B. PERSISTENT MINOR SEEPAGE LIKELY:
The house condition and the symptoms observed are such that seepage is expected to occur routinely even during relatively mild wet weather conditions. This may be due to construction details or land drainage conditions, or a combination of both. Expect water to seep into basements and crawl spaces. A typical sign of persistent water seepage having occurred in the past may be a trough formed in the crawl space dirt (Fig. B1, Item A) leading to a sump pump (Fig. B1, Item B). Water should be expected to appear on the floor but is not generally expected to build to appreciable depths uniformly across the entire floor. This condition is typical for basements that have been dug out after the house was built over a shallow basement or a crawl space. This is also typical of basements with cracks through the foundation walls.
WHAT TO: HOW TO:
Efforts should be made to control roof and yard surface water runoff to the maximum extent possible. Given that these efforts may fail and seepage may continue, efforts should also be directed at limiting the effects of the seeping water.
Crawl spaces should be trenched to channel water to pickup areas and the surface covered with a vapor barrier to prevent deterioration of nearby wooden members, flooring, etc. Coving or sluice systems should be installed around the edges of basements to channel incoming seepage water to drain or pickup points. The homeowner or a handyman, if properly instructed, can readily carry out this type of work.
WARNING: It must be understood that persistent moisture conditions are likely to be destructive to a house, often in unexpected ways. |
