Customer Has New Water Problem In Basement

codaman

An old customer has called me for help. Her house was built in 1899 with 18" thick stone foundation, and swiss cheese slab. She had never had any water problems until recently. Behind her (uphill 25 ft or so) 8 new 4000 sq ft townhouses are being built. It would seem obvious that the new construction has a change in water tables, as her neighbors are having the same problem. As a courtesy, I helped her husband for a couple of hours try patching some of the cracks with hydraulic cement, which was like putting your finger in the proverbial dyke. I think putting two sump pumps in front and rear of house would do the trick but not sure. any ideas. thanks

genecarp

Yes, here is an idea, get the neighbors together who are having these problems, hire a lawyer, get down to the building dept, and start raising some hell. these new homes MUST control and manage their own water, and cannot cause a problem like this without responsibility. G

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genecarp

BTW, the water table has not changed, the grades and topo have changed, causing runnoff....

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WarnerConstInc.

How would the town houses or what ever even get an approved permit without addressing the allready existing conditions? Like the houses at the bottom of the hill? I think somebody is gonna have to shell out some clams for something!!

neolitic

Gene's got it.
There are roofs and hard pavement
that do not slow and absorb run-off
like the old landscape did.
They can't allow their increased run-off
to become a problem for existing homes.
It's a principal as old as common law.
The permitting authority should never
have allowed this condition to develop.

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woodmagman

While everyone is waiting for a court date and months, no…years pass the old home is still taking on water….
I am not familiar with your building practises or soil conditions; I do know that I stay driest when I wear my rain coat on the outside of my clothes. That is where I would start. Check the foundation design and see if it can be excavated, find a membrane that is compatible with your structure and put a weeping tile system in place to gather the ground water that migrates down the homes new rain coat. And expel that water back onto the neighbours property so the lawsuit has some personal interest….

neolitic

Shouldn't have to wade through
a lawsuit.
The permitting authority should be
able to demand immediate compliance.
Of course it may take a call from a lawyer
to get their attention.
As to a temporary fix, one would have
to see the situation, but pumping the water
25' back up hill might require some effort,
and some engineering.
Not allowing for pavement that's
32,000 sqft of roof at a minimum
shedding rain water.

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denick

codaman,

You say the water table has risen. Why?

Her house was built in 1899 with 18" thick stone foundation, and swiss cheese slab.We work on these all the time in the NW of CT.
Is the water coming up through the swiss cheese floor? or coming through the walls? Does it do it only while it is raining? or all the time?
I have about 50 more questions that go with this type problem.

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Nick

"Every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving" Albert Einstein

neolitic

If you hear hoof beats, why start
looking for zebras?
No problems.
Add 32,000 sqft of new roof plus
pavement 25' "up hill".
Suddenly there is a problem.
That's beyond coincidence.

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woodmagman

What other questions should this guy answer to get some help. You answer his question with a question.

WarnerConstInc.

I had to jump through some serious hoops just to build a garage at the back of a property here in town, the only issues I had to deal with involved water run-off, for a garage at the back of a property. The city's only issue before giving me my permit was water run-off.

I am thinking that someone is in some trouble.

woodmagman

If I were you I would not overlook any of the possible causes. Protecting your/their investment should be paramount. That can be forgotten in the fight to determine liability. Sure a letter or two and involving a lawyer may be required but the simple fact is that this takes time. Water damage is like cancer…….it has no time line.

concretemasonry

The water table now is probably higher that is was before the construction.

The increased runoff provided more water to be absorbed downhill, which always will increase the water table level.

If the water is coming in the interior through or around the floating basement slab, it is usually due to a higher water table. Sealing the exterior walls may not help much. Drain tile would definitelt help if there is a way to get rid of the water where it slopes away. Interior drain tile may be needed (and is effective) to reduce the leakage through and around the slab.

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Dick

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joelj

had similiar problem.dug a trench at the base of hill and funneled water around the property and made it come out in front 0f house. worked like a charm.laborous sure, but its better than water damage.

codaman

Thanks for all the replies. Yes the water is coming up through the slab and at the expansion joints, not the walls, this is why I think the water table has risen. Also, there is no evidence of any water running on the soil. My customer realizes now that they need to go to the building department, but we all know that may or may not lead to anything, and how soon that may happen who knows! To complicate things further, this is a partial rental property and the tenant has a bunch of their stuff in the basement. this is an pretty uneven slab which is why I was thinking that sump pumps may be the best answer to help control the water table level, but I am not sure. I would like to help them with having to send them to a dry basement specialty company which would cost them $$$$$$$. thanks

ps Denick flooding occured since last rain on Tuesday ans was still coming in today Sunday. BTW this house is located in Greenwich Ct.

woodmagman

What is a swiss cheese slab, it that like a platon product?

codaman

woodmag, sorry it is a poured slab that is pretty rough, cracked and uneven, with holes from the former support posts which were actual trees! 1899.. they don't build 'em like they used to........thank god! I am assured that there has never been a water issue before

woodmagman

got it. I had a picture of a grated product being used on the floor to divert the water. Turns out it is a swiss cheese slab literally . Good luck with it. Water always takes the path of least resistance. Catch it before it gets there and you are way ahead of the game.

cleveman

Are these the townhomes which are completed and for sale and the area was blasted out of rock? Sortof a cul-de-sac?

cleveman

Valley ridge? I guess there are ten of them up there. But I was thinking since they took a knoll and turned it into a plateau, this could be causing the problem. They could take all the rainfall that was going down 4 sides and divert it to go down 2 or even one side.