No capillary break new basement – mitigation
Hello everyone,
I’m looking for advice regarding the wet foundation wall that seems to be a capillary issue or perhaps a leak. I haven’t seen that before and would appreciate any feedback.
It’s a new house, 10” thick foundation walls poured over about 12-18” of 3/4 stone. The slab is insulated with EPS over the footing, and vapor plastic. Outside it’s waterproofed with a spray-on membrane and delta mat. Soils drain well, it’s a hilly site and there was no rain in a few days before I noticed these wet spots. There is NO capillary break between the footing and the wall. It was my mistake not doing it as we were rushing to pour in the winter.
The basement is not finished yet and the walls aren’t insulated. I did it on purpose to wait a full year to see any leaks or defects.
Can you please share your thoughts on what could cause these wet spots, how to mitigate and how big of a problem is it if I unsulate over it and finish?
Thanks! Help is very much appreciated as it’s my house (a passive house in NJ) and I live here so I would want to have it done well.
Replies
in the commercial world, there are crystalline treatments like aquafin or xypex which are applied to the surface and create a lattice structure to make the concrete itself waterproof. they cannot bridge cracks, but may be solution for you? not sure of the complete situation -- whether it's rising damp or something else that is causing the issues.
thanks. Yeah I don't know yet, it doesn't look like there are any cracks or raising water. I do have a bucket for a sump pump it has some water but way at the bottom under the footings. I don't have a sump pump installed as it didn't look like it's necessary.