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Message |
    
Liz
Citizen
Username: Mschiquita
Post Number: 140
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 9:01 pm: | 
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I have realized, much to my chagrin, that we are having water issues with our foundation - water is either getting in along the foundation or coming up from underneath, I suppose.. (manifesting in wet walls in the basement, and little areas of wood rot along the floor boards in the finished part of it). Who does one call to get this assessed and fixed? I have no idea! Thanks in advance for your wisdom! |
Jersey_Boy
Citizen
Username: Jersey_boy
Post Number: 1133
Registered: 1-2006
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 9:19 pm: |
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I posted this before, but as wisdom goes you can't do much better. I had a wet basement, and I had a friend who does contracting come and look at it before I began to finish the basement.
He took me outside and we walked around the house where the leaks were occuring. He said, "Foundations aren't water tight, you need to redirect the water away from the foundation."
I found a downspout that directed rain into a terracotta pipe that just disappeared by one of the corners that had leaks. I filled the terra cotta with concete and bought one of those telescoping tubes to run the water awayj from the house.
Then we had a patio that was graded TOWARD the house. We redid the patio and changed the grade AND put in a French Drain uphill from the foundation. It emptied off to the side of the house where the attached garage was.
No more leaks except a few times in the winter when ice formed and the melt was being directed towards the foundation. A few strategic shovelfuls of the snow and ice and it corrected.
I found that experience very enlightening and am glad to share it with you.
Good luck,
J.B. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 98
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, June 19, 2006 - 9:23 pm: |
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If you've already walked around your house during a rainstorm to see where water might be collecting, redirecting downspouts away from the house, etc. and you're still getting water, either an engineer or a landscape architect (not designer) would be your best bet. If you call a waterproofer, s/he's going to tell you that the basement needs to be waterproofed (which may be true, but s/he's got a vested interest in solving the problem). Same with a landscape designer, gutter contractor, etc. At least that's been my experience. An engineer can look at the whole system and make recommendations that will solve your problem.
Good luck. Water issues are so not fun. |
Nam10
Citizen
Username: Nam10
Post Number: 9
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 9:02 pm: |
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what kind of engineer would you use? How do you find them? |
Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 1289
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, June 22, 2006 - 9:10 pm: |
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You need an engineer who is well versed in structural issues. Some home inspectors are also engineers. Go to the American Society of Home Inspectors web site (ashi.org). Click on find an inspector, and look for one in this area who is also an engineer. |
Elizabeth
Citizen
Username: Momof4peepers
Post Number: 99
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Friday, June 23, 2006 - 9:05 am: |
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Foresight Engineering did our home inspection, but I seem to recall that they were primarily engineers, and home inspections were a sideline. You might try them - at least it's a name to call. And ASHI.org is also a good resource. |
rocky smith
Citizen
Username: Randy
Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 9:16 am: |
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Avellino masonry has done extensive waterproofing projects both inside and outside of our home, and we were very pleased with their services. www.avellinomasonry.com
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Farida Agustiani
Citizen
Username: Chinzo
Post Number: 35
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 8:25 pm: |
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rocky smith only 3 post all for Avellino.........hummm? |
Liz
Citizen
Username: Mschiquita
Post Number: 142
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 - 9:23 pm: |
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Thank you to all who have added their thoughts and wisdom. We appreciate all of it and will definitely do a tour around the house ourselves to see what we might be able to do, and also look into getting an/a few engineer/landscape architect's opinion(s). |
LilLB
Citizen
Username: Lillb
Post Number: 1892
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 28, 2006 - 9:14 am: |
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Farida - couldn't help but notice that the only posts "Rocky" has made have been for Avellino (all in the last week). I hope I'm wrong in thinking that this is someone from Avellino - they get enough positive plugs for their work on this board, I hope they wouldn't think of ruining their reputation by plugging themselves on this board as though they are not affiliated with the company. Again - I really hope I'm wrong about that...
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jewel nile
Citizen
Username: Jerseybound
Post Number: 3
Registered: 6-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, June 29, 2006 - 11:24 am: |
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Farida,
It took me a few minutes to figure it out - the poster named Rocky Smith - not a very inventive alias. Rocky = stone = mason? Sure seems like a set up name. Makes me wonder if Avellino uses other names to hype their work.
I guess when it comes time to ask for painter referrals I should stay away from anyone with a user name of "oil base ollie" |
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