Leaky basements, foundation cracks, what some home inspectors do NOT understand....

Specific Inspection Topics Structural Inspections
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and pretty much all interior system companies do NOT understand or care to know and what Ames research here doesn’t ‘get’ either and simply wants to sell their blue max to as many unknowing homeowners as possible…
Waterproofing and fixing basements leaks with Ames Blue Max


See the cracks on interior block wall, huh?

This guy ‘spins’, misinforms etc that this blue max from Ames is all homeowners need to do, to slap on their basement walls… “It filled in this crack”… pfffttt!!! “Non permeable, flexible SEAL…”
–For technical assistance 888 345 0809 #-o

Bubba has some 'assistance he’d like TA share wiff ya’s, got milk? Huh?

LOOK, here’s 1 of many homes with block basement walls that had the same type of vertical crack that one could see on the inside, even when the wall had been painted (if they opened their eyeballs), yeah, home inspector didn’t care about/see the crack, discolorment of blocks etc
Here’s the house…
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905732604350215362
Problem area, leaky area, between the front porch and corner

Seller had raised and sloped the grade, see? loool
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905732936414196722

Inside the basement between the porch and corner…
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905729685154332562
Basement walls were painted, would NOT have mattered AT ALL if someone used Blue max stuff by Ames or Drylok etc, NO!

Bottom of wall between porch and corner
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905729854904975202

Hairline vertical crack on inside, should have paid much more attention/thought to it, to the mold and efflorescence etc, duh!
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905729917032593826

The corner up high
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905729980221789506

Corner down low
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905730044285413778

Outside, outside, outside, between porch and corner…
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905733445109847218
Water enters here, and 1 reason why there is some mold and efflorescence on inside blocks

Outside, the VERTICAL crack… same dang crack seen inside!@!@!
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905734405008876818

Vertical crack, and ya best believe these cracks and other exterior openings allow water in basements, and why there is some mold, efflorescence etc
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905734213684952146

And what MOST do NOT understand and apparently don’t care to, don’t want to (big babies!!!) is, you cannot ‘inspect’, know, see, ALL possible exterior cracks just by looking at the inside of these block walls, basement walls OR crawlspace walls
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905734783321178610
Horizontal crack, helllllllllllo!

Eh, do home inspectors or even structural engineers GET THIS sht? Huh? loool
Some tell homeowners to hire an HI etc for an unbiased opinion on their leaky basement. Well DUHHHH!!
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing72#5905734965153894898
That unbiased opinion and cost won’t mean Sqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqquat if they don’t understand there can be exterior cracks and other exterior openings in block walls, brick walls, even though they don’t see a dang thing on the inside!!!

Some exterior cracks are wider…
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing12#5442257934740023314

Sometimes, some blocks will disintegrate, deteriorate like this…
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/Crawlspace#5540665133328086770
So when a homeowner has a leaky basement, maybe some mold or efflorescence on some blocks then, sheesh loool, one should be trying to identify/locate/detect HOW-WHY-WHERE they leak and not just stroll over there and tell every homeowner they need to apply Blue Max or Drylok or install a moronic interior basement drainage system.

And another lil lesson some should have learned here is (ahem!), raising and sloping the soil, the grade, does NOT… has not, identified ANY homeowners actual problem, leak!!!

Cuckoo tweety bird http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1WcxRaMmIM

Cuckoo clock http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8GwT7ZotCg

Time has come TAday/Chambers Bros… cuckoo! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zfgoJzOCgg

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Thanks Mark

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“This guy ‘spins’, misinforms etc that this blue max from Ames is all homeowners need to do, to slap on their basement walls… “It filled in this crack”… pfffttt!!! “Non permeable, flexible SEAL…”
–For technical assistance 888 345 0809 #-o”

Mark, can you please outline the reasons why Blue Max is an inferior product. Also how does this guy spin and misinform specifically? This information may be of value. Could you please back your comments with references illustrating why these deceptions are true.
Thanks Mark.

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“Eh, do home inspectors or even structural engineers GET THIS sht? Huh? loool”

Mark I was wondering if you might comment on why a licensed Structural Engineer might not “get this stuff”? Can you please clarify with examples. Thanks.

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Ron you can not waterproof a boat from the inside .
The same holds true for a home .
Water is the strongest solvent in the world .
Look at the grand Canyon this was done by water one drop at a time .
The inside waterproofing with a drain just delays the inevitable .
Pumping the water away also takes away the block that is slowly being dissolved ,
Seen the evidence too often .
I am sure mark will explain it better .

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Nice slogan Roy! I was not aware that there was no solvent stronger than water.
Nice to hear about the Grand Canyon too … one drop at a time…Maybe more than one drop a time caused this vast canyon? What do you think?
Nothing you have stated seems to answer my concerns, nor do you have any cases to back this up other than “water being the strongest solvent” and the “grand canyon”. I’m sure Mark can explain it better. Thank you Roy! Can you provide documention on water being the strongest solvent? Would like to have the reference for that. Was the Grand Canyon carved out by water? or glacial movement (hard water … I guess). Maybe this made the difference?

