I'm looking for advice on whether or not I should waterproof my basement
walls in order to eliminate dampness on the basement floor.

The dampness appears to be the result of moisture rising through the
2-inches of concrete. Our house was built about 85 years ago. It has a
clay-brick foundation, possibly without any weeping tiles.

Since the basement is partly finished, installing a new, sealed and
insulated floor is not an option. I wonder if waterproofing the walls and
installing new weeping tiles will likely solve the floor dampness problem.
Some people have suggested that waterproofing the walls will only prevent
wall dampness. They say that water might well still enter the basement
through the floor.

Any advice on this point much appreciated.

Ted Fairhurst

Ted Fairhurst wrote:
I'm looking for advice on whether or not I should waterproof my basement
walls in order to eliminate dampness on the basement floor.

The dampness appears to be the result of moisture rising through the
2-inches of concrete. Our house was built about 85 years ago. It has a
clay-brick foundation, possibly without any weeping tiles.

Since the basement is partly finished, installing a new, sealed and
insulated floor is not an option. I wonder if waterproofing the walls and
installing new weeping tiles will likely solve the floor dampness problem.
Some people have suggested that waterproofing the walls will only prevent
wall dampness. They say that water might well still enter the basement
through the floor.

Any advice on this point much appreciated.

Ted Fairhurst

97.25% of the time waterproofing walls will not help. ... Well at lest
it does not help when you are trying to do it from the inside.

To solve the problem you need to get the water away from the
foundation/wall/floor before it gets to it. To do that you need to make
sure all the ground around your home slopes away from you foundation. You
need to make sure not gutters etc. empty anywhere close to the foundation.
Finally you need to provide a way for water that does get their naturally
will find it easier to flow away from your home, than into it.

Frankly I doubt if waterproofing the walls will proved any relief at
all.




--
Joseph E. Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

Install a sump and pump in a corner of the unfinished portion and hopefully
that will lower the water table enuf to solve the problem. If not a french
drain around the outside of the house. I assume your gutters work and the
grade slopes away from the foundation walls or fix those first.


"Ted Fairhurst" wrote in message
. rogers.com...

I'm looking for advice on whether or not I should waterproof my basement
walls in order to eliminate dampness on the basement floor.

The dampness appears to be the result of moisture rising through the
2-inches of concrete. Our house was built about 85 years ago. It has a
clay-brick foundation, possibly without any weeping tiles.

Since the basement is partly finished, installing a new, sealed and
insulated floor is not an option. I wonder if waterproofing the walls and
installing new weeping tiles will likely solve the floor dampness problem.
Some people have suggested that waterproofing the walls will only prevent
wall dampness. They say that water might well still enter the basement
through the floor.

Any advice on this point much appreciated.

Ted Fairhurst

A sump pump needs drain pipes leading to it, so in your case a new sump well
won't do much.
And don't build a french drain around the house either. You are trying to
"repel" water, not collect it against the house.
-B

"Art" wrote in message
link.net...
Install a sump and pump in a corner of the unfinished portion and
hopefully
that will lower the water table enuf to solve the problem. If not a
french
drain around the outside of the house. I assume your gutters work and
the
grade slopes away from the foundation walls or fix those first.


"Ted Fairhurst" wrote in message
. rogers.com...

I'm looking for advice on whether or not I should waterproof my basement
walls in order to eliminate dampness on the basement floor.

The dampness appears to be the result of moisture rising through the
2-inches of concrete. Our house was built about 85 years ago. It has a
clay-brick foundation, possibly without any weeping tiles.

Since the basement is partly finished, installing a new, sealed and
insulated floor is not an option. I wonder if waterproofing the walls
and
installing new weeping tiles will likely solve the floor dampness
problem.
Some people have suggested that waterproofing the walls will only
prevent
wall dampness. They say that water might well still enter the basement
through the floor.

Any advice on this point much appreciated.

Ted Fairhurst

If there is a bed of gravel under the concrete floor it will help collect
the water to the sump.
THe french drain drains off water so there is no hydraulic pressure against
the concrete foundation and the interior stays dry.


"B" wrote in message
.com...
A sump pump needs drain pipes leading to it, so in your case a new sump
well
won't do much.
And don't build a french drain around the house either. You are trying to
"repel" water, not collect it against the house.
-B

"Art" wrote in message
link.net...
Install a sump and pump in a corner of the unfinished portion and
hopefully
that will lower the water table enuf to solve the problem. If not a
french
drain around the outside of the house. I assume your gutters work and
the
grade slopes away from the foundation walls or fix those first.


"Ted Fairhurst" wrote in message
. rogers.com...

I'm looking for advice on whether or not I should waterproof my
basement
walls in order to eliminate dampness on the basement floor.

The dampness appears to be the result of moisture rising through the
2-inches of concrete. Our house was built about 85 years ago. It has
a
clay-brick foundation, possibly without any weeping tiles.

Since the basement is partly finished, installing a new, sealed and
insulated floor is not an option. I wonder if waterproofing the walls
and
installing new weeping tiles will likely solve the floor dampness
problem.
Some people have suggested that waterproofing the walls will only
prevent
wall dampness. They say that water might well still enter the
basement
through the floor.

Any advice on this point much appreciated.

Ted Fairhurst

You might consider raising the basement, 5 feet down, 3 feet above
ground ...then back fill the area to suit your needs..or send me a pic
of the visit www.do-it-yourselfer.com
for real time help and suggestions.


--
Stantanna
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