Reply to Broken downspout dumping water by foundation

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Sump pumps and perimeter drains are absolutely NOT required, not a default part of new home construction. As a PP noted in their work - same in mine (in multi-million $$$ custom builds) -while installed in some but I certainly do not include in all. But the short term black flex pipe solution for OP is fine until downspout re-connected.[/quote]

Can you show me a multi million custom build with a finished basement and no perimeter drains? That is wild to me. I’m not questioning you, I just want to know how/where it works. Every house in the DC area I’ve lived in has either had a damp basement or drains. [/quote]

Several in McLean or Bethesda done by local “flipper” construction companies - usually built on speculation (or by a family with a limited construction budget which was mostly spent on getting the land).  Those builders will spend money on superficial finishes, but they cut corners like mad in structural or waterproofing areas where a buyer cannot easily see how it was built after construction is complete.  Those houses just meet code as interpreted by the local county inspector - barely - but they initially look great to a naive buyer (and there are many naive buyers out there).

Damp basements are very common on both sides of the river.  A common local approach to basement “waterproofing” is to put tar or similar on the outside of the foundation below grade - with maybe some drain tile around the perimeter.  That will work fine for maybe 5-10 years, but eventually it will degrade and a damp or wet basement is the final result.  Code allows this.  The better approach puts a waterproof membrane in place with drain board and drain tile, and sometimes an exterior sump if cannot drain to daylight by gravity — but that is uncommon locally because of the extra time and expense.[/quote]

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