Did you even read what AEM wrote?
Retrofitting exterior drains and interior would make such a remodel prohibitively expensive and still not guarantee that there wouldn't be problems. As AEM suggested, breaking the slab/footing connection isn't a good thing to do. If you're going to insist on going this far, sell the house and buy one that works for you.
-snip-
Except this is alt.home.repair - not alt.buy-a-new-house.
Exterior drain could be as cheap as a couple shovels, a pick, a wheelbarrow & 100gallons of sweat. [and probably a couple bottles of naprosyn for the first week or two.]
The cost of a used elephant foot is advisable.
I rented a backhoe when I did the first half of mine. The next section will likely be all handwork. It is only 25 feet long and equipment will make more of a mess than it will save labor.
The point that everyone who has 'been there, done that' is making is; don't waste your money on finishing the basement until it is ready to be finished-- which means getting rid of the water under the slab. If that means moving or abandoning the idea of making that space livable-- then that is what you need to do.
Jim
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Indoor retrofits typically come with lifetime warrantiesand elminate the need for outdoor french drains..... they tend to clog over time anyway. I found some in a gravel bed packed with dirt.
so whats the big deal of breaking the slab footing connection? its replaced with concrete and around here is only a inch or two thick so its not providing much structurally anyway.
It cost me $3500.00 bucks to do a interior french drain, I first spent over 8 grand plus me free labor doing the outdoor drain that ultimately didnt stop the water:(
Lessons learned the hard way, yard looked great, and asseors noticed that too:(
The reason why thos who have been there done that have such strong opinions?
We learned the hard way:(
refusing to spend 3500 bucks to fix a water problem is insanity on your part.....
if you dont fix it it can cost you 7 grand or more.....
you should try trimming quotes..... makes it look like you dont know what your doing
You're illiterate, too (but that's obvious to everyone here).
You don't, must make you feel right at home.
I trim quotes frequently.......
So do tell if your home needed a new roof would you sell it?
if your hmes gas line developed a leak would you sell it?
if your home needed a paint job would you sell it?
since you claim its always better to sell what is a acceptable fix for you?
I am mfascinated most posters here enjoy fxing up their homes, you appear very unique.
given all this I would NEVER want to live in a flood zone where every heavy rain creates worry will there be 8 feet of water in the basement and a few feet in the living room.......
but thats not what were talking about.......
As do I, ditz.
After telling you to read again, you refuse. Maybe you're not illiterate, just posses a single-digit IQ. That would explain your existence here.
Another illiterate speaks.
It is a *huge* job for a home-owner, with all sorts of complications and risks. I'm not against fixing problems, but I would *never* finish this basement off following such a repair. They too often don't work. If there is that much water on the other side of the wall it *will* leak again, sooner or later.
You're as moronic as halliburton.
Sounds like may also be a water accumulation problem below the slab? Maybe proper drainage has been neglected or if there was drainage away from the house it has been damaged or interfered with? Our basement, 40 years ago we installed perforated drains pipes outside and inside of the footings and lots of gravel to a sump in the corner, before the concrete floor was poured and finished. There is a pump in the sump which runs very occasionally. The time to fix any potential water problem is 'now' before doing any work on finishing the basement area. Mould damp and rot are not nice!
Well all those basement waterproofing companies arent doing anything?
amazing since I have met many who were very happy to finally have a dry basement
They're raking a lot of money.
...and many who are not so happy, after spending *thousands*.
Gee ALL new homes here are REQUIRED to have french drain which must add thousands to new home price. so do tell is that all a waste?
Idiot! We aren't talking about *new* homes. You truly are retarded.
ide quoted text -
no what i am asking is if retrofitting a french drain is a waste that you would sell your home over, then you would go buy a new home with a french drain? and water problems may not show up for years, well past the builders warranty......
so its likely you might trade a otherwise fine home that needed say 5 grand in basment waterproofing for a far costlier new home and pay all that real estate commision just to find you bought a new home with water problems??
how dumb is that?
now perhaps your issue is having finished rooms in a converted basement?
I am not wild about that, generally too little windows, but lots ofb owners do it, and are very happy weith the outcome.
Hey I get it now you must be a realtor thats hurting for sales BE GONE!!
quoted text -
You are clueless. Of course a new home *could* have water problems, but your existing house *DOES*. No, it's not worth risking major remodeling on a known problem.
You assume a lot.
Not as *stupid* as you, Haliburton.
That's that the thread is about, idiot.
I wouldn't, particularly one with a leaking basement where the water table is
*known* to be too high.
You're as stupid as a stone. Your name fits well.
if you have a reputable water proofing company do the job, wait 6 months or a year to make certain all is well and remodel.....
well lets assume you have a water problem after that. thats what homeowners insurance is for make certain it covers water inflatration.
if you then get water damage make a claim with your homeowners insurance and they will take care of it and duke it out with the waterproofing company.
theres very little for the homeowner to do to with basement waterproofing, hire a good company and sign the check when they are done, many will move the stuff in your basement for free to get the job.......
they should be expersts and know what to do if something wierd comes up.
...and if it was the first time in ten years the basement flooded?
Does yours? Homeowners insurance doesn't cover "rising water". Flood insurance is required. More reasons to move.
You're clueless.
You missed the part about waiting for the next flood.
Sure they do; take more money.
well a brand new home is a complete unknown, 5 years after buying it could devlop a wet basemnent problem.
insurance will add coverage for near anything, for a few bucks extra.
obviously your posting in the bwrong group this s home repair not buy a new home when anything breaks.
PLONK!
OK, so an update...
I pulled a couple of the bottom plates. Looks like I didn't drill through the slab. I assessed this by trying to drill with a non- masonry bit in a couple of the holes, and they didn't go anywhere. Most of the holes were about 1.5 inches deep. But the plates I did pull were certainly moist underneath.
Over the phone, one local place suggested I look at the height of the first concrete block. He deduced the slab thickness by assuming the slab was as thick as the buried portion of the first concrete block. So that;d be about 4 inches. He also didn't want to come out because he didn't believe I had a problem. He's convinced I need to grade better and do a better job of keeping water away from the foundation.
The second guy is coming by Wednesday night to physically check it out. He believes it's condensation wicking through the slab and expressing itself on the bottom plates. His suggestion was the same as the first guy's, but contingent on stopping by and actually looking at it.
Everything is on hold for now. If I have to install a French drain, I can't afford it. I'll probably pull out the existing framing and scrap the refinish. Maybe I'll insulate above grade and just make the unfinished basement as comfortable as possible.
So we'll see... My situation seems to be unique. It's nowhere else on the Web. I hope this is a reference for people in the future.
Thanks for your help!!!
You do know that the new home has proper footing drainage, something you don't know with your inside hack job. You also know that the new home has an unbroken slab, with proper sub-slab drainage.
Bullshit.
You're absolutely clueless. ...but I'm not breaking the news to anyone here.
Don't run away mad, moron.
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