I just bought a new house that was built on fill dirt that sat for
maybe 6 months prior to building. The builder built 8 houses on this
filled in area, 4 ranchers and 4 split levels with a full basement.

My neighbors that own the ranchers constantly have water in their crawl
space. Even weeks after it rains the mud in the grawl space is soft
and they seem to think it's coming from under the foundation.

My house has a basement, but I have recently noticed cracks in my
basement:
http://utseay.smugmug.com/gallery/683511/1/29640121

Could this be because the water is coming up under my foundation? What
is the best way to find out? Someone suggested to me to drill a hole
through the concrete slab and see if water comes through during a good
rain. Does this sound like a good idea?

If water is getting underneath my foundation - what possible problems
could I have? Is the best way to fix it by install a sump pump?

wrote:

I just bought a new house that was built on fill dirt that sat for
maybe 6 months prior to building. The builder built 8 houses on this
filled in area, 4 ranchers and 4 split levels with a full basement.

My neighbors that own the ranchers constantly have water in their crawl
space. Even weeks after it rains the mud in the grawl space is soft
and they seem to think it's coming from under the foundation.

My house has a basement, but I have recently noticed cracks in my
basement:
http://utseay.smugmug.com/gallery/683511/1/29640121

Could this be because the water is coming up under my foundation? What
is the best way to find out? Someone suggested to me to drill a hole
through the concrete slab and see if water comes through during a good
rain. Does this sound like a good idea?

If water is getting underneath my foundation - what possible problems
could I have? Is the best way to fix it by install a sump pump?

wrote in message
ups.com...
I just bought a new house that was built on fill dirt that sat for
maybe 6 months prior to building. The builder built 8 houses on this
filled in area, 4 ranchers and 4 split levels with a full basement.

My neighbors that own the ranchers constantly have water in their crawl
space. Even weeks after it rains the mud in the grawl space is soft
and they seem to think it's coming from under the foundation.

My house has a basement, but I have recently noticed cracks in my
basement:
http://utseay.smugmug.com/gallery/683511/1/29640121

Could this be because the water is coming up under my foundation? What
is the best way to find out? Someone suggested to me to drill a hole
through the concrete slab and see if water comes through during a good
rain. Does this sound like a good idea?

If water is getting underneath my foundation - what possible problems
could I have? Is the best way to fix it by install a sump pump?


I would not drill a whole threw the Floor or walls, There is most likely a
vapor barrier you would penetrate it. Most concrete gets those cracks I
would not be worried about them unless they start spreading open The cracks
are most likely from settling. Your basement is dug down into the ground so
sure your going to get water under it.Are you getting water threw the
cracks? Is so I believe the make sealers. If there's no water coming up
leave it alone.

wrote:
I just bought a new house that was built on fill dirt that sat for
maybe 6 months prior to building. The builder built 8 houses on this
filled in area, 4 ranchers and 4 split levels with a full basement.

My neighbors that own the ranchers constantly have water in their crawl
space. Even weeks after it rains the mud in the grawl space is soft
and they seem to think it's coming from under the foundation.

My house has a basement, but I have recently noticed cracks in my
basement:
http://utseay.smugmug.com/gallery/683511/1/29640121

Could this be because the water is coming up under my foundation? What
is the best way to find out? Someone suggested to me to drill a hole
through the concrete slab and see if water comes through during a good
rain. Does this sound like a good idea?

If water is getting underneath my foundation - what possible problems
could I have? Is the best way to fix it by install a sump pump?

Hi,
Hair line crack on concrete is normal. Foundation concrete floor is
floating, it is not fixed to the walls. Sounds like those houses were
built on a lot where all necessary things such as soil testing,
drainage, site grading, etc. were not done.

The place I live does not enforce many regs - so I would guess none of
those things were done. Any other suggestions?

get a soil engineers opinion. if the fill wasnt properly compacted ypu
and others could be in for a world of hurt. go this immediately before
the builder goes out of business or disappears

You haven't answered the Question or I missed something . Are you getting
water threw the cracks? Water in a crawl is not uncommon. Getting engineers
and soil experts won't solve the problem will eliminate any residual cash
laying around. Most likely builder is incorporated can just close shop,
start a new CO. new name. your talking years of legal cost. Main question
What is the ground water hurting ? Not the concrete

wrote:
I just bought a new house that was built on fill dirt that sat for
maybe 6 months prior to building. The builder built 8 houses on this
filled in area, 4 ranchers and 4 split levels with a full basement.

My neighbors that own the ranchers constantly have water in their crawl
space. Even weeks after it rains the mud in the grawl space is soft
and they seem to think it's coming from under the foundation.

My house has a basement, but I have recently noticed cracks in my
basement:
http://utseay.smugmug.com/gallery/683511/1/29640121

Could this be because the water is coming up under my foundation? What
is the best way to find out? Someone suggested to me to drill a hole
through the concrete slab and see if water comes through during a good
rain. Does this sound like a good idea?

If water is getting underneath my foundation - what possible problems
could I have? Is the best way to fix it by install a sump pump?


A lot would depend on soil type, slope of the lot and surrounding land,
rainfall, drainage from downspouts, water table, etc. Your city or
county may have websites with info about soil and water tables. Have
sanitary and/or storm sewers? Live near lake? On a hill? Desert? There
are drainage problems a homeowner can correct without major effort, like
correcting slope away from foundation, extending downspout drainage, but
you have to understand the cause before you can think about correcting
it. Ask some questions anonymously of your local building code folks;
they should be able to offer some constructive input. Don't drill any
holes through your slab. You might also examine the builder's permits
and inspections to see if there were corrections he should have made but
did not.

Sacramento Dave wrote:
You haven't answered the Question or I missed something . Are you getting
water threw the cracks? Water in a crawl is not uncommon. Getting engineers
and soil experts won't solve the problem will eliminate any residual cash
laying around. Most likely builder is incorporated can just close shop,
start a new CO. new name. your talking years of legal cost. Main question
What is the ground water hurting ? Not the concrete



Water through the crack would be pressure relief. If there is water
under the foundation then he may eventually get the foundation to heave
and water to enter. He shouldn't wait until that happens to decide he
has a problem.

So far his cracks look normal. They look hairline in the pictures which
is for me nothing to be alarmed about. Unlike the cracks in my basement
floor which are about 1/8" wide.

Get professional evaluation now. I think engineer is good choice. If
you ask one of those basement waterproofing folks that are capable of
doing the repair they are guaranteed to claim they find all kinds of water.

I dont personally have a problem drilling a hole in the floor. My
basement has 3 pipes layed and the vapor barrier was broken for each.
Its only going to be a problem if your water is high. And if your water
is high you should get a sump anyway. Then there is also Radon..


--
Thank you,



"Then said I, Wisdom [is] better than strength: nevertheless the poor
man's wisdom [is] despised, and his words are not heard." Ecclesiastes 9:16