Basement renovation question

[Anonymous]

We're turning our (mostly) unfinished basement into more livable space. In preparing to tile the unfinished concrete floor we have run into an unexpected issue: What to do about the old basement floor drain, and whether to level out the floor, which slopes toward said drain. Tile guys say level out the floor but keep the drain. Plumber says definitely keep the drain -- and keep the slope, too -- or we'll certainly live to regret it one day when the washing machine overflows or the hot water heater bursts, sending water all over the place. Practical advice, I suppose. But who wants to spend all the money on tile just to have a still-sloping floor and a big old drain down there?

For the many people out there who have been through this already: What did you do in this situation? What would you do? TIA!

[Anonymous]

If I were in your shoes, I'd install a sump pump and then get rid of the slope and the drain.

[Anonymous]

I'd keep the drain even if you do also get a sump pump. We have a drain but I don't think we have any sort of slope toward the drain. If it floods the drain will still work without a slope (it may be a bit slower without the slope, but it will still work). Basements are just so prone to flooding for all kinds of reasons - I think a drain and a sump pump are both in order.

[Anonymous]

How much is it sloping?

We kept our slope and drain, even though we also have French drains and a sump pump. I don't want to be dependent on electricity to keep the basement from flooding.

[Anonymous]

Keep the slope and drain. We were about to seal our drain off last year right after the big snows. We had water in our basement for the first time in 13 years. Without the drain we would have had to suck up all the water with a wet vac. It kept the basement from getting worse as the water drained fairly fast.

[Anonymous]

you can put a floating floor over the existing floor. best of both worlds.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for the feedback, all. The slope of the floor is noticeable, but nothing we couldn't live with. It simply would take away from the "finished" look of the room. There was never any question about keeping the drain; we're gonna keep it. The slope is the thing. To level, or not to level, that is the question.

Previous owners finished the basement years ago. But we didn't like the vinyl tile they used, and we weren't crazy about the slope. The tile is easily replaced with ceramic. We just have to figure out what to do with the slope.

I understand the slope helps drain the area in an emergency. But when the previous owners finished the room, they erected several walls. Any water draining into the drain is going to have to pass through those walls anyway. So slope or no slope we're looking athte potential for $$$ in damage is we get water.

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

Is the drain in an area that will be closed off (laundry) or out in the open and more used portion of the room? If it's in the laundry where people won't be going (except you), just leave it be. If it's in an open area I would see how a floating floor might work.

[Anonymous]

OP again. The drain is in the main hallway in the basement, right outside the cubbyhole that holds the washer and dryer. So, yeah, you can't miss it.

[Anonymous]

I would opt for some sort of floating flooring then and not build up the slant. We also have a drain, but it's in the storage area (unfinished). It has backup up on us before (a huge mess). We also have 2 sump pumps and I would pay to do that again.

[Anonymous]

yeah sump pump.... is the best way to get rid of drainage... for basement ideas.. http://www.basementideas.org/top-basement-ideas.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yeah sump pump.... is the best way to get rid of drainage... for basement ideas.. http://www.basementideas.org/top-basement-ideas.html

You are allowing water to get into your hosue, look who puts out those stories etc, it is waterproffing companies or those who get $$ from them. Always solve the problem on the outside. it is about grading and nothing more.

[BarryAntonelli]

Having over 30 years experience in basement waterproofing, my best advice is to slope the floor towards the drain to avoid any possible issues.

[Anonymous]

For those of you who keep the slope and drain, does that mean that the floor is still unfinished concrete?

[Anonymous]

No, you can slope with tile, either hard or vinyl composite. I agree with all of the PPs on keeping the floor drain.

BTW, responding to previous PP about sump pumps, it isn't just basement waterproofing companies. If water is naturally going to enter your home anyway (and you have some control, but not total depending on site conditions), letting it into the home and channeling into a sump pit is a great way to control it.

Virtually every large commercial building "allows" water to enter and then manages it once it does - the idea that allowing water to penetrate a home and then managing it did not originate with shady contractors - it was a natural evolution from the way major construction has always been done.