New Train Layout On Hold

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I am new posting to this forum, looks like a really good group of people here. Thought I would share my experience with everyone and I am sure some people on the east coast can relate.

One week ago this evening we had almost 4" of rain in one hour. Well, for some reason (I am trying to find out why) the water came running into my finished basement soaking the carpet and drywall. Well, I had planned on starting to build an O Gauge layout this year and am know playing demolition man! Started tearing out the drywall and found black mold growing - so now two closets are coming out also. There is one good point to this (only one) MORE room for the layout since the closets are gone[:D]. So I will have a nicer room for the layout with all new drywall - first have to figure out why the water came in[:(]

[jefelectric]

I sure can relate to your problem, although not recently. Back in 1972 we had 2' of water in our basement and lost a lot of stuff because it happened so suddenly. Corrected a lot of problems and have never had a repeat. Definatly find the problem before you rebuild.

Best of luck.

[3railguy]

4" of rain in one hour is pretty drastic and happens so infrequently, building standards aren't designed for it.

The framing behind your walls should of been sealed with membrane which diverts to a perimeter gutter. Also the masonary should of been sealed with coating.

You can bury a poormans culvert with a collection skirt around the outside perimeter of your basement. You excavate out, away from the wall, preferably the same distance as your basement floor is below grade, sloping toward the wall to a depth of 18 or 24" or so. You then lay down a 5 mill membrane "skirt" across this channel and up the wall. Over the membrane goes a perferated pipe (perferably SRV smooth wall) along the wall at the lowest point. bury it all with gravel with 6" of soil as a top coat over the gravel. This pipe can lead to a sump pump or to an area on your lot with a lower elevation. This won't stop all water but it will stop enough. Vegetation should survive this. If not, punch a few breathers throgh the membrane.

The costliest option is to excavate down to the footing and install a new drain tile and wall sealer . This usually requires a backhoe, shoreing, and costs $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the conditions

[Anonymous]

Did the water sheet down along the wall or was it coming up from a floor drain? If it was a floor drain, a stand pipe will contain the water. If it was sheeting down the wall, check the gutters and the slope around the perimeter of the house where the ground meets the cement or blocks. Also check for rod holes in the foundation, especially if it's a cast concrete wall. These are the locations of spacers that kept the forms apart for casting. Over time, the wood or cork spacers decay and water can seep (or sometimes stream) in.

[fifedog]

I'm feeling your pain,daniels. Just got home a little while ago myself. It's raining hottubs outside, and my storm drain and sump pump clogged up with leaves and other tree-boogers. Me and the Mrs just cleaned the cellar out,which also contains my train layout. I've never see rain like this in the northeast, but have dealt with water in the basement from time to time. Therefore on my latest layout, I,ve encorporated a combination of 4x4 floor joists with floor castingsscrewed to the bottoms. My layout height is 40 inches, so everything airs out ok.

[thor]

I can sure relate to that one guy! I live with my buddy who is a world class prevaricator. We had a roof leak about a month ago and in the end I went up and patched it rather than listen to any more endless discussions on why and how it should be done. Besides, my rooms on the top floor closest to the leak. Well the patch held even with all these downpours but dummy HAD to go 'look for himself' (Clueless, a complete waste of time, only did it to prove he wasnt really scared of heights!) and probably stepped on a blister, so now its streaming down inside upstairs and all I can do is hope the ceiling holds till the rain stops.

[Anonymous]

The foundation is poured concrete and I will have to get the rest of the wall out, but I see what look to be areas where there was a spacer or something where water may have come in. Also, we can see that the slope to the front of the house comes inward. There are no cracks in the foundation that I see and it looks like the water may be coming from up the concrete wall, not from the ground. Hopefully we won't have to excavate and can cure the issue by sloping the ground good enough away and sealing the walls. The house built in 77' and everywhere else in the basement is dry.

chuckn - I think the spacer thing may be right on, hopefully I can tell when I get the rest of the wall out next week. Wanted to do it this weekend but have to travel.