What evidence have you seen Roy? With respect to using Blue Max of course?
Please explain as this will shed some light on the concern I raised.

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Hello Roy :wink:

Mr. Cherchuk,
Did you click and watch the Ames Blue Max video, being applied to the INSIDE of a block wall that has cracks on the ‘outside’, which IS where the water is entering?

And did you then click some/all of the photos (picas) that CLEARLY show cracks and other openings/entryways on the outside of block walls?

This is what I mean sir.

Applying ANYTHING on the inside of block basement walls will NOT stop water from entering cracks etc on the outside.

Seen thousands+++ of homeowners who believed the incompetent advertising bllllsht stories of Drylok etc and smeared the stuff wherever they were leaking and… continued to leak.

HOLLOW BLOCK walls, its impossible to ‘reach’, repair, any exterior cracks by slapping crap on the inside… ya folla? (The Sting)

Seen enough SE’s here in MI actually tell people who had cracked, bowed walls, leaks, to ONLY install beams etc on the interior and… raise and slope the grade! Apparently they haven’t seen enough basement walls on the OUTSIDE and don’t know, haven’t seen the many cracks etc that occur to the walls.
And U S Army Corps states here per lateral soil pressure against basement walls in Amherst NY (page 9), “We also observed reputable engineers design solutions that did NOT alleviate the settlement and/or lateral pressure problems”
http://www.amherst.ny.us/pdf/building/soilsstudy/TOASFS_section2.pdf

Some need to SEE, understand, what happens to the outside of many basement walls. One can’t always (and should not) base their opinion JUST BY looking at the inside of a basement wall, as those and other pica–photos show.

Ron, IF you had a ROOF LEAK, how would you go about fixing that leak?

Would you ever consider, tell homeowners to… patch, apply crap on the inside of attic or ceiling where the water was coming in? :roll:
OR, would you try and explain to them they need to go OUTSIDE and up on the roof to FIND where the water is actually FIRST entering and then, fix/repair that area?? :mrgreen:

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Ron,
click link, first 6 photos, brick foundation basement walls… leaks in basement.
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing80

How on earth would it at all be possible to slap/paint/roll on ANYTHING, aka Blue Max, Drylok, on the INSIDE of the basement wall when THIS is OPEN on the…outside? See the hole?

Painting the inside does N O T H I N G, it doesn’t repair/waterproof that hole, or any exterior cracks in wall etc, no sir.

How about this homeowner, recent BUYER… the seller told the buyer they supposedly ‘fixed’ previous leaks in basement by… applying Drylok on the inside of block wall and by having anew driveway poured
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing14

See the exterior cracks and other exterior openings?

That is where the water was entering into the hollow blocks.

Hence, applying anything on the inside of block walls can NEVER fix, repair, waterproof ANY exterior cracks, its impossible sir. :wink:

Also, did the new driveway, the newly SLOPED slabs… waterproof the cracks which again, where the actual problems/existing defects… the cracks that nobody wanted to find, nobody thought about, were WHY the basement leaked and is why most basements w/block, brick walls leak, yes sir.

One really needs to have the EXPERIENCE, hands-on dang experience to… find, locate, determine homeowners actual-problems. And wouldn’t hurt if they’re HONEST which is getting to be nearly impossible these days.

I’m not knocking any HI or SE intentionally and saying they all suck, sht, most are good people and trying to do a good job. I AM saying most should keep their pie hole shut on THIS SUBJECT if they don’t have the experience that would truly, actually help their clients.

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How would applying Blue Maxieeeee lool OR Drylok etc on the inside of this basement wall (and many others), repair/waterproof what you see OPEN on the exterior of the wall?
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing92#6083191969544788178
Umm, that one of the exterior openings which is allowing water to enter.

Say again for the NTH time, you cannot stop the water that is entering through these exterior cracks, holes etc by applying crap on the inside!!!

Allow Uncle Bubba to turn it around and ask ANYONE, any SE and HI, any realtor, any inside system KNOTHEAD etc, plz exxxxxxxplain in full and, maybe… loll post many photos (as I do!!!), show me how applying stuff on inside block, brick basement walls repairs/waterproofs exterior cracks.

I don’t know what books etc the HI’s read on/about THIS subject BUTT, they’re NOT good enough, obbbbbbbbbbbbviously! I have seen some of the seminars some HI’s are asked to go to and have seen the guest speakers on this subject and I’m he re to inform you, they are inside system knotheads!!! You aren’t learning sqqqqqqqqqquat, nope. sorry, buh bye

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Thank you Mark

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PHOTO’s, basement here leaks… some mold, efflorescence on walls.
So, what should they do? looool
Apply Blue Max like the guy in video says? Drylok? Inside system?
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/BasementWaterproofing36

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Thanks Mark I had some pictures of dissolved blocks but being away from Inspecting for three + years I was not able to find them …
I would love to post some and will try to find them .
Thanks to all for the concerns .
I love conversations like this agreeing or disagreeing get others thinking about what the problems are and how to improve things in the future .

