Sealing/injecting "floor wall" joint??

[dlamarche]

Hi Steve,

So happy to have heard you on my favorite radio staion. I have a question. I live in Central Mass and have had your company, as well as several of your competitors out to write estimates for my basement. All but one of the estimates recommend that I put drainage pipe and a sump pump. However, one was completely different and I was wondering what you might think.

This company suggests that I install a sump pump and then have then inject epoxy (I think that is what he said) into the floor wall joint. He said that this is a comman problem and remedy. If so, why was he the only one of four companies to recommend this method? Do you recommend this and do you do it?

Any assistance would be appreciated. Now I'm confused by all the opinions.

Thanks,
Diane in Central MA

[stevea]

Dear Diane,
Injecting the floor wall joint is not a good idea. First, ask yourself where the water will go? There is no way of knowing what is under the basement floor short of breaking around the perimeter. It is dangerous to try and stop water at the floor wall joint because it may cause your basement floor to heave. (I have seen a basement floor raise up 6-8 inches.) When this happens water will now come up thru floor cracks.

I would recommend WaterGuard sub-floor drainage system be installed. Over 650 million feet have been installed since 1994. Pioneer Basment offers a Transferable written "Life of House Warranty" on its WaterGuard systems.

For your sake, DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO SEAL YOUR WALL FLOOR JOINTS.

Hope this helps SteveA