leak on carpet- sunkin floor

[lailla1]

I have a problem with my new home. My wife and i bought this brand new property on 1999. we have a sunkin family room. last year we noticed that every time rain, the carpet is wet. we called an inspector to check if we have a leak inside the house and apparently this is not the situation. i really think that the problem is coming from outside. (yard). what do you recommend me to solve this situation?

thanks.

 

[civilmg]

What type of foundation do you have...Pier and beam or slab on grade? How is your property graded?

 

[Rjeffery]

Did the house have a foundation drain installed?

 

[lailla1]

What type of foundation do you have...Pier and beam or slab on grade? How is your property graded?

Really I am not sure, but I think the foundation is a reinforce concrete slab. I really don't know how was graded but I noticed that every time it rains, there are areas close to the home that if full of water, like a little pond.

 

[civilmg]

i think Rjeffrey has a good question...where foundation drains installed?

Also, is the entire floor (not just the sunken section) below grade? Is there a fireplace eclosure near the area of soaked carpeting? In some situations, moisture intrusion through chimney flashing can travel withing wall cavities (without damaging celing, walls) and onto the carpeting. Are your windows properly installed/sealed/maintained?

 

[drt]

lailla1,

Sounds like you need to change the drainage characteristics of your lot. You need to create positive drainage away from the foundation and ideally towards some type of collection device (area drain inlet). Take a shovel and either raise the elevation of the soil immediately adjacent to your foundation or lower, say 5 feet from the foundation. Compact the soil with your feet, so the water will sheet off it. Clayey material is better as the water will be less likely to soak in.

It doesn't take much 2 % fall (ie. 2 vertical inches over 100 horizontal inches) is enough. Ponding of water next to your foundation MUST be avoided. Typically, you don't want to direct any surface water at least 5 feet away from your foundation. If you have roof drains, much sure that water is also directed at least 5 feet away.

Next time it rains, get your umbrella and check out how your lot drains. Or better yet, change the drainage and test it with a light sprinkling of water from the hose.

 

[Watermelon]

lailla1:

You're a structural engineer and you don't know what kind of foundation you have? You're puttin' me on.

 

[lailla1]

This is for watermelon.....I am not an structural engineer. as a matter of fact i am not an engineer. I was in the believing that this page is for any kind of person. May be i made a mistake to enter in this page. the other mistake was to don't understand the procedures. I really don't put the engineer title in parenthesis. i am a common person that need some help. sorry! Ivan Tirado