How to keep the water out of my basement

rswyan · Jul 3, 2015

Agree on tying in the gutter - assuming that it is not already tied to something.

If it is already tied in, then it might be worth checking to make sure it isn't tied into a perforated pipe that is already serving as a foundation drain. If it is, that could be a large part of your problem right there.

EarPlug · Jul 3, 2015

If going with a retaining wall you will need to provide drainage for the backside of the wall. Water backup or saturation will push the wall out especially with the freeze thaw cycle.

Egon · Jul 3, 2015

First thing would be to determine the grades and how much excavation will be require for a nice drainage slope. When that is known you can start to make some plans.

You don't need a retaining wall. Simple plastic lined trench may be a start. If that works there would be different approaches to making it look presentable.

cat fever · Jul 3, 2015

Build the ground level up such that it funnels the water to one spot. (does not take that much) Then put a sump in with a float activated pump, then pump the water to the gutter. Maybe the neighbor would help with the cost since it is their runoff causing the problem. I had a similar problem but it was easier to fix. See the picture.

HeLa · Jul 5, 2015

i prefer to stay away from pipe whenever possible. it's not a matter of IF the pipe will clog/fail - it's a matter of WHEN. swales are low maintenance.

hard to get an accurate idea, particularly re: property line, but i would look to dig a swale to catch the run-off from your neighbor's house and also keep the water running away from your house into the swale. assuming of course that there is a place to dump all of that water at one end of the swale (behind that shed? hard to see in photo). you can fill the swale with rip-rap or so if the space doesn't allow for a nice gradual transition - but this makes it tougher to keep clean, more maintenance.

farmer2009 · Jul 5, 2015

As others have said it hard to tell where to turn the water to from the picture.

I really don't see how a French drain would help here. But I do see two options.

1. Dig a ditch or swale. Line with #2 rip rap. Then top with a large grade River Rock. Turning area into a perennial bed so it just worked and didn't require constant maintenance.

2. Pipe in a curtain drain. Wouldn't have to be a channel drain. But would require dirt work to create a swag to guide water into it. 2" would handle a lot of water if inlets and pipe are sized right. I'd say atleast a 6" if not an 8".

wmonroe · Jul 6, 2015

Do you know where the water is coming from, general surface water, the neighbors downspouts? Best case would be to solve the problem before it gets to you place, however that might not be possible.

Where are you in sw pa? I'm about an hour east of Pittsburgh.

almaryholm · Jul 7, 2015

"V" shaped berm along property line with catch basin at low point w/ drain pipe under ground to drainage area....

MossRoad · Jul 7, 2015

I'd remove soil 2-3' out from your house, making a U shaped ditch 2' deep in the center the full length of that wall. I'd also slope it from that rhododendron down towards that yard barn so its 1 foot lower at the yard barn end. I'd put tar on the foundation a foot down and stick the plastic trench liner to your foundation. Then I'd lay in a 4" perforated pipe wrapped in filter cloth so it never plugs up. Then I'd backfill it with crushed limestone or round river rocks, whatever pleases your eye more. I'd lay in pressure treated 6x6 as an edge flush with the lawn the entire length. I'd direct the end towards the yardbarn to some other lower spot, like the poor sucker that lives down the hill from you. Anyhow, any water that runs from right to left in that photo will flow over the 6x6, hit the crushed rock, drain through it faster than you think, get down to the bottom of the plastic lined V trench, enter the perforated pipe and flow downhill from that point. It will remain dry under the plastic and your basement should remain dry since all surface water will be going away from the basement wall.

That's what I did in our previous house and our basement was dry from that point on.