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Foundation problems during the construction - Help!

Topic: 
Basements and Crawl Spaces
Question: 

Building 1st Home (under construction) in Macomb Twp. NEED HELP can't take any more runarounds.

Block basement leaking from day one. Besides moist/wet walls all the way around, puddles form after rain. Setbacks put us through winter causing cracks and very slight bowing in spots (dug up necessary areas and repaired from outside after winter), now spring basement still leaking. One common answer we got (inspectors, excavator, plummer and basement guy) was grade not finished and gutters not done, this is normal, and when completed water will run away from the house so no water build up, no more leaking, no freezing water next to basement, problem solved (not). The rest of their possible reasons were all different blaming the outer guys.

City inspector said same thing with possible blame shot at every trade no definate answer. All work HAS passed inspections and they stand strong their minimum requirements are enough. Examp.(having clay in the dirt used for backfill "Everyone around here has in the backfill no problem.").

Basement guy parged the walls and added several coats of tar on top. He protests the clay holds too much water not allowing the water a path to reach drain system. And of course the waterproofing top nocth!? And so on.

Have already researched on the web. Not rich! Need advice to possible solutions, reasons, and/or who to contact for solid advice. Afraid waterproofing companies will sell their products costing thousands of unnecessary money.

John

Answer: 

John,

It is possible that all will be well once the house is completed and drainage related systems are in place. But "possible" is not good enough! I don?t like what you are telling me about your basement and I really don't like to hear that the foundation is "very slightly bowing in spots".

I am also concerned about using clay soil as backfill material in an area with drainage problems. It shouldn't cost much to bring in some gravel or similar quality fill material and use that as the back fill.

As for the comments that the work meets "minimum requirements" that?s not saying much. You want and need more than that and I would hope that your plans and specifications call for a higher standard, for example that the work be done in a "workmanlike manner".

You need and independent expert on your side and that has to be someone who is familiar with local conditions and is a licensed engineer. My hope would be that you end up spending a few hundred dollars and are assured that there are no problems but you need to spend that money to get the full picture.

One more point, if you are working with a general contractor, don't allow yourself to get involved in disputes between trades. Your general contractor (GC)is the party with whom you have a contract. It's the GC who is responsible for all of the work. I have seen cases where the GC was let off the hook by courts because the owner interfered with the project.

George