Hey everyone! I'm in need of some solid advice regarding water problems in my basement. A little context: my wife and I bought our house about a year ago, but right after we closed, the basement flooded. While I was overseas for military duty, I managed to tear out the damaged walls and carpet. When I finally moved in, I began renovating the basement bit by bit. I found a clogged drain, cleared it, and thought that would fix things. However, after the heavy rains this winter, I discovered more water pooling in the basement. Even after filling cracks with cement and using a sealing paint, I'm still seeing water coming up from some chipped spots in the floor. My basement is framed and insulated, but I don't want to continue renovations if I can't stop the water from coming in. Should I keep sealing up these spots, or are there better solutions to fix this issue? I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and could really use some guidance!
1 Answer
First off, it's crucial to pinpoint where the water is entering. Since you mentioned you've done some sealing and the water is still coming, I wouldn't continue with renovations until that's resolved. You might have drainage issues, cracks in your foundation, or overflowing gutters. It could be worth investing in a waterproofing company—they can dig around outside and fix things from the outside too. Start by checking for any cracks in the foundation or issues with your gutters to ensure water is being effectively diverted away.
That sounds like a solid plan! Just to add, I had similar issues, and once I addressed the drainage outside, my problems improved significantly. Definitely make sure that outside drainage is all sorted out first.