Basement stone wall ideas

Our basement/cellar has a cement floor and old stone wall that is not in the greatest shape. We want the area to be clean and usable – doesn’t have to be super pretty. We patched big holes/missing stone in the wall and were considering just cleaning it off and sealing it or painting it, but are concerned about moisture given all the rains. Should we not seal it to “let it breathe”? Another option is just putting cement board along it (again, moisture so regular drywall probably not great). Thank you!

Sherita

in Renovation 1 month ago

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Sherita | 1 month ago

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Thank you both! Agree the new format is frustrating as I would like to post a picture! You are correct Brownstone Home Inspection – the walls are ballast stone/rubble. The floor is concrete, not in the best shape but not terrible. We were planning on applying a thin layer of self leveling concrete – it doesn’t have to be perfect. And then on the walls, maybe a coat of white Thoroseal (like the kind used on exterior back brick of brownstones). There are no major moisture issues, and we will use a dehumidifier, but it’s definitely doesn’t feel like a “bone dry” environment. I just wasn’t sure if it was ok to use the Thoroseal or similar – like would it lock in moisture vs protecting the back of an exterior wall from rain? I have no idea – was just projecting 🙂

cate | 1 month ago

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In our experience, rubble walls and rat slabs always allow in a bit of moisture, even when there are not actual leaks, and at least in our case, this produces dust, so it’s never really too clean down there. Perhaps replacing the floor with thick concrete and a moisture barrier would help, but this is very expensive. If you have actual leaks, you would be wise to address those. Over the years we have had a few, and their causes were unexpected. In one case, missing grout in brick behind PermaStone. In another case, an old sewer line that appeared sound but had a small hidden hole and also lead joints that bent and leaked in heavy rains.

Brownstone Home Inspection | 1 month ago

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you know, they make this new website and i cannot see what is so great about it. i want to ask this though, can we edit a post once we make it? on the old one we have a minute or so to do that. also, why not give us the opportunity to delete our own posts?

Brownstone Home Inspection | 1 month ago

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Brick walls have to breath because they are higher up and the moisture will ruin the mortar, especially when it freezes. this below ground stuff is a little different and we are often not dealing with red bricks or blocks but rubble or ballast stones in old houses or pour concrete in new.

you will hear people on here talk about “parging”. simply, you can dust them down and fill the crevices with hydraulic cement. and on top of that, there are several products that can be used to water seal and some of those are white. I see a lot of this when i do home inspections and a lot of these old rubble walls can be made to look quite bright and passable for something nicer than a simple dark cellar.

i do water intrusion consulting (around roofs and parapet walls and windows most often) and frequently get asked about cellers. the proper way to do the cellar is from the outside (“positive side” sealing). Positive side works the best today they use all sorts of mastics but years ago (and in the case of my mother’s own first house) they would dig up around the cellar and put asphalt flashing cement on the blocks or pour concrete. People who do not wish to dig a trench around the house do “negative side” sealing and coat the inside, after pargeing. Read about negative side. some of these products have come a long way. know that negative side is not perfect and it will need maintenance because water tends to push it away from the outside.

also, you do not state that you specifically that you have moisture issues. i mention using the sealing product because my fear is, if you paint it with something not designed for this, you will have put something on that will impede a sealing coat should you decide to put one on later.

i will say this here and i tell everyone this when i do a home inspection: keep the humidity level below 50% in the basement. if the entire space can be kept below 50% and the moisture content of the wood joists can be kept below 20%, eastern sub terranean termites (the ones we have here) will not thrive nor will most other wdo.

Steve
www.brownstonehomeinspection.com