I just moved into an older home (built in 1978) and I've noticed numerous small horizontal cracks in the basement's block walls. The previous owners installed an exterior gutter drainage system in 2021, but it seems like it wasn't enough. They also tried to 'waterproof' the interior walls with tar and Drylok, which hasn't worked well since water leaks in through the cracks during heavy rains. I'm concerned about water intrusion hitting the footing as well.
To make matters more complicated, there's an old brick patio outside that might be contributing to this problem by channeling water toward the foundation. I'm planning to have a structural engineer check it out, but I'm wondering what my best options are. If the interior waterproofing wasn't done, I would consider excavating and waterproofing from the outside. Is removing the interior tar/Drylok possible for external work? Additionally, I'm thinking of replacing the patio with bluestone and ensuring it slopes away from the house—will this help? I'd love to get your thoughts and suggestions!
2 Answers
Your main issue seems to be the water collecting outside your foundation. It’s crucial to address this or the horizontal cracking will only worsen. A structural engineer might suggest intrusive solutions that don’t fix the water issue itself. Consider calling a waterproofing company to install a proper drainage system outside. While it's a hefty investment, it’ll solve the problem long-term and allow you to finish your basement worry-free!
Definitely get a good dehumidifier for your basement that turns on when humidity rises. Focus on draining water away from the patio as much as possible. You can still waterproof above the patio if needed. Tackling this from multiple angles is key to keeping your basement dry!