"Bryan Scholtes" wrote in message
...
I want to finish the basement in my 1955 rambler. For the first 50
years, this house had no gutters. When we moved in there was
definitely a moist basement. We put gutters up in 2005.

While clearing away material from the basement walls in preparation
for finishing, I discovered some crumbling near the foundation base.

The concrete blocks have efflorescence. Some of the mortar joints are
crumbling.

The new insulation will be sprayed polyurethane foam, so it will be a
perfect moisture barrier.

What do you think? Is this wall too far gone? Watch my You Tube video
and let me know....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIHm25scHEU

That video looks like it could have been shot in the basement of my previous
home. For 20 years I maintained and cleaned gutters, kept downspouts
directing rain at least 8' away from foundation, tuck pointed and scraped
peeling paint & efflorescence off the walls and never won the battle. Can't
give an accurate opinion on your basement but some old foundations and
basement walls just can't be waterproofed......at least not without a major
investment.