Best Way to Seal Rubble Foundation Against Water and Radon?
newenglandgarden
10 years ago
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akamainegrower
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agonewenglandgarden
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Rubble foundation - insulating
Comments (18)My house was built in 1830 in Sackville, New Brunswick Canada. The stone basement still has a mud floor. The basement wall appears to be 2 stone walls separated by 1-2' and the void filled with rubble. There are many attempts at moisture control incl. painting the walls and joists. The basement is only 6' deep in the back half of the house and 5' in the front half. I replaced 130' of 8"x8" sills already and have sealed the basement around the top of the wall. My plan is to dig 1'+ in the basement, place 4" of gravel, then a vapour barrier, then another 2" of gravel. I may pour sections of concrete over time. I already have a sump pit and pump and I am going to grade my subgrade to the edge of the wall and around the house to the pit. Currently the water comes right up through the floor. Does anyone see a problem with extending by vapour barrier directly up the walls also. The basements only heat is from my ductwork. I have an air heat pump as well as a 140,000 BTU oil furnace. I believe this would be an inexpensive way to make the basement available for storage....See MoreHow to seal foundation around gas line to fireplace? Thanks!
Comments (11)I've framed hundreds of wood chimneys, and honestly not sure the code on insulating the walls. I would say, the walls (inside the chimney) get insulated, then 5/8's rock hung for fire proofing. Is there anyway you can see behind your fireplace? My guess is it has a marble surround. If so, then it will be hard to see behind. There may be a hole on the side of the fireplace that you can get a small webcam in. If you can, try to see if the walls have insulation. If there is no insulation in the walls, thats another problem. The easiest thing would be to get an insulated cover/shield for the fireplace. Just move it when you want a fire. Also there is a pan at 8' for fire proofing. The problem is, if the pipe installer put the pipe in before the in insulation guys got there; it's hard for the insulation guy to get to the outside walls, because there's not enough room. Above 8' is not that big a deal because the wall between the chimney and house is insulated. The only problem I could see, is if the cold air is pulling down into the house....See MoreHelp - best way to ensure no leaking around chimney??
Comments (28)"Thoughts on best approach for re-work of siding/flashing greatly appreciated. Have heard that it might be best to cut into the brick and attach step flashing." Best way (my opinion) to attack the chimney/asphalt shingle area is with flashing and counter flashing. The flashing is typical step flashing. A piece of metal bent 90-degrees, one leg gets fastened to the roof deck with each course of shingles and the other leg runs vertically up the side of the chimney, floating (not secured) against the side of the chimney. The counter flashing covers the vertical leg of the flashing that is floating against the chimney. A groove is cut in the mortar joint and an edge of the counter flashing is inserted into that joint, held in with soft metal wedges, then the gap is sealed with sealant. The counter flashing is folded down to cover the flashing. It's a 2-piece flashing system where the two pieces move independently of one another. Here's a reference drawing to better show what I was trying to describe. When flashing a chimney, it's best to use a durable metal; typically copper or lead, or lead-coated copper. Something as durable as the chimney itself. If using aluminum, a thicker stock is more durable than the thinner gauges sold at most box stores. Your cricket or saddle? Due to the geometry I prefer to not shingle them, but they can be, especially if larger in size. Small ones are typically wood framed and completely covered with metal. Probably the most common slap-dash chimney flashing is simple single-piece step flashing that is "sealed" to the side of a chimney with several tubes of pookey. That is not the way to go....See MoreThis way to dry a basement?!
Comments (9)Here's a a visual layout of the basement. While it's not a finished space, it is used for hobby purposes. Being only a few inches from the wall should keep it free from foot traffic. Ultimately, I would prefer to stop the water from entering the basement. However, I want to first correct any landscape issues that might be contributing to the water source, as well as evaluate the current drainage outside and around on the property. GN Builders L.L.C, I'm not looking to install anything that permanent, just yet, but I like your first idea. Would it be possible to mimic that, and somehow have it sit on top of the basement floor against the wall? Maybe a design that could function as a gutter, and catch the water as it seeps from the wall surface, then divert it to the floor drain. Side note: I am not opposed to hiring a professional to provide a remedy. For the time being though, I simply want to divert the water while I get to know the house and property better. This will allow me to make a well informed decision about a more permanent solution. I'd love to hear suggestions on how to make this happen, or reason why this is not a smart approach. Cheers!...See Moreliriodendron
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agonewenglandgarden
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoliriodendron
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agosoutherncanuck
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agonewenglandgarden
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoliriodendron
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoakamainegrower
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agonewenglandgarden
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agonewenglandgarden
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoedlincoln
10 years agolast modified: 9 years ago1884farmhouse
9 years agosoutherncanuck
9 years agosoutherncanuck
9 years agoworthy
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agosoutherncanuck
9 years agoUser
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoSkip1909
8 years agolazy_gardens
8 years agoVith
8 years ago
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