I am not sure I understand every thing you said. Walkout basement
implies to me that one side of the basement has a door that opens to
ground level. If this is right can you put in drain pipe from the
trench to a lower elevation so you don't need the sump pump?

If the basement was done right, there should be a layer of gravel
topped with a vapor barrier under the concrete floor. If you can put
in a drain so that the water never gets as high as the concrete floor,
you are in pretty good shape. If you rely on a sump pump, sometime it
will not keep up with the water and the concrete floor will adsorb a
lot of water and take months to get bone dry again.

My shop is in the basement. I put drain pipe ( with holes ) around
the basement below the level of the floor and extended it out about
thirty feet from the basement to where it is lower. I don't have
much problem with rust. I do run a dehumidifier, but it is not a very
good one and only collects about a gallon of water a week.

Dan



(sandiapaul) wrote in message . com...
OK guys, here is the story. I found a lovely Swedish botanist,
proposed, and now at 43 I'm getting married. We found a great house,
well nearly great. The original part of the house is from 1820 and
it's basement has water seepage into the new (15 year old) walkout 21
x 24 basement. The owner put a trench(french drain) around the
perimeter of the newer slab and a sump pump to get rid of the water.
By close inspection the new part does not seem to have seen any water
on the floor, but the trench certainly has. Don't try to talk my out
of the place that isn't going to happen...What can I do to minimize
the rust effects on my machines and tools down there? De-humidifiers,
heat, ventilation...whatever you have tried and works.

Thanks to all!

Paul