Question:
Hi George- Wanted to let you know that the moisture problem in our basement significantly predates the downspout removal for painting. The gutters may be partially clogged, but they do have leaf guards. They are also solid piped not in the french drain system. I think it is more likely that the problem is related to an adverse grade or something else. Any ideas?
- Kevin and Kelly from Seattle, WA
Answer:
Dear Kevin and Kelly,
You could be right about the sequence of events but I would still recommend that you deal with the trees, gutters, downspouts and drain system before you do anything else. Here is why:
The gutters have been clogged with leaves for most of the time, and that has resulted in roof drainage flowing directly onto the ground and right next to the foundation.
Even if all of the roof drainage water did go into the drain system, at least part of that drain system is made out of the 80+ year old concrete pipes and we know that those pipes allow some of the water to leaks into the ground right next to the foundation. In other words, the existing perimeter drain system allowes roof drdainage water to "load" the soil arouind your foundation with water. You want a tight-line system for all of your roof drainage water.
You will have to deal with the trees, and the gutter/drain system sooner or later, if you don't, you will have a wet basement no matter what else you do. So why not do it now and see how much that helps.
Last but not least, I have seen such problems many hundreds of times and have seen that dealing with tree limbs and the gutter drain system makes a significant impact on such problems in 95+ % of the cases and in most of those cases, nothing else is required.
As you know, there is no such thing as a 100% dry basement, but the best way to create a 95% dry basement is to start with a properly functioning gutter and drain system.
George
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