WHEN WATER COMES UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE FLOOR

A lot of people think they are doomed when they see that puddle coming up through the middle of the floor.  They think just putting a French drain around the perimeter can’t possibly take care of the water coming up through a crack in the middle.  And for the most part, they are right.  At Arid Basement Waterproofing, when we visit a house and are told that water comes up through a crack, our remedy is to extend the French drain “laterally” through the floor where the crack exists.  If the crack extends from the perimeter and runs 16 feet into the middle of the floor, well then we run our lateral 16 feet right along that crack.  Sometimes, there is no crack and water comes up around a lolly column.  Or, in extreme cases, I’ve seen water come up through the concrete floor all by itself with no seam or crack.  The concrete will definitely look a little pitted, or shaded differently than the rest of the basement.  But any which way you slice it, if water is seeping in other places than near exterior walls, a lateral is needed off of the perimeter  French drain to guarantee the area in the middle of the floor.

Note: When installing the perimeter French drains, typically there is a 1′ gap left between the floor and the wall (a floating floor).  If a lateral is needed, there are no gaps left.  The lateral is completely covered over with concrete.  Any flooring (carpet, tile, floor boards, etc.) can be put down and without any sign of the lateral.