moisture protection

I just bought an older home with a full basement and I want to finish it. It has a sump pump and I was told the basement has a moisture problem. so I just want to get this straight.
(1) The 1st thing I need to do is add gutters ( currently it only has one stretch of 8 ft above the front door). (2) Then what do I fill the cracks on the outside of the foundation with? or would just masonary sealer work? or is that the same thing? (3) I want to add rigid foam insulation on the outside of the foundation. (4) and 3/4 in. treated plywood from top of foundation to a couple of feet below ground level. Is this the way to go or is there a better way than treated plywood? And should I go more than 2 ft. into the ground or don't I need to even go that far? any comments appreciated.

 

Before you start spending a lot of time & money here you should try to assess where the moisture problem origionates & how severe it is. Maybe the person who told you it had a problem can shed some light here. You are right by adding gutters all around the eaves. Also ensure there is a proper slope away from the foundation for water run off. See what the results of these inexpensive remedies make.

The cracks in the foundation wall may be surface cracks in the parging or they may be far more serious. Its unlikly that water entering the basement through the wall is coming in through a crack above the ground. You may have to excavate to the footing, add new weeping tile, repair the walls apply damproofing then backfill with a granular material such as sand to rectify the problem. I would call a foundation repair company in to evaluate the cracks. After they have been repaired you can consider finishing.

Adding an exterior rigid insulation from sill plate to footings has its benefits. But if you don't end up excavating around the house insulating the basement from the interior will be easier & cheaper. If you do opt to insulate the exterior a 3/4" plywood grade board is overkill. Treated 1/2" to just below grade level is all you need to protect the polystyrene. Good luck.

 

Thanks Allan for the advice, but I was also wondering if I did go with insulating the exterior and added 1/2" exterior plywood (or maybe some other material) down just a couple of feet below ground level, would that prevent the cracks at the same level from getting any worse?

 

As I mentioned in my last post, These cracks could be surface or hair line cracks that do not affect the strength of the foundation or allow water to enter.If the cracks are "Live Cracks" which continue to grow in length & width you should be talking to an expert in foundation repair. Adding a plywood layer will not prevent the cracks from getting worse.