Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
It is estimated that 80% - 90% of below grade basements have, or have had, some degree of water penetration.
In addition to looking for active leaks, use your nose to check for a musty/damp odor, floor and wall stains, rot or water damage at the base of walls, and other clues like everything being stored up off the floor.
Make sure you also check the site features that contribute or cause leaks like improper proper roof drainage, gutters and leaders that are not adequate or not functional, rainwater discharging too close to the basement, and inadequate grading away from a foundation.
Repairing foundation leaks can be a big ticket item, so you don't want to miss that ... 
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
Originally Posted By: rking This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
In rural areas it should also be noted where the sump pump (if there is one) discharges to. Some discharge directly outside of the home right next to the foundation walls. In this case if there is a perimeter drainage system intact, all of that water that it has worked so hard to evict just goes right back to the sump pump to start it’s journey anew.
If there is not a perimeter drainage system intact then problems are imminent.
Originally Posted By: ecrofutt This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
Here’s a couple of examples of stain clues like Robert is talking about.
This one is actually a foundation leak. It was easy to see after the boxes were moved, but the initial spotting came from looking at the wall thru the cracks between the boxes.
http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/DSC00446.JPG
Initial thought was a foundation leak, but this one turned out to be a hidden water pipe leak behind the finished basement wall rather than a foundation leak. See the very light brown stain on the white baseboard at the bottom of the arrow.
http://www.nachi.org/bbsystem/usrimages/DSC00471.JPG
Originally Posted By: roconnor This post was automatically imported from our archived forum.
lfranklin wrote:
(IMHO) They are two types of basements ones that leak and the ones that are going to leak 
Very true ... it's usually only a matter of time ...
ecrofutt wrote:
See the very light brown stain on the white baseboard at the bottom of the arrow.
When you see something like that, also very gently tap the area with the back of your screwdriver (you have one of those, right ... lol) to sound out the area for damage. Don't start probing finished areas with an awl, because it is someone else's home ...
-- Robert O'Connor, PE
Eagle Engineering ?
Eagle Eye Inspections ?
NACHI Education Committee
I am absolutely amazed sometimes by how much thought goes into doing things wrong
