basement waterproofing

[Lorraine]

Any ideas on the best way to go about waterproofing a leaky basement. Different estimates from contractors include using bentonite, shooting epoxy in the cracks, and digging from the outside to the foundation and applying tar and sealant. Help!

lfh82533@aol.com

[Ophelia]

I have the same problem. Our dehumidifier is constantly running if I set it on high, and the cement walls are actually getting lots of small bulges in them from the moisture, and I've had to throw a lot of moldy stuff out. The house was built in 1915. I also was looking at where they dig up on the side of the house, but that is way expensive (over $10,000 possibly $15,000). I wanted to do that because the other method I know of requires putting a sump pump in, but $10,000 or more is just way too expensive and we'd be broke the rest of our lives. So I have decided we are going to do this other thing, where they dig up the cement floor around the walls of the basement, put in drainage rocks and put some drainage things in the walls, and put a sump pump in. I think they do some other things too but that's basically it. Two brochures I have *guarantee* no more moisture in the basement - ever! I think it costs $2-3000, in fact I am going to be making appts to get estimates.

ophelia1920@yahoo.com