mudmixer

neal -

I have no idea who "they" are.

Very often, the exterior drain tiles on existing structures are very costly or ineffective because of installation problems (patios, sidewalks, attached garages, steps and landscaping). If the basement is unfinished, it is a "piece of cake" to install interior drain tile at the level of the bottom of the footings, put in a sump and provide power and a means to pump out any water when required. An interior system also does a better job of reducing the upward hydrostatic force on the basement floor slab.

Obviously, both interior and exterior systems combined would be very cheap on new construction, but few contractors will include it as a standard of construction quality.

Dick

nealtw

Dick: "3 of them" are the "they" I was talking about. The problem is with alot of specialists is that they speciallize. If the three of them all specialize in interior drains that is what they will requemend. As you say the decks and driveways and landscape is a consideation but a specialist in outside drain may be able to solve that some of that.
I do agree much can be said about pressure under the floor, after the floor broke in my dads house we lowered the drain tile to below the footing on the outside, I beleive that is where all drains should be.

strategery

Good point, Neal.

I did talk to 3 basement waterproofing companies that all specialize in the interior or "negative" side I think it's called. 2 of them will perform the work and install a sump pump. 1 of them said the floor has to be replaced with it.

Also, I have talked to 3 different foundation replacement guys just to get their opinions. All of them said that the job is worth doing if I'm willing to invest the money. 2 of them are CMU guys but will do extra stuff like adding foamboard insulation on the outside and inside. 1 of them (the most expensive) only works with ICF but he's got a solid reputation.

The cost of a complete foundation replacement is pretty expensive. They would have to hire a house mover to life the house and hold it up so the existing foundation can be demolished, hauled away, and new foundation can be built. The ICF route costs twice what the CMU would cost but if I were going to proceed with this I would still consider it because of all of the benefits.

Also, 2 of the foundation guys told me that I don't have to replace the whole thing at once. I could simply replace a couple walls and wait to replace the other two and the floor when I'm ready. I'm a little leary however about the quality that I'd get going that route.

But as it is, replacing the foundation is almost near the cost of getting an excavator and trenching and waterproofing the outside of what I have now (which is an inferior foundation, I think).

nealtw

I don't get it, to replace the foundation they have to dig around the house and probibly break the floor, so they are doing the work of both inside drain and outside drain and throw in the foundation too. The extra will be when they decouver the footing has to be upgraded too.
How bad is the foundation or what is wrong with it besides leaking? How much of it is below ground level? Is it concrete or what?
Raising a house can get expensive, I would have no problem just replacing the parts that are bad.

strategery

There is no footing with this foundation. Terra cotta block. Walls have bowed in some. An inch to an inch and a half.

nealtw

Terra cotta block; is not something I have seen but it does sounds like repairs or replacement. Adding fill to the landscape or just looking at drainage I think would be silly, you need to look at all of it.