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wrote:
My 8 year old colonial in Southeast Michigan has a basement that leaks
after just about any heavy rain or snow melt. The water comes up only
at the point where the foundation (walls) meet the seperately poured
floor (slab) and not through any cracks in the floor or walls. I had
a local company come out and for around $5,000 they will chip away the
perimiter of the slab and install some sort of pvc channels to direct
the water over to my existing sump pump. After installing this they
would re-cement the channel and install a grate on the top to catch
any future leaks. Seems like a high price to me for the size of the
job (foundation is 38' x 22') and I got to wondering if this is
something I could do myself. He says they do the whole job with a
chipping hammer but I wonder if I couldn't cut through the slab which
is only around 2" thich with a circular saw and masonary blade. Once
cut I would imagine it could be broken free with a sledgehammer. Any
ideas from someone in the business or who has done this before? Any
risks I may not be considering?

-Dave in SE Michigan

Far too often contractors and home owners chose to treat the effect
rather than the cause. You want to stop the water from reaching the
foundation.

1. Make sure all down spouts are directed away from the house in a
direction that will nor flow back towards the house.

2. Make sure the ground around the home is graded away from the home so
water will not collect at the foundation. Make this at least 10 feet, 20 is
better

3. If you still have a problem, then the real fix is to attack it from
the outside. Dig around the house and put the drain at the bottom of the
foundation and arrange to drain that water away from the home.

4. Only after doing the above try putting in that inside drain system to
get rid of the water that should not be there at all.

5. Drylock and paints etc are a total waste of money for your problem.

Remember stop the water before it comes in, not after. It will cost you
less in the long run.

--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math