"WE SPECIALIZE IN DRY BASEMENTS"...SUB-FLOOR DRAINAGE SYSTEM...518-452-8412

ABSOLUTE CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES, LLC

Wet Basements

The water is directed through weep tubes (short lengths of 3/4-in dia. plastic tubing) inserted into holes drilled into each cavity of each bottom concrete block. This includes the cavity formed when the ends of two blocks are mortared together, and the corner joint cavities. The weep tubes drain onto a drain tile pipe (a 4 in. dia. flexible plastic pipe with slits), which channels the water into a sump basket (a large plastic barrel). The sump pump, located in the sump basket, pumps the water up and out of the basement through a PVC pipe. The PVC discharge pipe must extend far enough away from the foundation so that the pumped water will drain away from the house and not find its way back into the basement.

This repair can be done by a homeowner, but it's very labor intensive. You'd probably be better off hiring a pro. However, it's the best way to eliminate a water problem because it brings the water in at the wall's lowest point-where the block rest on the footing.

Here's a quick overview of the steps involved with this installation:
First, you need to break up and remove a 12-to 14-in. wide sections of the concrete floor where it meets the wall. Next, dig a trough around the basement's entire perimeter in the area you just broke up, all the way down to the bottom of the footing (inset to Fig. B).
Breaking up a concrete floor with a jackhammer and hauling the old concrete and dirt out is slow, backbreaking work, especially if your basement is not a walkout and you have to carry the stuff up the steps. Breaking up the floor with hand tools alone is out of the question, except for very large, very strong people with little else to do!