should address removal of infiltration of water after the fact. I do not like to see water infiltration occur that is “fixed” by installing interior drainage systems. I would rather see it addressed at the source. However, I live in an area with extremely expansive soil conditions that damage buildings due to the expansive editions of the soil[FONT=Tahoma][size=2]. In this case, it may be more cost-effective to allow the water to pass between the rock (which is not expansive), collect it and discharge it back to the exterior (below grade).
[/size][/FONT]We all know that crawlspaces and basements will allow water intrusion under adverse weather conditions, however we do not want to see this water “hang around”[FONT=Tahoma][size=2].
[/size][/FONT]In this particular case I think I would address the water hanging around situation and call [FONT=Tahoma][size=2]"[/size][/FONT](the best that we can do at reasonable cost[FONT=Tahoma][size=2])[/size][/FONT].
Yeah Mr K, too bad chtt ain`t done right when homes are built like umm, waterproofing the exterior walls and backfilling them w/gravel,sand if one has to.
Does it look like its pretty much ONE area, i can`t tell.
One could try j-hammering/etc the rock out if its one area,yep,take longer and cost a bit more but done right if the problem is a crack/other opening in wall,not a rod hole…of course those can be fixed/packed from inside IF done right.
-Mr Dave,
Expansive soils CAUSE lots of problems/damage and leaving them against a wall that is bowing in,cracking n leaks is not a good idea.Neither is installing any inside system but do what yas like.
30 years i don`t see the ‘cost effectiveness’ of installing inside system,most often they want between $7,000-20,000 versus many homeowners who only need 1 wall or a corner etc waterproofed which costs a heck of alot less and,stops water from entering.
This homeowner was bsd into an inside system,still leaks,some mold and efflorescence on wall. Hes OUT over $10,000.The exterior cracks could have waterproofed correctly a few years ago for about $1,500, now itll be around $1,650,first 10 pics http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=276108530/a=122238283_111847456/t_=122238283 He didnt need any inside system they simply bs`d him
-Basement Wall Damage
Fairfax County VA tells ya to…
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/DPWES/publications/marineclay.htm
Cause- yearly cycles of pressure exerted by shrinking/swelling…
Resolution- depending on the extent of damage,some walls may need to be replaced while others can be repaired…
to prevent further damage,the clay MUST be removed and replaced w/sandy or gravelly soil…and waterproofed,not damproofed.
B dork warranty http://www.bdryboston.com/WarrantyDetails.htm
What do they ‘cover’? Not anything that has to do w/wet-damp-leaky basement wall,mold/efflorescence/discolorment,cracks widening or wall bowing in due to exterior lateral pressure etc
Sorry, don’t have time to read your entire post, however I am not suggesting anyone do anything in particular because this is not only a different state but a different country!
Obviously, when you set your house on non-expansive soils (which does not exist above the Canadian line in most cases). Even though the water wants to come in, and it’s not a desirable condition[FONT=Tahoma][size=2], why should you cause undue remediation of a situation (such as dynamite!) that’s unavoidable. Yes, they stuck the house in the wrong damn place!
[/size][/FONT]Do anything you can’t stop infiltration, when infiltration cannot be controlled, then get it the hell out of there as rapidly as possible.
Nobody can mitigate this situation on the Internet with a couple of pictures.
There’s about 1000 questions I could ask about what’s going on, but this is not productive[FONT=Tahoma][size=2].
[/size][/FONT]The “nuts and bolts” of this situation is that if you cannot prevent the infiltration of water from the surrounding landscape due to subterranean water flow, then you simply need to remove it as rapidly as possible and “hope for the best”!
Dave, not intentionally trying to bark at you or anyone but am trying to help many who`ve been lied to,cheated out of a chttload a money.
Whatever the problem(s) turn out to be for those w/leaky basement,it should first be correctly identified which doesn`t happen too often as most are told all kinds of crap,especially those inside knotheads
Theres only a handul of things itll be,doesn`t matter if they live in Tanzania or 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Canada…expansive soil
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/cbd/cbd184_e.html
http://www.riverwatchonline.org/news/winnipeg_press/07_09_05.html
Nobody can mitigate ‘this’ situation on internet…prolly not but certainly have helped many homeowners w/some pictures and articles.
This was my first tought, but I get Damned for this kind of thing all too often.
My first thought is that “I can’t see nothing from here…”
I agree 100%.
But if you can keep it out in the first place, it’s 1,000% better than dealing with in once it gets in.
Exactly…
As HI’s we are not going to properly diagnose this problem,so what professional are you going to recommend bringing in?
A Geologist?
I’m likely WRONG!
But I have one on retainer anyway!
OK, dynamite, then? 
This home does have adequate drainage out the lower side of the crawlspace. “A river runs thru it”. I’ve also seen some with a sump pit at the base of the rock.
No epoxy was ever tried here, so will research that some more, thanks.
There are multitudes of similar situations in this area, something tells me, for Biblical reasons, the wise men chose the rocks.
John Kogel
www.allsafehome.ca
By the way, I just reported what I saw in this case, and let the pictures tell the story.
I’d like to suggest a good repair sometimes if there is one.
An honest/exp`d waterproofing/foundation contractor of course.
There are some HIs n others,like R Hetzel who would properly diagnose problem. Posted article by Ari M, an HI who talks about identifying the problem(s) first.
Understand that some HIs are not going to do this,fine. But at the same time quite a few who dont will make statements/recommendations like raise the grade,put inside system in…this is in part what i mean, some of the nonsense. WHY bother to say crap like that, they haven`t attempted to identify the problems so saying ANYTHING, like raise the grade is pure nonsense.
If you dont know what the problem is,you dont know what the solution is and shouldn`t be recommending squat.
Have talked some HOs through, doing their own water test,taking down part of paneling/drywall in order to help themselves define their problem,some dont need any of us.Some find out they have a leaky water line and need a plumber,or find out its condensation or find out they simply have 1+ leaky rod holes and can diy.
What happens when an HI recommends an inside system company who puts in their lil pressure relief bllchhtt system and all along the problem was water entering through a crack in basement wall which causes x-amount of mold on wall in basement and also allows more radon gas to enter? Like Nachi,Nahi,Ashi recommending Basement Systems.Lets say somebody in house,a toddler,grandma/gramps has asthma and since the inside system was put in,mold has begun to grow on wall behind paneling which triggers an asthma attack.
Or, since the inside system was put in,radon gas level in basement/house has increased,who pays $1-2,000 for radon mit. system?
The HIs recommendation doesnt look so good now,even though you didnt put the dang thing in. What about recommending the same crap and a crack in the wall widens or wall begins to bow in after inside system installed because inside systems cannot relieve,remove exterior weights/pressure.WHY....put your az,your reputation on the line? Like this guy,says add clay.....WEIGHT on outside and pretty much, if that doesnt solve problem then may be advisable to install a pressure relief system. Sheesh KKK
http://www.weinspectforyou.com/03-07%20newsletter.pdf
They ARE sticking their butt out where it does NOT belong,they are not experts on this subject.
Sure sure, just trying to help/well intentioned but, the WRONG info,incompetent info leading to more problems for homeowners can get one sued/lose inspection fee.
I agree John.
What do you think about some of these major outfits such as U.S Waterproofers?
Are they all just franchise hacks, or do they know what they are doing?
Is there any special type of guy I want to be looking for if I recommend one?
I understand some of these places just drill and plug everything.