WWOD

"OPPOsaurus WRX" (opposaurus) 11/16/2018 at 15:56 • Filed to: None

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what would OPPO do?

I purchased a house about 1.5 yrs ago. During the purchase discussions, I was told that the basement will get a couple inches of water in it once every 10 years or so. I have this written down in an email from the seller. That spring we had some crazy rain and the basement flooded. Ok so I should be good for another 10 years or so. Its flooded about half a dozen times since then and I am calling bullshit on what they told me . I wante d to finish the basement but would not want to do that if there is a good chance of water damage. Installing a french drain is a lot of work so will either cost me a lot of money or a lot of time. Would OPPO sue for the cost of the french drain installation or would you just suck it up and install it at a cost of your own time and the materials.

Party-vi > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:10

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Bad way to start but do you have a sump pit? Is the pump in the pit on battery backup? Can you locate the source of the water infiltration? I put in a french drain at my garage over a two-day weekend for I think under a couple hundred bucks, but I had a free trailer for bulk stone hauling.

T his seems like something that would go to small claims court depending on the cost to put in a drain. I would hire a professional and have them inspect your foundation to pinpoint the location of the infiltration (if you don’t know already), and then give you recommendations on how to correct the issue. A french drain may not solve the problem, or there may be a better solution.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:12

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Right now I’m dealing with a damaged drain pipe leaking water in my basement. Would’ve sworn the foundation cracked and let in melting snow but my landlord peeled back some paneling and we found the culprit pipe. So check your plumbing?

OPPOsaurus WRX > Party-vi 11/16/2018 at 16:17

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no pit. when we toured the house there were no pumps at all which also lead us to believe the basement was fine. Then suddenly on move in day, there were 2 pumps in the basement . I have two floor pumps that I am ru nning to get the water out. The water doesn’ t come in fast enough to keep the pump running so I run it, shut it off, let it come in and run it again .

I think the cost of a french drain would be about $5k. the materials are not that expensive, but its a shit-ton of labor.

OPPOsaurus WRX > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles 11/16/2018 at 16:18

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no, definitely ground water / rain

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:18

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I wrote something out, but after reading Party-vi’s reply: what he said.

For me, if I had a professional tell me that a french drain would solve all my problems, I might eat it and just do it. Suing people isn’t cheap, and time is scarce.

Party-vi > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:22

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Where’s the water coming in? It is a leak or just the ground water getting into your foundation? I’m surprised you don’t have a sump pit with a pump to handle groundwater infiltration - I’ve never seen a basement without one.

Party-vi > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:45

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I think the recommendation will be to cut and install drain tile, a sump pit and pump into the basement.

I’m worried if you start with installing a French drain you might not solve the problem unless you confirm this is a viable solution with a contractor.

Stapleface > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:46

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I hate to say it, but I think you have no shot of getting anything from the seller. I think you need to chalk this up to (an expensive) life lesson.

I'd do whatever I needed to do to be certain I have a dry basement. I can only imagine long term water penetration probably isn't doing the foundation any favors. 

Spaceball-Two > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:48

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WilliamsSW > Party-vi 11/16/2018 at 16:48

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They exist - I have owned 2 houses in the Chicago suburbs without sump pits- strictly gravity sewer systems. One built in 1955, the other was built a few years later (~1960 or so).

0/10 do not recommend.

WilliamsSW > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 16:54

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How much is a French drain, and are you *really* sure that will fix the problem? If you have a leaking foundation, the drain might help but not actually solve the problem.

For my $0.02, I would not finish a basement that just has a gravity sewer, period. Too many bad experiences with that - been there, done that.

I would talk to a lawyer - try to figure out how much you could recuperate and what your odds are (and if the seller is broke, just forget it completely).

Have you identified the source of the water/hope to hell that it’s not the floor drain?  

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > Party-vi 11/16/2018 at 16:59

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Plenty of houses around here without one, but “here” is western NC. Most houses on the flat don’t have basements because the weather isn’t cold enough to reward it or the water tables are high, and those places that have basements are often because of being on a mountainside, so groundwater is less of a thing.

My grandmother’s house has I think a drain somewhere in the concrete basement pad, but no pump, and it’s quite new - but it’s also on a hilltop on sandstone surrounded by sand and sandy loam before it fades into red clay , so...

WilliamsSW > Party-vi 11/16/2018 at 17:09

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I had a similar situation with my first house, and yeah, that was exactly the recommendation I got.  But it was pretty damned expensive IIRC.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/16/2018 at 17:38

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My house has a drain tile with 2 sump pumps. One near the garage runs a LOT when it rains heavily. I’ve been worrying I’m slowly pumping out the ground under my driveway and foundation.

The corner of the addition near there where it joins the house  has sunk about an inch since it was built probably in the 70s. I suppose I should get a foundation guy out someday. 

OPPOsaurus WRX > Party-vi 11/16/2018 at 19:16

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I seems to be coming in along the perimeter.  I'm pretty confident a French drain will do it.

The Ghost of Oppo > OPPOsaurus WRX 11/19/2018 at 11:26

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What did the seller write in the Sales Disclosure form? I was able to successfully sue our homes previous owners because we had proof that what was written in the legally binding Sales Disclosure was false . If all you have is an email, I don’t think that will hold much weight in court. But this kind of stuff is different state to state, PA’s laws are written to heavily favor buyers.