Water seeping into basement

[accountingsucks]

Where I live we are getting our spring thaw and in one spot in my basement...right under a window....I get seeping of water on the basement walls. I have a drain in that corner so at least it doesn't pool in the basement, but the wall is definitely wet to the touch. This only occurs on the large melting days and also maybe once a year during very large rainfalls. During rainfalls, it is a matter of the window wells filling with water and spilling into the basement. I believe these are two seperate problems.

I do have weeping tile on the foundation of the home (I believe you guys in the states call it a french drain) which from what I understand should prevent this and the landscaping moves away from the house as per city guidelines so I am abit baffled as to what is happening. I read about a product called Drylok and it appears to get great reviews on the net and it is supposed to prevent this hydrostatic seeping that occurs. You just paint it on. The basement is unfinished except for some framing the previous owner did so I don't have to worry about ripping down drywall and what not. Does anyone else have this problem in the spring?

 

[FurBall]

I've used Drylok on my basement walls quite successfully. It's important to follow the directions and get full coverage everywhere. Seven years later and no problems.

 

[travelover]

I've had limited success with anything that is painted on the inside wall. Basement walls are not generally really water tight and depend on keeping water away through landscaping grading or drain tiles. Also basements made from block are hollow in the center and water can move parallel to the wall for a distance before it leaks out.

My suggestion would be to revisit the grading, location of downspouts and overspilling of plugged gutters, first. If necessary, you can add additional drainage with a trench filled with gravel (French drain) as long as it directs the water to a more advantageous place.

We've had a particularly wet spring in SE MI and I'm struggling with the same thing.

 

[FIRE'd@51]

During rainfalls, it is a matter of the window wells filling with water and spilling into the basement. I believe these are two seperate problems.

They may or may not be. However, make sure you have adequate gravel in the window wells, so the water will seep through the gravel into the ground rather than pool in the window wells and come through the walls.