After a heavy rain over the weekend, my water alarm went off, and I found a pool of water accumulating in my basement. I had previously dry proofed the basement walls before purchasing the house. However, I'm concerned because my concrete floor has hairline cracks that seem to span the entire area, and when I step on it, I can feel the water squish beneath. I don't have a traditional sump pump; instead, I have an open hole drain that leads to a pump that triggers when the water reaches about an inch. I know I need to resolve this because the water flow beneath the house can't be good for the foundation. I also have gutters and downspouts that are supposed to direct water away from the property. What are some typical solutions for a situation like this in an older century home?
1 Answer
You seem to have a mud slab, which could be causing those cracks. It’s a thin layer of concrete directly on the dirt, so it’s not super sturdy. You might want to investigate the potential issues with your gutters and grading. If a lot of water is flowing towards your foundation, it could be a major contributor to your problem. If you’re planning to finish your basement later, you may need to excavate and install drains outside to properly waterproof the walls.