What is the best way to stop rain water leaking into a stone basement?

Question

The house was built in 1861 in New England, and we need to do this in the most effective but cheapest way possible?

Answer 1

As said earlier, drainage sloped away from the house is critical... the ground should slope away from the house... if it doesn't, you need to make sure the downspouts are extended to a point that the water from them will drain away from the house. Worst-case scenario is that you'll have to dig to the base of the foundation, all the way around the house... install a waterproofing barrier and a weeping line and then hook the weep line into the main outgoing drain (somewhere on your front lawn) to take it to the street drains... big job... then backfill the dirt on top of the weeper...

An alternative I have seen is to dig inside the basement, put the weeper line below the floor level at the extreme inside edge of the foundation and tie the drain in on the inside of the house to your floor drain system... if you have one... 1861... I dunno...

Answer 2

The best way to stop water in the basement is to start at the roof.Make sure that your rain gutters are working properly and also make sure that your downspouts are draining away from your foundation and into an area where it will flow away from your house.Also aproper amount of dirt at your fondation will keep water from pooling next to your foundation.Plant hostas close to your house if your climate allows.They love lots of water and can help with keeping water from seeping to far into the soil.