Drainage and Insulation Around Basement

Hello All

My wife and i recently bought on old home in Saskatchewan Canada (Zone 7) with a cyder block basement on concrete slab. The house was built in the 50's so I am guessing there is no drainage around the footings. The owners told us they never had any problems with water getting into the basement and I can understand that as the house is on a bit of a hill and there is a sump (just a hold in one corner with a pump in it). However we want to finish the basement in future so I would rather be save then sorry and install proper drainage now.

My question is, when I dig up down to the foundation to install drainage, what should I use/ I have heard that the corrugated stuff really isn't that good and that I should use a PVC drainage system. Any thoughts?

As well should I tar the foundations walls? Or put 2" Styrofoam board? Or both?

thanks
-Marc

 

I don't have drainage around mine either but I'm not concerned about it - the grade slopes away from the house in all directions and there is poly under rock for at least a few feet on every side to carry the water coming off the roof away from the foundation.

 

Hey Mitch

Thanks for your reply. See in this house there is no poly around the cinder block. The foundation wall assembly is cinder block, and that's it. The basement smells a bit damp, not bad or anything but noticeable, and the paint the used on some of the walls is peeling, and some of the blocks are starting to salt. So I know that its ok for now, but I want to finish it I am pretty sure I have to do something about it. Any thoughts

Thanks
-Marc