Need suggestions for Stone Foundation

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johnbenchley

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Hi all,
Thanks in advance for all of your help and information. I have read all the threads that I could find regarding this issue. Basically I have a stone foundation and the outside and part of the inside is starting to chip away. The is coated with some type of Duraseal product (white sealant paint), it was like that when we moved in. The outside is coated with a tar like sealant that is flaking off. Behind it i've found many bugs and bug holes and loose mortar holding the stones together. I've included some pictures so you can see what I am dealing with. I am working on getting a simple drainage system around the foundation on the outside of the house.
I plan on taking a wire brush and scraping the outside as much as I need to first and then filling it back in with Masonary Quickcrete, which i was told worked great.

A couple of questions regarding this project

1. I purchased some of the new type sealant for the outside. It can be brushed or sprayed on. It's called Gray Shield and is a rubberized sealant. Should I use it? I've been told "Yes seal the outside." by some and "No you have to let it breath." by others?

2. Also what should be done around the foundation that has sidewalk right up to the house? I can put a drainage system around where the garden/lawn is with some piping and pea pebbles however I don't think this would look right where the driveway butts up to the foundation.

Thanks guys :)
 
Eight inches of foundation should be above ground level and that will allow the foundation to breath. I have not worked on a stone foundation but I am sure it should be water proofed. Your not likely to have foundation where the driveway is so stopping there should work, make sure any cracks in drive or between driveway and house are sealed with the correct sealer for that. After waterproffing I would also add 6mil poly against the wall and after you backfill just cut the poly just above ground level.
 
Eight inches of foundation should be above ground level and that will allow the foundation to breath. I have not worked on a stone foundation but I am sure it should be water proofed. Your not likely to have foundation where the driveway is so stopping there should work, make sure any cracks in drive or between driveway and house are sealed with the correct sealer for that. After waterproffing I would also add 6mil poly against the wall and after you backfill just cut the poly just above ground level.

I have over 8 inches above ground, but i guess your answer leads me to another question. Should I dig down the foundation below ground, and seal that or are you saying i should or shouldn't seal what's above ground?
 
No you do not seal the foundation above ground. After saying that someone will come a long and correct me. If you don't have a basement the foundation doesn't need to be sealed, but if you have a water problem in the crawl space it is a good idea to incourage the water down to the drain pipe.
 
No you do not seal the foundation above ground. After saying that someone will come a long and correct me. If you don't have a basement the foundation doesn't need to be sealed, but if you have a water problem in the crawl space it is a good idea to incourage the water down to the drain pipe.

My pictures wouldn't upload however i do have a basement below ground level, so should i still not seal the outside foundation?
 
John, if you want to upload pictures, you can attach them from your computer to this site. Simply scroll down from the message box to the area "Manage Attachments" and click on the box to upload pics.

Oh yeah, :welcome: to House Repair Talk!
 

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