Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems.

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
The Sanity Inspector
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

I've got seepage in a corner of my basement. It's right under
a frequently-clogged downspout, which spills into a planter made of
railroad ties, which hugs the water right against the house. I'm up
on the roof every month, cleaning the gutters out. In springtime too,
since with seven century oaks even the oak blossoms will clog them.

So anyway, I've been calling in waterproofing contractors for
estimates. I looked at www.bbb.org and
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/corporations/corpsearch.htm to weed out
obvious red flags. Of those that came out, I've been surprised at how
many different solutions the different companies have been offering
me.

Some wanted to chisel a trench on the inside, lay down some
plastic conduit, and duct the water out the side of the house, with or
without a sump pump. Some offered to dig up all or a part of the
exterior of the house, seal it, and lay exterior drainage pipes. Some
wanted to do some combination of the two.

Some gave me seemingly straightforward estimates, while one
gave me the new car dealership treatment, steering me towards a
particular approach, sending a manager out to give me a second pitch,
complete with a "now or never" price.

I'm waiting for one more estimate to be faxed over, which I
hope won't be prohibitive, since I liked this last guy's solution the
best.


--
bruce
The dignified don't even enter in the game.
-- The Jam

http://tinyurl.com/4sarw
http://postingwillbelight.blogspot.com
http://atlantarofters.blogspot.com
http://is-3.blogspot.com
  #2   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
Sev
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

I'd begin outside, starting with the roof- as in gutterguards-
downspouts should not be clogging. Perhaps somebody else has a
recommendation of which type to go with, considering your particular
situation with the oaks. Next, I don't like this setup of downspout
emptying into planter holding water next to the house- I understand
this is a way to water the plants, but then planter must have
waterproof lining, with drainage away from foundation. Why don't you
start with solving these simple/ cheap problems, and see if there is
still water in basement, before you spend a fortune?

  #3   Report Post  
Posted to alt.home.repair
m Ransley
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

Wouldnt a new gutter system be cheaper, I just saw an
andvertised-guarnteed no clog system. Even a larger size larger
downspout system with a greater pitch gutter may be all you need. I have
the same issue, with 80ft oaks, my gutters simply had to little pitch to
run water fast enough to force down crud. I just reset them to a greater
pitch and now no clogs, well we will see, I did it in fall, but 100$ on
gutter work is better than a leak system that may not work anyway

  #4   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
Joseph Meehan
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

The Sanity Inspector wrote:
I've got seepage in a corner of my basement. It's right under
a frequently-clogged downspout, which spills into a planter made of
railroad ties, which hugs the water right against the house. I'm up
on the roof every month, cleaning the gutters out. In springtime too,
since with seven century oaks even the oak blossoms will clog them.


Stop right there. That downspout and planter needs to be addressed
first. I suspect that will be all you need do and doing anything else will
be a waste of time and money. Gutters would be #2 on my list.

My advice is to fix the problem, not try and live with it by
waterproofing.


So anyway, I've been calling in waterproofing contractors for
estimates. I looked at www.bbb.org and
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/corporations/corpsearch.htm to weed out
obvious red flags. Of those that came out, I've been surprised at how
many different solutions the different companies have been offering
me.

Some wanted to chisel a trench on the inside, lay down some
plastic conduit, and duct the water out the side of the house, with or
without a sump pump. Some offered to dig up all or a part of the
exterior of the house, seal it, and lay exterior drainage pipes. Some
wanted to do some combination of the two.

Some gave me seemingly straightforward estimates, while one
gave me the new car dealership treatment, steering me towards a
particular approach, sending a manager out to give me a second pitch,
complete with a "now or never" price.

I'm waiting for one more estimate to be faxed over, which I
hope won't be prohibitive, since I liked this last guy's solution the
best.


--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit


  #5   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
\Moisés Nacio\
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates


"The Sanity Inspector" wrote

I've got seepage in a corner of my basement. It's right under
a frequently-clogged downspout, which spills into a planter made of
railroad ties, which hugs the water right against the house.


I would eliminate the railroad ties, water is supposed to flow away from
the structure. Proper grading away from the foundation may be the solution.

I would rectify this situation, before getting involved with waterproofing.
Surely, one of the waterproofing companies mentioned this to you. OTOH,
they probably wouldn't if they're not honest.




  #6   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
newfysnapshot
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

Extend your downspout away from the house. I bet that'll solve the problem
before you head out to tear up the planter. If that doesn't work then work
on the planter.
Gutter guards would be a great help against the oaks dispersing leaves and
would prevent clogs. I would have that done as well, just for better
drainage.

wrote in message
...
On Mon, 27 Mar 2006 01:13:08 GMT, The Sanity Inspector
wrote:

I've got seepage in a corner of my basement. It's right under
a frequently-clogged downspout, which spills into a planter made of
railroad ties, which hugs the water right against the house. I'm up
on the roof every month, cleaning the gutters out. In springtime too,
since with seven century oaks even the oak blossoms will clog them.


So anyway, I've been calling in waterproofing contractors for
estimates. I looked at www.bbb.org and
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/corporations/corpsearch.htm to weed out
obvious red flags. Of those that came out, I've been surprised at how
many different solutions the different companies have been offering
me.

Some wanted to chisel a trench on the inside, lay down some
plastic conduit, and duct the water out the side of the house, with or
without a sump pump. Some offered to dig up all or a part of the
exterior of the house, seal it, and lay exterior drainage pipes. Some
wanted to do some combination of the two.

