Hello.



I decided to scrap my interior drain project and chose to excavate from the exterior to address my water seepage. My house sits 4 feet or so below grade. I have an old block foundation with no footer. My plan is to expose the foundation and clean it. Apply water proofing to foundation (more insight here appreciated) install a perimeter drain and lead it off to the other side of the yard into a dry well. Given the lack of a footer and knowing the drain would be most effective below the level of the wall would it be wise to stay a certain distance ( say 15 inches) away from the wall not to undermine the foundation. Then run my drainage material directly into the trench. I could keep it up against the foundation but I don't think it would be as effective if not below the wall and I don't think I should dig below right next to the foundation. I then would take my drain tile and lead it to a drywell on the other side of the property. (any insight on building the drywell also appreciated) Perhaps I would also run some non perforated pipe from my downspouts to the drywell as well.



Thanks in advance for any info/help



Anthony

 

I used to seal a lot of foundations as part of a crew. We dug a few inches below the footing. (I don't know why you don't have a footing.) Then we would dry the foundation with a torch, seal it with a rubber membrane, that comes on a roll, throw in some gravel & back fill. Most times we didn't need a dry well. Just make sure that the pitch is right & the gutters are in good shape.

 

Thanks for the response. Problem for me is the property is flat. Not on a hill so if my pipe is 4 or 5 feet below ground I can pitch it to daylight. That's why I'm thinking sump pit or dry well

 

You can add as many yards of top soil as you want to change the pitch. You need to change the pitch with or without a dry well. The idea is to keep the water away from the foundation.

 

I plan on grading everything away from the house when I backfill. What I mean is if I have a drain pipe which is 4 or 5 feet below grade and my lot is flat there is no way from me to drain to daylight that's why I was thinking drywell or sump pump.

 

I'm confused. You first said your house sits 4' below grade, which implies it's located in a large hole or swale. But then you later stated the lot is flat.

Can't be both. Or am I missing something?

 

I apologize for the confusion. The lot is flat. The basement floor is 4 feet below grade.

 

Either way, follow what I said & you won't have a problem unless there is a high water table.

 

ok. Thank you for the advice