Return-Path: Received: from H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU; 31 May 88 13:56:38 EDT Date: Tuesday, 31 May 1988 13:55:32 EDT From: Roy.Taylor@h.gp.cs.cmu.edu To: bovik@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu cc: Michael.Conlin@ius2.cs.cmu.edu, Rick.Busdiecker@h.gp.cs.cmu.edu, Barbara.Zayas@sei.cmu.edu Subject: Damp basement Message-ID: <1988.5.31.17.4.3.Roy.Taylor@H.GP.CS.CMU.EDU> Harry -- I spoke with two professionals, American ForeverDry and Action Waterproofing. Both seemed competent and their strategies would have probably kept my house afloat in the next Flood --at $50 per foot of foundation treated. Since my basement was merely damp and not awash, I opted to do nothing immediately. Winter arrived, things dried up, I located a text on residential foundations, and now the moisture is beginning to return. I hope my delay didn't cause anyone problems. ForeverDry had a truly industrial-strength method. Essentially they proposed to waterproof from the outside by treating the soil. A french drain and sump would then handle any remaining leakage. My fieldstone foundation makes this just about the only viable approach. Action was similar, but slightly less comprehensive. Plan B, currently pending, is to move my basement items away from the two wettest exterior walls, then find an experienced painter who's willing to clean (wire-brush) the current surface and re-apply a waterproof masonry paint (either cement- or asphalt-base). Such treatments last some five to eight years, so mine's about due. Here are the other responses. -- Roy ---- Message 1 ---- Date: Wednesday, 2 September 1987 13:21:55 EDT From: Barbara.Zayas@sei.cmu.edu There was a discussion about this on misc.consumers.house awhile back. I believe the concensus was to bank the soil along the sides of the house and to get a dehumidifier. I believe that people said the waterproof paint was a waste. I have no direct experience with this but need to learn about it quickly as our basement is damp. If you get any recs, could you please forward them to me (or post a pointer)?? Thanks. B. ---- Message 3 ---- Date: Wed 2 Sep 87 15:07:56-EDT From: Dave.Touretzky@C.CS.CMU.EDU A termite inspector who looked at my house recently recommended American Waterproofing (793-5811) as a good outfit to deal with basement dampness. I haven't gotten around to calling them yet, so I can't give you a firsthand report. -- Dave ---- Message 4 ---- Date: Wed 2 Sep 87 15:11:53-EDT From: Oswald.Wyler@C.CS.CMU.EDU Warning: one of the bozos to stay away from reads the bb. Oswald Wyler ---- Message 5 ---- Date: 2 Sep 1987 16:42-EDT From: Tom.Lane@zog.cs.cmu.edu Here's some info I got from a contractor who's about to redo our roof (and a few other things): damp basement walls are generally due to water in the ground right outside the basement. First, check your gutters and downspouts to make sure rainwater coming off the roof is ending up in the sewer and not in the ground. The second vital point is PROPER GRADING OF THE GROUND ADJACENT TO THE HOUSE. If the ground slopes away from the house, water tends to run off rather than soak in right next to the house. You want a slope of 1 inch per foot for at least 5 feet away from the house. If the ground is flat next to the house, get some dirt trucked in and lay it to create a slope; you hardly need a contractor for this, just some shovels and friends. Our man says that many cases of damp basements can be cured by this expedient. tom lane ---- Message 6 ---- Date: Thursday, 03 Sep 87 09:52:10 EDT From: ball (William Ball) @ a.psy.cmu.edu The one thing is to BE VERY CAREFUL. A few years ago the basement in my house had a small stream running in when it rained hard, so I had some estimates done. LOTS of estimates (about 5; it was a big hassle). I can't conjure up any names right now, but you should be aware that the the estimates ran from $1800 to $5000. AND IN THE END WHAT I DID WAS SLAP ON SOME WATERPROOF PAINT AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY!! Good luck, Bill P.S. These were all firms listed under "Waterproofing" in the yellow pages. As I recall Action Waterproofing Co in Squirrel Hill made the most reasonable suggestion (though they did NOT say "Just slap on some waterproofing paint"), with the best price. They also were rather diligent about following up, calling every 6 months or so for several years. (That might be good or bad, I suppose.)