Call this premature. Or optimistic. However, now that I can see the basement floor in spots, I can see that there is indeed some water when it rains hard. It may be coming in through the window wells.

Since I’m fixing it up as a laundry/project room, I want to stop the water. My first thought was sealing the walls. However, I now hear that sealing the walls can be a bad idea. The water builds up behind the walls, and the pressure finally is stronger than the wall and the wall buckles. I think the grand finale is the whole house collapsing.

I hear the appropriate thing is to add a sump pump.

So, does anyone know anything about this?

A sump pump is only going to help you if the basement floods, aka, if you get a fair amount of water on the floor...... but they are typically located in a recessed location in the laundry room, hence if the washer overflows or something it drains into the sump area......

Sealing the basement walls helps keep down condensation and seepage from normal water levels outside the house...... again unless you are in a flood area of PA or a tidal basin there will not be enough water build up around the outside of the house to create that much pressure..... plus typically in homes in the last 15-20 years they usually have a drain field around the foundation that goes away from the house. This is located around the base of the basement foundation.....

also the outside of the foundation that is underground is usually treated to resist seepage but foundations do crack....

If it is the window well you can tell by filling up the well with water from the hose and then check it both inside and outside to see how quick the water drains from the well outside....and if there is seepage over the sill inside......

Thanks George. My house is 50 years old and not in a flood plain. I get puddles not swimming pools.

Now for vendors. Do you have recommendations? I'm at the southeastern edge of Lancaster Co.

Stack some books by the window wells and see if they get wet <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

I have looked into this a little for my house. There are lots of ways you can seal your basement but as GSN said, make sure you have good drainage around the outside of your house.

You may even just have condensation coming up from the floor. A dehumidifier in my basement solved a lot of my moisture problems.

Wow 50 Years old? Vendors for what? Sealing the basement? Go to home depot or Builders.... they carry sealant.... get a Roller and a brush!!!

Oh and before you frame your laundry room (if you plan to) put a moisture barrier behind the 2x4 framing.... Oh and also check the basement area you are finishing for cracks and such..... Another thing you can do.... put dry paper towels at upper and lower levels where you see the puddles..... like along the sill and such, if you find a wet paper towel at any time it will help you to deduce where the leak is coming from...

<small>[ January 26, 2005, 02:05 PM: Message edited by: hanora ]</small>

I'm not framing it out. Sheet rock is too expensive for now.

I have radon, but have a radon fan already installed.

I check the floor seepage as soon as all books are gone. June 3 to be exact if not sooner.

Hi GG:

The "best" way to keep the water out, but it expensive, would be to make sure the drainage around the house is correct. This involves lots of digging, backfilling with gravel, placing drain tile, etc. It "should" have been done during construction, but it may not have been. Also, you would place a barrier on the outside of the foundation. This is the "best" way.

If you talk to a local mason/foundation contractor, they can probably give you an estimate/discuss the options. There is stuff you can paint on the inside of the block...and it seeps in and seals fairly well...but the water on the outside of the wall...as you said...that is the fundamental problem.

Hanora has the perfect approaching for looking for mositure from your slab...plastic and tape.

BP, you seem to be laboring under the same misconception as my children. I am NOT a ATM gone haywire.

Digging up around the foundation is out. But fixing the slope around the house by adding top soil is in. I went out and checked it last night.

See I sometimes listen.

Once the books are out, I'll experiment with the various methods suggested here.

Thanks all.

PS: Anyone know anything about laying floor?

The local Home Depot has classes on laying floors and other home repair classes. This may be a good place to meet men too.

I need to get out more. I feel like I'm on a first name basis with the guys in the local hardware store, and now I'm dreaming about buying and laying sod. I lead such an exciting life.

I’m dreaming of renting a sod taker-upper and removing the zoysiagrass from my lawn, planting daffodils and seeding with Kentucky Blue. I like the Home Depot Idea. But won’t most of them be married? Do single men do home repair? And yard work? My eyes are glassing over. A home repair genius.

Or maybe not.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Do single men do home repair? </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Some men who do home repair are gonna be single <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

I looked into stuff like what BP mentioned that seeps into the block in your foundation. Some of them will also help with the radon.

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> http://www.radonseal.com/ </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Check out the site, there is a lot of information that might be helpfull to you.

WIWH

How dare you mention the D word!
I'm disgusted. I may be the only person who doesn't like seeing those flowers, but everyone has triggers!

<small>[ May 21, 2004, 09:57 AM: Message edited by: WishI WereHome ]</small>

I knew the D word would send you over the edge. I admit it. I used it on PURPOSE!

I watch MP & the Holy Grail on Tues. I think I shall be like the Knights. Only I shall be the Knight who says .... "Daffodil." There, I said it. DAffodil. Now, go get me a shrubbery.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial"> I watch MP & the Holy Grail on Tues.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">All Time favorite <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="images/icons/grin.gif" />

You better whatch it or NEwly may pull out the holy handgrenade.

That's why I said it is the most expensive method...and implied you can do other things cheaper...but not as guaranteed...and that you could ask...LOL.

If you have obvious "not" sloping away from the house conditions...and no gutters...so all the water comes off the roof and heads towards the foundation...yep...you are going to be wet unless you have outstanding drainage...and after 50 years...that which was perfect probably no longer will be.

Look up at the source of water too...no spouts leaking or dumping water towards the house, right?

I have gutters and gutter guards, and now I have birds which have decided that the gutters are great places to build their nests.

I can't find a ladder big enough to be able to lift off the gutter guards, so that I can move the nests, then put up screening to keep the birds out.

It's always something, isn't it.

Ladies, feel lucky you have a house to fix up, a yard to take care of, and all that good stuff.... You could have had a Spouse like mine that wanted to just take it all away from you..... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="images/icons/rolleyes.gif" />

George, Newly and I know we're really lucky. We even talk about it. Some of our luck was paid for up front, but still.

BP, I think not only have I got the wrong slope, I've got clogged gutters! I just found out as I was doing some serious weed wacking. There's a drip from a gutter seam. And it hasn't rained in 36 hours.

I do have a ladder thank goodness! I think that with the obvious stuff taken care of, and a coat of sealant, I should be fine.

Newly, I had those screens and they were more hassle than their worth. I saw a really cool tool to go on a blower. It's a gutter extension! The brand my local hardware store carries is "Echo", I think. I'm sure all the blower and weed wacker people will make them.

Back to raking.

And... braiding Daffodils! See you at 6, Newly.