oceanliner
02-13-2003, 08:18 PM
Interviewed two reputable companies concerning a water maintenance system for a 1941 house built on cinderblock walls thats has water seepage at the floor level.
Each was essentially the same, putting a trench around the interior perimeter with 3' french drain leading to a sump pump, drain holes in the lower block and polyeric waffles. Each spoke about engineering spacers. One indicated breaking up a 15-18" wide trench completely, installing and then cementing could leave the walls subject to future buckling because they could shift without leaving spacers - uninterrupted floor segments to the walls in places. The second indicated it could be done if we wanted, but lack of spacers would not cause the described problem, as the weight on the house and the concrete "bubble" where the first block rests on each footer was the primarily support for the walls.
Our walls do display some "step" cracks but no long vertical cracks at the joint. Each seemed to make a case - leaves an open question for us as prices quoted were comparable. Could someone knowledgeable weigh in on this subject for us?
thanks!
Each was essentially the same, putting a trench around the interior perimeter with 3' french drain leading to a sump pump, drain holes in the lower block and polyeric waffles. Each spoke about engineering spacers. One indicated breaking up a 15-18" wide trench completely, installing and then cementing could leave the walls subject to future buckling because they could shift without leaving spacers - uninterrupted floor segments to the walls in places. The second indicated it could be done if we wanted, but lack of spacers would not cause the described problem, as the weight on the house and the concrete "bubble" where the first block rests on each footer was the primarily support for the walls.
Our walls do display some "step" cracks but no long vertical cracks at the joint. Each seemed to make a case - leaves an open question for us as prices quoted were comparable. Could someone knowledgeable weigh in on this subject for us?
thanks!