My house is built on clay soil with a substantial amount of ground
water;
the sump pump runs after each rain. In finishing off the basement, I’d
like to put down carpeting, but have a fear about moisture migrating
through the slab and causing mold. Any suggestions on treatment that
wouldn’t raise the floor height? Hopefully low odor if a sealant.
Edited 9/21/2005 10:14 pm ET by sawdustnchips
Replies
A sealant on the insiode of the basement walls would not work, cuz it will trap the moisture inside the wall. A suitable sealer on the outsiode of the walls would help, but you would have to dig down all the way to the bottom of the basement wall, all the way around the house.
But go ahead and do the digging, and puit in a french drain systen along with the wall sealer. That should keep the basement nice and dry.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I do have a drain line outside the footing, and damp proofing on the outside of the poured concrete foundation.
My question is about ground moisture migrating up through the slab.
Does the exterior drain pipe dump into the sump? I hope that's why the pump runs after rains.
Look at the Dricore floor system. there was an articel in FHB aboiut 3 issues ago.
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
They sell a product at the HD that is OSB adhered to a plastic dimple drain material. Snaps together and gives you a "subfloor" to install the carpet on....that's not a mistake, it's rustic
Just lay on the floor 6 mill plastic over the concrete slab, then install the foam carpet padding that has plastic plactic backing facing down.
Its a real cheap way to do it, but the disadvantage is you cant puchture it, the carpeting might creap and when you remove it there will be a whole lotta mold under it.
If the basement slab had the plastic under it, after the slab finally dried out, it would not have a moisture problem.
Use Xypex to stop liquid water, 2 layers of 6 mil plastic with taped seams to stop water vapor.
Do a google search for Delta FL, a dimpled plastic produst you lay down, then set the 3/4 plywood over.