So all know I have never done a report on the computer always with the Carson Dunlop Home Reference system and never included pictures with my reports .
I am from the old school.

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Ron,

Those 2 walls (video), in those 2 areas, have exterior cracks and that is WHY it leaks. This is, in part, what I mean. Too many HI’s etc don’t think, don’t know, the cracks ya see in video on the inside of wall, are open/cracked on the… outside! looooolllloolll

Cracks in MY photos are real, oh yes sir and, all these basements leaked DUE to, the exterior cracks… that’s why we are/were there, waterproofing those areas! loll

I’m saying Blue Max or Drylok etc advertisng is, to say the least, misinforming, misrepresenting most peoples actual problems and real SOLUTION. Dang skippy.

Ron, I’m asking you sir, or ANYONE else here to, explain to my dumb az just how applying Blue Max, Drylok on the inside… repairs/waterproofs exterior cracks…plz explain how this is at all possible.

Rubberized compound… holds back water??? :mrgreen:
How? There are exterior cracks, other exterior openings in ALL those photos and, in the video so yet again, how would applying any rubberized compound or anything else going to repair the exterior cracks?

That video is deceiving, or, they are flatly incompetent on THIS subject.
Say anything to sell, push their product on unknowing homeowners, I’m trying to inform is all.

Ron, if you looked at those pica photos and see the exterior cracks and UNDERSTAND them then, all due respect but, you shouldn’t still be asking, saying, Blue Max this, that rubberized compound etc, its blllsht man, yes sir

It almost seems as if you tell homeowners to use Blue Max, like other HI’s here get paid $$$ to recommend B Dry or other products.
May I inquire, why do you seem to care a lil much about Blue Max, just asking.

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Some SE’s and others… don’t see the EXTERIOR of enough basement walls, the full length and DEPTH… they don’t see ALL the exterior cracks, cracked deteriorated parging, deteriorated blocks, roots against basement walls, concrete slabs or porch footings leaning against basement walls and some apparently do NOT understand enough about lateral SOIL pressure and what IT ALONE does to many basement walls (cracks, leaks, bowing etc)

Hand digging all these walls, sections of walls over 3 1/2 decades you understand, you repeatedly see, the real problems, causes and true solutions, not the bs… and there is ALOT of bs on this subject from many.

Ron, loool, this guy GETS this subject, understands alot…
http://www.johnmcewen.ca/waterproof.php
does he tell homeowners to apply Blue Max or Drylok to their leaky basement walls?

Hey, if homeowners want to apply this stuff, go right ahead… and PRAY real hard, and often, but slap it on, shtt, why not buy 100 cans apply a boatload of coats, go ahead (and many DO, and spend ALOT of money and that’s why the advertising, the videos etc, Ames knows this much…people will try all kinds of shtt… they’re not REALLY interested in finding, fixing peoples actual problems, if they were they’d be staing what John or my az does) got milk?

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Well? Anyone? What should this homeowner do?

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Roy :wink:

Dissolved blocks, how about these…
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/Crawlspace#5540665133328086770
Hey, B Dry and 1 other inside system company tried bs’ing this homeowners, tried selling them their interior systems, loolol!!!@

So YET again I ask anyone on this planet, how would any interior system have stooped FURTHER deterioration of the blocks and how would any interior system have STOPPED further water from entering? Huh?
The wall is bowed in as well… sheseesh people, wake up baby.
http://picasaweb.google.com/101049034584960315932/Crawlspace#5540665069188493442
See duh HOOK??? Huh?

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about 8 years ago I took a seminar with John Great guy love his explanations .http://www.johnmcewen.ca/waterproof.php
He was always there if I had any questions .He is the man .
The picture below is one of |Marks .I have seen many walls just like this over the years .

23_19A[1].JPG
23_19A[1].JPG800×534 185 KB

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Interior coatings a sealants might work okay if the homeowner just reapplied them every day. They would eventually be a foot thick and Presto!, no more leaks… :roll:

The fact is water is still going to find its way in either through cracks not fully sealed, previous cracks which simply re-open up or new cracks which form because nothing was ever done about the water problem on the outside of the house. A basement is a boat. If only the Titanic had some dry-lock and a de-watering system.:slight_smile:

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Roy, yes sir, John McEwen is indeed a good man and understands basement waterproofing. :wink:

Cameron, yes sir, lool the Titanic did NOT sink because of some supposed hydrostatic pressure problem in-around-under duh boat and didn’t sink because there were no drain tiles around duh boat, nope. And it would have still dropped to the bottom of the ocean had there been drain tiles around the boat, inside and out and 1,000 sump pumps.

Now I wasn’t there on duh dang Titanic butt, it sank because it hit an iceberg which caused holes/openings in duh boat which subsequently allowed water to enter duh boat… like many basements/walls, lateral soil pressure/roots/concrete slabs etc etc etc cause crack(s) in the wall which subsequently allow water to enter

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