Basement Moisture Advice

8 years ago

I recently bought a very cheap house built

in the 1960s. No sump pump. There is usually some moisture on the floor in the two corners of the basement. I have a dehumidifer running. I also use a fan sometimes to improve circulation. When it rains there is usually a small puddle in the corners. The base at one of the basement wall looks slightly like mold. My question is do I need to do anything or is this normal expected basement stuff?

Featured Answer

annied75

8 years ago

I would first go outside and look at the perimeter of your house. Ensure that you have gutters installed with downspouts long enough to carry rainwater away from your home. You also need to make sure that the land slopes away from your home.

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Comments (9)

functionthenlook
8 years ago
Is it normal for a 50+ year old house basement to fail? Yes. Eventually all basements start to fail. It may take years and years, but water/moisture will find its way in. It just depends if you want to fix the problem. It could be as cheap as fixing a sloping sidewalk or as expensive as a whole basement wall being dug up and re-water proofed. Unless you want to finish the basement you really don't have to do anything. Unless the ground is pushing in the foundation wall. Just keep on cleaning it up. Of course it will effect the re-sale.
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Sathya Ram
Original Author
8 years ago
That was one of the cheaper things I did. Made the downspouts longer and stuff, but it still tends to leak in the basement.
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
8 years ago
Have to check the grade it could be back-pitched and not diverting water away from the foundation. If you have clogged gutters because of overflow, leader extensions will not help you.

If you like to know if you have grading issues and like to get property water drainage analysis done, leave me your email in my message and I will provide you with details how to do that.

Good luck
geoffrey_b
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The ground should slope about 1/4" per foot - away from your home. Also, you could try landscaping with about a 3 foot perimiter, where you put down 6 mil black plastic, and cover with mulch or stones - you could plant bushes, before the mulch / stone.

Between the grading, and keeping water away from the foundation - it may work.
Sathya Ram
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you. The problem is that the left and right side of the house is cement base due to driveway. The only place that slopes down is the back yard, where there is definitely room to raise the grade. How much would it cost to raise the grade on one side of the house? I would have to hire someone for that.
Sathya Ram
Original Author
8 years ago
I didnt quite understand the black plastic method. Is there a video or something I can watch?
PRO
GN Builders L.L.C
8 years ago
Sathya,

It all depends, it can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to a thousand dollars, but first, you need to determine what is causing the issue. In some cases, a $10 gutter extension can solve the water issue if the property is pitched the right way and the water is diverted away from the house.

The problem could also be the seasonal water table, in that case, something else would have to be addressed.

I just sent you a video sample of how property drainage analysis being done.
geoffrey_b
8 years ago
Black plastic:

Polypropylene Ground Cover