Solving Basement Water Problems

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Figure 1: Idealized basement to keep out water leaks.
Figure 1: Idealized basement to keep out water leaks.
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Figure 2: Inside drain for high groundwater.
Figure 2: Inside drain for high groundwater.
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Diagram: Problems in home basement that could cause water leaks.
Diagram: Problems in home basement that could cause water leaks.

Laid-up masonry basement walls on concrete footers are sturdy, economical, and comparatively simple to erect. Combine those attributes with the fact that they allow great design flexibility, and you’ve got a pretty fair explanation of why concrete block basement walls are so common. Unfortunately, water leaks all too often seem to be another standard feature of block basement walls.

Solving Basement Water Problems

Once you’ve determined where the water in your basement is coming from, follow the key numbers to find solutions appropriate to your problems. Try the lowest-numbered solutions first, and move on to more drastic measures — such as digging up the foundation and installing a drain — only if the easier approaches fail.

[1] Landscaping

The simplest, least expensive way to solve surface water problems is to landscape the area around your house to prevent surface water from saturating the soil next to the basement walls. The ground should slope downward from the house at least 4 inches in the first 6 feet, and no shrubs or trees should be planted closer than 3 feet from the walls.

In a location where the terrain itself slopes significantly, it may not be practical to grade the entire area around the house to reroute drainage. In such a case, a shallow valley can be cut about 12 feet out from the wall to catch runoff and route it around the house. This depression need not be severe; a 1-foot-deep trench with gentle sides will channel a great deal of water and will still be easy to mow.

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