My unfinished basement currently floods after heavy rainfall, even
after paying a professional waterproofing contractor $4200. Since I
have I life time guarantee, they said they may need to create a trench
around the inside perimeter of the basement wall and drain the water
into a pump.

The contractor said they would use a jackhammer on the edge where the
walls and floor meet to create this trench.


Now, I have some questions about this ....

Would all this pounding cause damage to the house since the drilling
is done so close to the foundation footing?

Also, later on, I'm thinkiing about covering my unfinished basement
walls with drywall. Would moisture and mold develop between the
basement wall and the drywall?

Any advice on this would be appreciated.


Thanks.

You really want a drainage system at the outside perimeter of the
house to stop the water before it gets in. Also are your gutters
working correctly? How about the slope of the grade near the house.



"Eugene Chang" wrote in message
om...
My unfinished basement currently floods after heavy rainfall, even
after paying a professional waterproofing contractor $4200. Since I
have I life time guarantee, they said they may need to create a
trench
around the inside perimeter of the basement wall and drain the water
into a pump.

The contractor said they would use a jackhammer on the edge where
the
walls and floor meet to create this trench.


Now, I have some questions about this ....

Would all this pounding cause damage to the house since the drilling
is done so close to the foundation footing?

Also, later on, I'm thinkiing about covering my unfinished basement
walls with drywall. Would moisture and mold develop between the
basement wall and the drywall?

Any advice on this would be appreciated.


Thanks.

(Eugene Chang) wrote in
om:

My unfinished basement currently floods after heavy rainfall, even
after paying a professional waterproofing contractor $4200. Since I
have I life time guarantee, they said they may need to create a trench
around the inside perimeter of the basement wall and drain the water
into a pump.

The contractor said they would use a jackhammer on the edge where the
walls and floor meet to create this trench.


Now, I have some questions about this ....

Would all this pounding cause damage to the house since the drilling
is done so close to the foundation footing?

4 years ago I bought a house on which this operation had been performed.
They installed the system about 2-3 years before I bought it. The house
is about 50 years old. Long horizontal cracks (bad news) have developed
and expanded on 2 of the walls where the drainage system was installed.
The walls aren't in danger of falling (yet) but the cracks are
disturbing. I don't know if the cracks are concidental or not. Like you
said, a lot of jackhammering is done around the footers. I do know I'll
never touch a house with a similar retrofitted drainage system and
wouldn't have one installed. Live, learn and maybe sue someone.

If you have a choice, don't let them do this. As the other poster
mentioned, an outside solution would be preferable. Most likely much
more costly for someone, however.


Also, later on, I'm thinkiing about covering my unfinished basement
walls with drywall. Would moisture and mold develop between the
basement wall and the drywall?

Yes, it would probably mold if you don't take steps to prevent it. If
you can't stop the water from the outside then most likely a lot of
plastic film is going to be involved.

Doug