Comments on: Central Ohio Wet Basement Quiz… http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/ A blog about the best of Columbus & Central Ohio by Maureen McCabe of Real Living HER Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:11:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: columbusbestblog.com » Blog Archive » Wet Basement Quiz Question 3 http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14489 columbusbestblog.com » Blog Archive » Wet Basement Quiz Question 3 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:29:11 +0000 http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14489 [...] Central Ohio Wet Basement Quiz… [...] [...] Central Ohio Wet Basement Quiz… [...]

]]> By: Maureen McCabe http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14462 Maureen McCabe Mon, 14 Jan 2008 02:24:15 +0000 http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14462 thanks for the comment David! Central Ohio basements are scary. thanks for the comment David! Central Ohio basements are scary.

]]> By: David Tamny http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14460 David Tamny Mon, 14 Jan 2008 01:06:51 +0000 http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14460 I'll agree somewhat with the contractor's answer to the question. Surface water control is always the first line of defense in the analysis of a basement water infiltration issue. I have seen homes with excellent grading and wet basements as well as homes with poor grading and dry basements. A basement is essentially a hole in the ground waiting to fill up with water. Ohio has predominately clay soil which does not drain. The water table also has something to do with the possibility of basement water infiltration. This is why the Ohio Residential code requires footing drains. Without a functioning footing drain you will likely get water in the basement if the soil is saturated with water. At certain times of the year when the soil is saturated you can dig down 4 ft and hit wet soil. No amount of surface water control will stop this water from entering the basement. Generally if there is a stain at an underground downspout conductor location you can assume that grading and drainage are the primary factor. If you have signs of water coming in at the floor/slab junction it is usually an issue with a footer drain. Each case has to be looked at individually. This is truly a high liability area for home inspectors. Especially when inspections are done during dry periods. There is truly no substitute for experience in evaluating basements. I can't give away all my secrets, however. I’ll agree somewhat with the contractor’s answer to the question. Surface water control is always the first line of defense in the analysis of a basement water infiltration issue. I have seen homes with excellent grading and wet basements as well as homes with poor grading and dry basements. A basement is essentially a hole in the ground waiting to fill up with water. Ohio has predominately clay soil which does not drain. The water table also has something to do with the possibility of basement water infiltration. This is why the Ohio Residential code requires footing drains. Without a functioning footing drain you will likely get water in the basement if the soil is saturated with water. At certain times of the year when the soil is saturated you can dig down 4 ft and hit wet soil. No amount of surface water control will stop this water from entering the basement. Generally if there is a stain at an underground downspout conductor location you can assume that grading and drainage are the primary factor. If you have signs of water coming in at the floor/slab junction it is usually an issue with a footer drain. Each case has to be looked at individually. This is truly a high liability area for home inspectors. Especially when inspections are done during dry periods. There is truly no substitute for experience in evaluating basements. I can’t give away all my secrets, however.

]]> By: Maureen McCabe http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14275 Maureen McCabe Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:43:52 +0000 http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14275 Chicago was built on a swamp.... wasn't it? My grandparents NW side house had a basement that sat 1/2 way above the grade... old neighborhood, big front porches about 6 steps up to the front door. Trying to remember relative's basements in Oak Park, Elmhurst.. We have heavy clay soil in Ohio.. I remember that from my first home inspection in Columbus... Oh I guess it was my second... wonder why we did not discuss basements on house number one. Or why I don't remember. I usually am pretty finicky about links in comments but I visited your site. I will go back and read about simple and inexpensive fixes. Thanks Chicago was built on a swamp…. wasn’t it? My grandparents NW side house had a basement that sat 1/2 way above the grade… old neighborhood, big front porches about 6 steps up to the front door. Trying to remember relative’s basements in Oak Park, Elmhurst..

We have heavy clay soil in Ohio.. I remember that from my first home inspection in Columbus… Oh I guess it was my second… wonder why we did not discuss basements on house number one. Or why I don’t remember.

I usually am pretty finicky about links in comments but I visited your site. I will go back and read about simple and inexpensive fixes. Thanks

]]> By: Michael Thomas http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14274 Michael Thomas Fri, 11 Jan 2008 14:30:32 +0000 http://columbusbestblog.com/central-ohio/central-ohio-wet-basement-quiz/#comment-14274 I've put up a page about an interesting wet basement here: http://www.paragoninspects.com/visual-guide-to-wet-basements.html in my home inspection experience here in Chicago quite dramatic water problems can have quite simple - and inexpensive to correct - causes: I’ve put up a page about an interesting wet basement here:

http://www.paragoninspects.com/visual-guide-to-wet-basements.html

in my home inspection experience here in Chicago quite dramatic water problems can have quite simple - and inexpensive to correct - causes:

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