Some gave me seemingly straightforward estimates, while one
gave me the new car dealership treatment, steering me towards a
particular approach, sending a manager out to give me a second pitch,
complete with a "now or never" price.

I'm waiting for one more estimate to be faxed over, which I
hope won't be prohibitive, since I liked this last guy's solution the
best.


Your first paragraph tells everything. The first step always is to
get water away from the house. Get rid of that planter, extend
that downspout away from the house, make sure the gutters stay
clean, ensure there is no standing water by the house..

Unless you are in a high water table, clay soil situation, that alone
well could solve your problem.

The other solutions are not worth investigating until improving the
drainabe fails to solve the problem.

Ken



  #7   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
buffalobill
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

read about requirements under search topics such as what you must do to
get rid of water before renovating a basement at:
http://www.buildingscience.com/resources/basements.htm

  #8   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
The Sanity Inspector
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

On 26 Mar 2006 18:04:42 -0800 in atl.general, "Sev"
shared with usenet this thought...:

I'd begin outside, starting with the roof- as in gutterguards-
downspouts should not be clogging. Perhaps somebody else has a
recommendation of which type to go with, considering your particular
situation with the oaks. Next, I don't like this setup of downspout
emptying into planter holding water next to the house- I understand
this is a way to water the plants, but then planter must have
waterproof lining, with drainage away from foundation. Why don't you
start with solving these simple/ cheap problems, and see if there is
still water in basement, before you spend a fortune?


Actually, the downspout doesn't enter planter, but drains away from
the house. It's when the gutters get clogged, which is frequently,
that water spills over and falls into the planter.

I've not yet seen the gutter guard that will turn big drifts
of oak blooms.


--
bruce
The dignified don't even enter in the game.
-- The Jam

http://tinyurl.com/4sarw
http://postingwillbelight.blogspot.com
http://atlantarofters.blogspot.com
http://is-3.blogspot.com
  #9   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

the gutter helmet things appear to work, shed debris while allowing
water to go down the drain. run the pipe far from the home hopefully
exiting not in a dry well which will clog but dump in yard at lower
elevation. good pitch will minimize debrs. the usual drop should be
more so debris dont settle and clog the line.

remove completely the planter by the house

Its always better to keep the water away from the foundation.

Over time it can undermine and cause settling.

  #10   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
dnoyeB
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

The Sanity Inspector wrote:
I've got seepage in a corner of my basement. It's right under
a frequently-clogged downspout, which spills into a planter made of
railroad ties, which hugs the water right against the house. I'm up
on the roof every month, cleaning the gutters out. In springtime too,
since with seven century oaks even the oak blossoms will clog them.

So anyway, I've been calling in waterproofing contractors for
estimates. I looked at www.bbb.org and
http://www.sos.state.ga.us/corporations/corpsearch.htm to weed out
obvious red flags. Of those that came out, I've been surprised at how
many different solutions the different companies have been offering
me.

Some wanted to chisel a trench on the inside, lay down some
plastic conduit, and duct the water out the side of the house, with or
without a sump pump. Some offered to dig up all or a part of the
exterior of the house, seal it, and lay exterior drainage pipes. Some
wanted to do some combination of the two.

Some gave me seemingly straightforward estimates, while one
gave me the new car dealership treatment, steering me towards a
particular approach, sending a manager out to give me a second pitch,
complete with a "now or never" price.

I'm waiting for one more estimate to be faxed over, which I
hope won't be prohibitive, since I liked this last guy's solution the
best.




Well I see you have properly been scolded about fixing your gutters.
Foundation drains won't solve that problem at all. That is water coming
in from seepage down the wall. Its not water coming in because the
local ground water level is too high. With that being said we can move
on to the foundation drainage.


Perimiter drainage is best since it makes sure the water level is
lowered before it comes in contact with your foundation. Interior
basement drainage is secondary and may not even work for you as this is

1. below your basement level
2. inside the perimeter

Remember, these systems are designed to remove hydrostatic pressure that
causes floor cracking and foundation problems. An interior system will
accomplish this, but not much for the damp corners. I hear interior
drainage is cheaper though.




--
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


  #11   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
Dana
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

Is there anyone in Griffin that can do home repair? If so, e-mail back.

  #12   Report Post  
Posted to atl.general,alt.home.repair
Holger Dansk
 
Posts: n/a
Default Basement contractors estimates

You may have heard of Marshall Swift, the building cost estimation
people. Their books are the bibles of many contractors and builders.

They are at www.MarshallSwift.com.

A book that may be very helpful for you might be this one.

http://www.marshallswift.com/p-27-ho...ost-guide.aspx

Andy Walton may have purchased some of their books. You might want to
email him and ask him.

Holger

Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Best way to finish outside basement door Fr@nk Home Repair 0 April 2nd 05 10:54 PM
estimates from contractors Kathy Home Repair 22 March 22nd 05 01:16 AM
Advice needed on new basement - sump hole higher than rest of basement Doug Swetland Home Ownership 1 September 24th 03 06:09 PM
Advice needed on new basement - sump hole higher than rest of basement Brad Home Ownership 1 September 24th 03 05:51 PM
Floor choice for walkout basement? FC Home Ownership 0 July 1st 03 03:28 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 09:52 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 DIYbanter.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about DIY & home improvement"