I have a below grade basement that has water coming in through the foundation whenever we get heavy rain (which is every few weeks usually). My house is on the corner of 2 streets and at the bottom of a small hill. The ground slopes towards the foundation on the back and one of the sides. What would be my best option to divert water away? I am planning on replacing the small landing on the back shortly, so I could easy dig a trench around the foundation and route it around the oil tank if needed. I've heard some people talk about running piping into a large bucket, but it's all a bit unclear and I see many different methods recommended online.
Note that one of the sections on the back doesn't have a gutter and another drains down (the green spout) somewhat near the foundation. I plan on correcting both of these as part of this project.
I'm thinking cost is no object. Excavating and re-grading the land so it doesn't slope right to the house would be my choice. Since there is a hill sloping toward your house I would grade it so for 10+ feet the land slopes away then there is a shallow ditch that carries the water around and away from the house. The side with the road and sidewalk close by I would do something similar but with a retaining wall along the sidewalk so you can slope the ground away from the house.
Another option is to excavate around the perimeter of the house. Apply waterproofing membrane to the basement walls and install a good drainage system to get rid of water traveling underground.
If I were you, I'd add a swale and berm uphill from the main foundation to redirect surface water around the building.
Next would be to re-slope the gutters so that they are not dumping water at the UPHILL side of the house.
Finally, add rain barrels for whichever downspouts are NOT at the bottom of the lot, AND make sure the discharge from the downspouts is at least 6' away from the house. Depending on how deep your frostline is, and what your surface water runoff rules are, you might consider trenching for some some underground drains, with a "fail safe" of a putting a berm and swale over top
Underground PIPE location in PURPLE with berms in blue
You guys have given me plenty to think about. Unfortunately cost is an object, so I have to find the best option on a budget (assuming I will be doing the physical labor myself).
I noticed some water stain & calking was peeling above my back of house double sliders leading out to my ground floor patio lanai. I climbed out my upstairs bedroom window onto the roof of the lanai & it looks like the builder has neglected to put any mortar along the gap between the last row of tiles & the house wall. I am guessing this may be the cause of the leak? I would appreciate any suggestions on the best material to use as a DIY project. Of course I will not need to much material. The lowest pic shows part of the lanai roof that has the gap filled. Thanks
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Am attaching photo. The wider face of the chimney is *not* the problem area. At the narrow end of the chimney wet areas show up after
rain, sometimes in the hairline cracks, but most drips down from the top. The chimney is 1930s and is undergoing repointing, soon to be waterproofed. The flashing looks absolutely perfect. Any ideas as to source of leak? Roof is architectural shingles about 10 yrs old. Thank you.
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04-10-21, 12:14 PM
