I'm dealing with some serious water damage in a family member's garage. Water has been seeping in from the back, causing the sheathing made of a rock/drywall board material to become waterlogged and start crumbling. My plan is to remove the siding, replace the damaged boards, seal everything up with sill seal foam and caulking, and then reinstall the siding. The issue is that the ground behind the garage is about 4 inches higher than the top of the concrete foundation. I'm looking for advice on what materials I should use to replace the sheathing, any additional waterproofing methods I should include, and the best way to manage the grading of that higher soil behind the garage. Should I just dig it out and dispose of it? Thanks for your help!
2 Answers
You could also think about adding gutters to redirect any rainwater away from the garage; this could help prevent similar issues in the future. As for the soil grading, if you can’t remove it entirely, regrade it so it slopes away from the foundation. Using a landscaper’s tool can really help with that!
For replacing that sheathing, I’d recommend going with exterior-grade plywood or a fiber-cement board. These materials are more resistant to moisture and should hold up better than standard drywall. As for waterproofing, consider adding a waterproof barrier before reinstalling the siding. A good sealing paint on the boards can also help. And regarding the grading, definitely dig out the soil that's too high. You want to create a slope away from the garage to prevent future water issues. Don’t forget to compact the soil afterward!
Yeah, compacting is key! Also, if you're using plywood, make sure it's treated for outdoor use. And instead of sealing paint, you could look into applying a waterproofing membrane. Just an extra layer of protection!
Great tip about the gutters! I hadn't considered that. Thanks for the advice on the regrading too. I’ll look into those tools!