Basement Advice

wakeboarder109 · 07-07-2011, 10:11 AM

The last couple days, we have had some pretty rough storms. Last night when I got home from work, I went into my basement to do some laundry and realized there was about an inch of water on 3/4 of the floor. The sump pump is working but the floor is not graded correctly so this water cannot drain to it. I don't have anything in the basement aside from the washer and dryer but last night I sucked up over 100 gallons of water with my Shopvac and I'm not going through that shit every time a storm rolls through.

I am thinking I am going to have to have a french drain or a B-Dry system installed. Anyone personally install one or have one installed? Any recommendations?

BTM · 07-07-2011, 10:17 AM

Typically the best action is to address the root of the problem rather than bandaid it. Have you gotten an estimate to fix the floor?

wakeboarder109 · 07-07-2011, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTM

Typically the best action is to address the root of the problem rather than bandaid it. Have you gotten an estimate to fix the floor?

Not yet. I'm am going to make some calls today. Even if I fix the floor, the groundwater from around the house still needs a better way to drain. Even though the gutters are clean, I need to check if they are slopped correctly and actually carrying water from the roof.

Kiemyster · 07-07-2011, 11:33 AM

An easy fix is to tape the seals of the windows in the basement from inside and outside. If you have a belco door in the basement as well, get some plexi glass and layer it on the downard part of the outer slope to keep water from running in and your good to go. this is how most people do a "ghetto fix" with this situation in queens lol. Ive never done it, but seen it executed successfully many times.

MisterSkiMask · 07-07-2011, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboarder109

The last couple days, we have had some pretty rough storms. Last night when I got home from work, I went into my basement to do some laundry and realized there was about an inch of water on 3/4 of the floor. The sump pump is working but the floor is not graded correctly so this water cannot drain to it. I don't have anything in the basement aside from the washer and dryer but last night I sucked up over 100 gallons of water with my Shopvac and I'm not going through that shit every time a storm rolls through.

I am thinking I am going to have to have a french drain or a B-Dry system installed. Anyone personally install one or have one installed? Any recommendations?

How many square feet is the basement? I am personally not familiar with this problem, but you can use a self-leveling Ardex product to get your basement floor flat.

wakeboarder109 · 07-07-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterSkiMask

How many square feet is the basement? I am personally not familiar with this problem, but you can use a self-leveling Ardex product to get your basement floor flat.

About 500 sq ft. The ceiling is about 7 feet and in order to raise the floor high enough for the water to drain to the sump pump, it's have to be raised about another 6" which I'd rather not do.

MisterSkiMask · 07-07-2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboarder109

About 500 sq ft. The ceiling is about 7 feet and in order to raise the floor high enough for the water to drain to the sump pump, it's have to be raised about another 6" which I'd rather not do.

oh, damn, I thought we were taking about an inch or less

Gregxi · 07-08-2011, 07:15 AM

French drains will help a lot, but do you know exactly where the water is coming in?
Does the ground stay fairly soft around the house?
Do you have any gutters that terminate near the basement door or around the basement walls?

wakeboarder109 · 07-08-2011, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gregxi

French drains will help a lot, but do you know exactly where the water is coming in?
Does the ground stay fairly soft around the house?
Do you have any gutters that terminate near the basement door or around the basement walls?

On the back of the original house, there's an addition which was not built very well and a deck that surrounds it. The water is coming in basically up through the floor under the area where the addition and deck cover. The gutters to need to be addressed. I think I'm going to have to rip off the deck and see what under it. I bought the house three months ago so I'm still trying to decide on basics.

Gregxi · 07-08-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wakeboarder109

On the back of the original house, there's an addition which was not built very well and a deck that surrounds it. The water is coming in basically up through the floor under the area where the addition and deck cover. The gutters to need to be addressed. I think I'm going to have to rip off the deck and see what under it. I bought the house three months ago so I'm still trying to decide on basics.

I am trying to visualize it but I keep seeing naked women frolicking about in the water in your basement. crazy

Anyway, is there a crack in the cement that you can see the water coming through? or is it weeping through?

If the gutters drain anywhere near that area you need to redirect them
Where does your washing machine drain ? and your sump pump?
maybe post a pic ....of your basement and some naked chicks

07-07-2011, 10:11 AM	#1
wakeboarder109 Lieutenant Colonel 180 Rep 1,734 Posts Drives: in High Country Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: RVA iTrader: (3)	Basement Advice The last couple days, we have had some pretty rough storms. Last night when I got home from work, I went into my basement to do some laundry and realized there was about an inch of water on 3/4 of the floor. The sump pump is working but the floor is not graded correctly so this water cannot drain to it. I don't have anything in the basement aside from the washer and dryer but last night I sucked up over 100 gallons of water with my Shopvac and I'm not going through that shit every time a storm rolls through. I am thinking I am going to have to have a french drain or a B-Dry system installed. Anyone personally install one or have one installed? Any recommendations?
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07-07-2011, 10:17 AM	#2
BTM Banned 499 Rep 10,309 Posts Drives: A///MERICAN!!! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: A///MERICA!!! iTrader: (11) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [7.20]	Typically the best action is to address the root of the problem rather than bandaid it. Have you gotten an estimate to fix the floor?
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07-07-2011, 11:33 AM	#4
Kiemyster Bimmerpost Resident Marijuana Consultant 476 Rep 3,202 Posts Drives: 320i, 325xi, 335Xi, 335i, M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Queens/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2010 BMW 335i [0.00] 2011 BMW X335i [0.00] 2006 BMW E90 325xi [0.00] 2011 BMW E90 335xi [4.00] 2011 BMW M3 E90 [7.00] 2006 E90 320i [0.00]	An easy fix is to tape the seals of the windows in the basement from inside and outside. If you have a belco door in the basement as well, get some plexi glass and layer it on the downard part of the outer slope to keep water from running in and your good to go. this is how most people do a "ghetto fix" with this situation in queens lol. Ive never done it, but seen it executed successfully many times. __________________ "AMG What! S-Line Who? If you ain't got that M I got no respect for you!" '06 Alpine Weiss E90 320i \| '06 The Green Machine E90 325xi \| '11 Alpine Weiss E90 M3 ZCP \| '10 Silverstone X5M \| '11 Alpine Weiss E90 335xi
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07-08-2011, 07:15 AM	#8
Gregxi First Lieutenant 70 Rep 338 Posts Drives: 2014 535xi Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	French drains will help a lot, but do you know exactly where the water is coming in? Does the ground stay fairly soft around the house? Do you have any gutters that terminate near the basement door or around the basement walls?
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