wrote on 22 Aug 2007 in group alt.home.repair:

I have a porch that seemed fine when I bought the house two+ years
ago, but...

We have had heavy and frequent rains this summer and the minor leak
in my basement has turned into multiple nuisance and worrisome leaks,
creating issues in my basement.

I am not ready to replace the concrete porch at this time and am
looking for advice how to prevent leaking.

Please view pictures of the porch at
http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/c...trocket/porch/

Problems I am concerned about:
1) The concrete ceiling under the left porch corner is crumbling and
falling to the floor. The ceiling area is about 12x18 inches.
2) Three inches or so of water is collected in 5 gallon bucket placed
next to the door frame under the right porch corner during a heavy
rain. The water seems to flow down the heavy wooden beam.
3) For the first time in three summers, water is also leaking in at
the right front area of the porch floor.

Disclaimer: I'm a handyman, so I do everything, but I'm not an expert at
anything.

I think I'd start with free estimates from several foundation companies
to rule out serious problems that may be the root cause of your
symptoms. This recommendation is based on the cracks in the brickwork.

I notice there's no expansion joint between the concrete and the wall.
That makes me worry. Also, the general quality of the concrete work
seems poor. Does it slope properly to shed water away from the house? It
should slope at least 1/4" per foot. It looks to me, from your photos,
like the soil under the porch has subsided, causing it to sink unevenly.

I know you said you don't want to replace the porch, but that may be
your quickest, cheapest, and best solution. You can do the heavy
demolition work yourself, and leave the concrete work to a pro. The rent
on a small jackhammer for a day is low, as is the rent on a plate
compactor.

--
Steve B.
New Life Home Improvement