My basement floor went from damp to dry in a single weekend

I've had a small damp spot in my basement corner for years, maybe a foot across. It would get worse after heavy rain. I always thought I needed a full interior drain tile system, which a contractor quoted me $8,500 for. Last week, I finally decided to dig outside along that wall myself. I found the downspout from the roof was buried and just dumped water right at the foundation. I dug a trench about 15 feet long, laid in a solid PVC pipe, and ran it out to the yard. The difference is amazing. That corner is completely dry now, and the whole basement smells better. It cost me maybe $120 in pipe and gravel. Has anyone else fixed a big moisture problem with a simple outside fix like this?

2 comments

2 Comments

zarapalmer15h ago

Read a whole article about gutters causing most basement leaks.

parkerk5618h ago

That "full interior drain tile system for $8,500" quote really gets me. It's wild how often the big, expensive fix isn't the right one. I had a similar eye-opener with a gutter issue last spring. It feels so good to solve the real problem yourself for a fraction of the cost. Congrats on the dry basement!