Time for a basement waterproofing inquiry!
Has anyone successfully waterproofed a basement and had it hold up to, e.g., today’s flooding? Our new-to-use cellar (approx 40% above grade, last refinished in 1966) handled all the recent rain until today. This morning we have leaking thru the walls and, as neighbors warned us would happen, backup into the toilet and shower down there. We are slated to renovate the space anyway, and now I think we should do some serious waterproofing of the things we can control (we cannot alas control an overwhelmed city system that pushes water back up into our house). I can wait for an awesome contractor. Thanks!

eg66
in General Discussion 1 year and 7 months ago
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stickerhappy | 1 year and 4 months ago
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Ok Im reposted this rec and don’t want to come off as a shill but our contractor did this exact job for a neighbor after they experienced years of basement flooding and they said it was totally resolved and dry since:
>>>
Seth at Design2Build. You can reach him at (917) 379-3300 . He’s the most ethical, detail-oriented, easy to work with contractor we ever used. He was not the cheapest (but not the most expensive either) and he really stands behind his work and doesn’t cut corners- a rare thing nowadays! He’s not specifically a basement guy, actually more of a full gut reno level guy, but he seems to do it all and a neighbor used him for their basement and their water/flooding issue disappeared. We have no affiliation with him, just have worked with him on two major jobs and had only positive experiences both times.

eg66 | 1 year and 4 months ago
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Quick update for the other waterproofers. We are three consultations deep and I take back all I said about HVAC companies; at least there I had comparable bids to look at! Recap: I’m in a detached 1930 house in Bklyn with a basement 60% below grade and intrusion thru the foundation walls with heavy rains. Also some sewer backup but only in extreme cirucmstances.
One mason said to waterproof from the outside (dig a trench on three sides, no drain, apply a moisture barrier, re-fill) for about 19k and no guarantees that it will work.
Waterproofing company #1 will do a perimeter proprietary french drain, two sump pumps, and vapor barrier on the walls. $26k.
Waterproofing company #2 said “do NOT excavate the exterior of a stone foundation!” b/c you’re disrupting load-bearing dirt. They also said you can’t put vapor barrier on stone walls because it won’t stick (whaaa?). They recc’d spray foam waterproofing and french drains and one double sump pump. $24k. ThE iNtE rNeT (reddit) says spray foam will choke my old foundation and cause it to rot and the house will go up in flames besides.
I am throwing in the towel and calling a trusted structural engineer.

igorbalmeida | 1 year and 7 months ago
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No I’m in Queens so the layout is different. My water comes in through the garage and once it gets about 2-3 feet high it can get into the basement area.

workisfun | 1 year and 7 months ago
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@lookingforanswers – are you in crown heights?

igorbalmeida | 1 year and 7 months ago
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So I have a garage and then at a higher level the rest of basement area. But yours must be on one level I see. Thank you for your answers

workisfun | 1 year and 7 months ago
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@lookingforanswers not sure what you mean about garage parking. We have bedrooms, bathrooms, etc down there. We had the whole floor chopped up, so didn’t have to cut separately for the check valves, French drain, or sump pump. As I’ve written in other threads, we also installed 1,700’ of hydronic radiant heating. WELL worth it and since the floor was already gone, the cost was significantly less than otherwise – at least $19k less. And yes – check valves can also cause problems.

justinromeu26 | 1 year and 7 months ago
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read what the plumbers on here say about the check valves. they are no 100%.

igorbalmeida | 1 year and 7 months ago
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I’m assuming with the thicker rate slab you don’t use the garage for parking.

igorbalmeida | 1 year and 7 months ago
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I did get a quote from 1st quality for just a French drain in the garage with the triple sump it was really expensive. They didn’t offer the exterior french drains but it would be good to put that too.

igorbalmeida | 1 year and 7 months ago
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The check valves downstream of the two bathrooms were those you had to cut into the basement floor to put im trying to visualize the location. It is project I want to do

workisfun | 1 year and 7 months ago
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In 2016 we paid $19,000 for the demo and re-pouring of a thicker slab. I got several estimates. Knockout Masonry had a competitive price and the owner, Jimmy, was extremely professional and considerate of the timeline of other trades. Family business. The French drain and proprietary 3-pump sump pump was installed by Quality First Basement. They offered 0% 18 month financing and a good warranty. That was $2,500. Additionally, their product includes several access points for easy service and cleaning. We installed check valves downstream of both bathrooms, and the third at the end of the line before it goes to the street. Obviously, we boxed the check valves out before pouring the new slab, for easy service and cleaning. On top of the slab, we installed a vapor barrier and a floating cork floor. We are extremely happy with it. The plywood and cork panels that are cut out on top of the check valves and some pump can be lifted using a suction cup handle that you can buy at Rite Aid for use in a shower. So, no hardware to trip on or recess in the floor.

igorbalmeida | 1 year and 7 months ago
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Workisfun I’m looking for a plumber to install some check valves. How many did you put and where did you put them?

cate | 1 year and 7 months ago
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Thank you so much, workisfun! We need to do something similar (most of our water is coming up from the ground). If you don’t mind, do you have an estimate for about what the range of cost might be for removing the rat slab and installing the French drain? Thank you!

workisfun | 1 year and 7 months ago
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We are semi-detached. Removed the rat slab, corrected backpitched main line first. Installed French drain on 3 sides and 6 feet around two corners along the party wall. That feeds the sump pump, which ejects into the main line. Then, I installed 15mil membrane over the entire 1,200sqft floor (1-1/2” insulation under that). I also adhered that membrane vertically along the 3 interior walls, like roliner, and tucked the bottom edge behind the French drain. Anything coming in from the walls is directed to the French drain. Any hydrostatic pressure meets the membrane and pushes the water to the perimeter and it the. meets the French drain. Also several check valves downstream of bathrooms. We are dry.

hasibur.rahman07 | 1 year and 7 months ago
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Glad to hear you did it and don’t have issues! I waterproofed from the outside and that was less than 5K. However not every situation is the same…
Some houses can ground water that can come up from the earth in the cellar or through foundation walls which not be accessible from outside. Others may have a backup of the storm drain etc. You have to find all the ways water might be entering and address it on a case by case basis.
A traditional brownstone will often not have a footing. This is common. When you go below that based for example lowering your floor then you have to underpin and create a ‘footing’.

brokelin | 1 year and 7 months ago
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Congrats on your house purchase, after trying to buy your rental!

eg66 | 1 year and 7 months ago
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Thanks, Roliner! That’s a lot of money, but that’s a pretty significant project, so it makes sense. We are anticipating that some structural work is coming our way, hoping I can kind of wrap it all into a gigantic “secure the envelope” project and have peace of mind, too.

cate | 1 year and 7 months ago
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Thank you roliner, this is very useful information. I must say I have never heard of applying a waterproof membrane on the inside. Only the outside, which means digging up the ground outside and then refilling it again. I have heard that water paint applied inside is not a good idea, because it won’t work, and water pressure will erode the foundation, and the paint will peel but I’ve never heard anything about an interior waterproof membrane.

eatshoppaybills | 1 year and 7 months ago
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They did have to underpin the foundation as part of the waterproofing project – if they had dug down and installed french drains without the footing, it would have destabilized our foundation. This is apparently very common for old brownstones. They did not dig test pits, they discovered this as they went – and to be fair, they did tell us there was a chance this would happen before they started construction. It was very worth it though to know that we don’t ever have to worry about a wet basement again.