Leaking bulkhead

[nancy]

Can a bulkhead, that was not attached to the foundation at the time of a house being built, be effected by frost heaves (such as shifting) and then leaking at the bottom of the stairs where it meets the basement floor?
What can be done to permanently stop the water from leaking in to the basement?

[craig@pioneer]

Nancy,

Thank you for the question. You are correct. Bulkheads are a problem in the winter and spring due to frost heaves. The bulkheads that are attached tend to move and float away at the top from the foundation and cause leaking at the bottom and side seams. A bulkhead that was never attached will move more freely and allow more water to flow into the basement. I've seen a bulkhead that has moved almost three feet to the side from years of movement.

One solution would be to have a new bulkhead and pre-cast stairs put onto the house and bolted to the interior of the the foundation wall. However, it may still leak after time from settling and heaving.

Our solution is to install a trench drain at the foot of the stairs and connect it to a SuperSump and pump it out to another part of the yard. We have literally repaired hundreds with this method with 100% success.

I hope this helps. Please let us know if you have any other questions. If you would like us to come look at it, feel free to give us a call for a free estimate.

Good Luck!

Crai@pioneerbasement

[stevea]

Bulkhead seem to be the most common basement leak. When pre cast concrete bulkheads are attached (or not) it is very dificult if not impossible for the installer to compact the dirt that is under that concrete bulkhead because it is angled at a diagonal to the bottom stair. When the soil does settle (usually when water seeps under the bulkhead and is directed to the bottom stair).

I would recommend that a flexible seal (see FlexiSpan) be apply to the bulkhead seams and a mini trench drain be installed across the bulkhead and tied into a sealed Sump liner like a SuperSump. This is the only way I know of permanently solving a bulkhead problem once and for all.

Some will tell you that you could inject and seal this bottom stair , however most times they will not give a "Life of House Warranty" on that type of repair.

Hope this helps. SteveA