Gritz_1 wrote:
We have a bi-level home on a hill; recently the garage, which is about
6' under ground, has been taking on water after a heavy storm. The
house is on a slope, and we know that hydrostatic pressure is the
culprit. We asked 4 contractors for ideas/bids and all suggested a
French drain-sump pump set-up, which seems like the correct way to go.
The sticking point is this; the garage is a 2 car, divided by a
cinderblock, load bearing wall. One contractor says he can just go
through that wall, and around the perimeter of the garage. This makes
the job much less expensive, instead of going around 6 walls with the
drain, he is going around 3, so the linear footage is much smaller. He
says, the hole that would be cut through the load bearing wall is
insignificant, and will be recemented anyway. I tend to agree with
him after thinking about it, but I do not want to wake up with a
collapsed/cracked wall one day! I would love to hear everyone's
opnions.
My opinion is to regrade the back yard, and put in a swale to redirect
the water around the garage. If that isn't enough, bite the bullet, and
dig out the backfill on the outside of those 2 sides, and put in a
proper foundation drain, with proper gravel and whatever above. While
the trench is open, replace the waterproofing on the outside of the
wall. Interior french drains are a second-best solution in a basement,
where the floor gets almost no load. But putting them in a garage,
thereby breaking the link to where the slab sits on the footer, seems to
be asking for trouble. Not to mention, how warm does the garage stay?
Ever get cold by where the big doors open?

IMHO, water should be redirected or stopped outside the basement wall.

(Yes, I just had a site survey from a 'reputable' basement waterproofing
company, and even after I told him I grew up in the business and knew
better, he still tried to sell me snake oil. As he was packing up, he
even tried to offer me a discount if I would sign a contract and give
him a check right then.)

But having said all that- no, a small hole in the bottom corner of the
dividing wall, to tuck a tile under there, won't seriously affect the
load-bearing capacity. I assume you have a door through the wall
already? Just stay away from right under the door frame.

--
aem sends...