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Water in basement & Water in crawl spaceWater in basement and water in crawl space are common problems found during home inspections. If corrective actions are not taken Water in basement and water in crawl space should be expected to continue to occur. Frequently water in basement and water in crawl spaces are common problems that are easily cured. Prior to expiration of your inspection contingency, you should obtain a sworn statement from the sellers detailing the frequency and severity of water in basement and water in crawl space that have occurred in the past. The vast majority of water in basement and water in crawl space problems are the result of insufficient control of storm water at the surface. The ground around the house should be sloped to encourage water to flow away from the foundations. Gutters and downspouts should act to collect roof water and drain the water at least five (5) feet from the foundation, or into a functional storm sewer. Surface water is frequently found right near where water in basement and water in crawl space problems exist on the outside. Downspouts that are clogged or broken below grade level, or that discharge too close to the foundation, are the most common sources of basement leakage. In the event that basement leakage problems are experienced, lot and roof drainage improvements should be undertaken as a first step. 0060 DRAINAGE NEAR BUILDING QUESTIONABLE: In arid climates many structures have been built with little consideration given to lot drainage and when it rains (which is seldom) problems may surface. Water in basement, water in crawl space, are problems frequantly found during a New Jersey home inspection. In areas where rain is more common, homeowner modifications, fences, outbuildings and other add-ons increase the potential for drainage problems, wet basements and other deterioration. Sidewalks, patios or driveways, which hold water against foundations, are often major contributors to this problem In newer construction most municipalities require proper grading away from the structure, usually a 2% slope for at least 5 feet, but anything can happen during initial landscaping and after the first owner takes possession. In parts of the country where stucco is used as exterior siding high alkaline soil--especially when wet-may cause it to spall and flake away or cause the foundations themselves to effloresce and disintegrate. Buildings with slab floors partly or totally below ground level and those with basements may experience water soaking through foundations and exterior walls. A hillside property with a long driveway going down to the house may experience water running down the driveway into the house or pooling water against the foundation. If the inspector describes the problem as typical or minor you probably need only restrict the amount of water allowed next to the building foundation If it is necessary to pursue the problem further the first step is to find where the water is coming from. Is it coming from yard sprinklers, rain water from the roof, down the driveway, from underground, etc.? A roof collects a lot of water and is the source of many water in basement and water in crawl space, are problems frequantly found during a New Jersey home inspection. due to problems and water problems associated with the foundation The yard grading or the neighbors yard might be the source. It is rarely possible for the inspector to be certain what the total source of the water is. The owner's observations are the primary clues to the possible nature of any water problem If the problem is severe, the water should be "collected." In many cases this starts with roof gutters and downspouts. Water usually should not be allowed to run off the roof anywhere it wants. It should be brought down where it can be handled. Gutters then need to be inspected and cleaned periodically; they have a way of being plugged up when they are needed the most Catch basins located at low "swampy" spots in the yard are good collectors. Paved gutters are sometimes helpful but only for surface. Sometimes the source of water problems is in water moving beneath the ground and out of sight. This water can be collected by means of a french drain, weep drain, or subterranean drain. This drain intercepts the water below the ground. The difficulty with this type of drain is in deciding where to put it and how deep. Since no one can see what is going on beneath the ground some uncertain judgements have to be made. Probably, almost any drainage problem could be solved by a large enough system. However, as a french drain goes deeper, the cost goes up more than proportionately. Finally, the water collected has to be conducted away to a safe point of discharge. It may be necessary, in some more advanced cases, to provide yard drains to the street. These are really quite simple to install and very inexpensive, but do require a weekend or two of your time. Trench digging will be required and should be attempted only by those with strength and stamina. Simple yard drains will, of course, only be possible if your yard is above the street. If your property is below the street, or other proper discharge point, then use of a sump pump, to pump the water to a higher level, may be necessary. Water in basement, Water in crawl space, are problems frequantly found during a New Jersey home inspection. The above information was provided by TWI Systems Copyright 1995-2005 1-800-553-5660 |
