FoerchK
April 3rd, 2010, 03:01 PM
Hi,
We bought a house 18-mos ago in Rhode Island. The house has a stacked, field stone foundation that is roughly twice the age of the 80 yr old house sitting on it.
The whole house has always smelled mildewy. The basement has always been moist. There is an old, capped artesian well in the basement but the water level was always too deep for us to see it.
The previous owners tried to finish the basement (studs, insulation, drywall, paneling etc.) but when we moved in, it was clear this all needed to be removed to help mitigate the mildew.
Because the foundation is naturally porous, we have always assumed that there would be flooding someday. We never stored anything in this basement, we don't even use the basement. And this week, we have had tremendous flooding - as have many RI residents. In fact, we can't keep it pumped and neither can the fire department.
Water is coming down from the walls and bubbling up from miniscule holes and cracks in the cement floor. The well over flowed and the water level per the well seems to be about 7 inches above the level of the floor. I can't help but see pumping as a somewhat futile effort right now, until the water table drops back to normal.
What I am wondering is if there is some way to make this kind of stone foundation somewhat water tight and to be able to someday use this basement for something - laundry comes to mind - or is this just how this house will always be?
Thank you
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3579498&l=9de22b93e6&id=803199703
We bought a house 18-mos ago in Rhode Island. The house has a stacked, field stone foundation that is roughly twice the age of the 80 yr old house sitting on it.
The whole house has always smelled mildewy. The basement has always been moist. There is an old, capped artesian well in the basement but the water level was always too deep for us to see it.
The previous owners tried to finish the basement (studs, insulation, drywall, paneling etc.) but when we moved in, it was clear this all needed to be removed to help mitigate the mildew.
Because the foundation is naturally porous, we have always assumed that there would be flooding someday. We never stored anything in this basement, we don't even use the basement. And this week, we have had tremendous flooding - as have many RI residents. In fact, we can't keep it pumped and neither can the fire department.
Water is coming down from the walls and bubbling up from miniscule holes and cracks in the cement floor. The well over flowed and the water level per the well seems to be about 7 inches above the level of the floor. I can't help but see pumping as a somewhat futile effort right now, until the water table drops back to normal.
What I am wondering is if there is some way to make this kind of stone foundation somewhat water tight and to be able to someday use this basement for something - laundry comes to mind - or is this just how this house will always be?
Thank you
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3579498&l=9de22b93e6&id=803199703