QuestionWe live in NE Iowa and are getting ready to sell our 100+ year old
house. The problem is, during heavy thunderstorms (which occur
quite often), we get water in our basement. We'd like to try to
regrade around the area that is leaking to see if we can fix the
leakage with landscape work...we're thinking we will bring in fill
and grade it away from the house, then put plastic sheeting down
and cover that with rocks. Is this the correct approach? We can't
seem to find a setp-by-step guide to doing this...just suggestions
to try this first! Help! thanks.
AnswerSounds like what you are trying to make is a parimeter drain, but it may not fully intercept the water as it seeks to drain away during a storm, and into your basement.
I have seen "curtain" drains installed after the building is built, and they are designed to intercept the water before it gets into your basement. Usually a trench dug along side the foundation, with rocks and a drainpipe at the bottom, to carry the subsurface water away.
Great idea, IF you can slope the water away, but in some parts of the midwest there just isn't enough of a "fall" to get the water to draina way...nothing is lower than the bottom of your basement, in the general area. Maybe you may need a "sump" type drain, and this may affect your groundwater taste or clarity, if you have a high watertable.
Since I don't know exactly which part of NE Iowa you're in, I cannot say for certain that there are other "environmental" issues with dumping drainage water into open bodies of water, either. Each area has its own particluar regulations about "runoff" & "point-source" drainage. Check with your local agency for local regulations that may apply.
Here is a 揾ow to?for basement drainage:
http://www.ruralhometech.com/WetBasementDrainage/tabid/36/Default.aspx
From Tennessee, an informative paper on ways to avoid a wet basement:
http://web.utk.edu/~btschant/wet.htm
Iowa State extension info regarding leaky basements:
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM1560.pdf
good luck! -Marc
