Leaking foundation

[BSAschields]

One solution to the extreme dampness that I get in the bottom my barn could be building a small extension (at least a cambered roof) around the problem corner....Other suggestions or even ideas how to go about this would be appreciated .
I want to turn the basement into my wood shop but when it rains it gets really damp in there which cant be good for my saws and tool.... Never standing water just looks really damp in the corner.

Near corner is the problematic one

First thing I intend to do is cut down the trees on the corner. Then do what ever it takes to divert the water away from it.
The only thing I am puzzled by on the cambered roof idea is that the large doors slide into the area the needs the roof . So unless I put it all the way at the top of the wall it will be in the way

 

[buddyboy]

i would start with some downspouts to divert all the water coming off the roof.

i doubt that the lower level of that barn was ever meant to be waterproof.

normally you'd want to dig down around the outside of those walls to the foundation and put in a perimeter drain but that looks like an old stacked wall and if it were me I wouldn't touch it as it looks pretty solid and it'd be darn near impossible to get her back that way after fooling with it.

 

[SMLDONZI]

Nice barn!! The downspout suggestion is very good, but how about building up some soil on that corner to increase the fall? The slope where the trees are could be letting water in--even though this slopes down from the door, there doesn't appear to be much slope behind the trees that would take water away from that wall. Also sealing up any voids above grade in that area might help.

 

[BSAschields]

I think you are right about digging around the stacked wall cause that was my first thought but decided the same thing..... Spouting might do the trick and sloping the dirt away from the corner could work as well. How high can it go against the building though? The splashing will deteriorate the wood quickly I would think .... Wonder if I could put some concrete down first to seal the ground then dirt on top of that. Just to promote the water to run away rather then seep into the ground?

 

[rickycobra]

Move all water away from the barn by any means. Otherwise this problem could get alot worse.

 

[rieferman]

I'd do the downspouts, remove the trees, and ensure proper grading away from the foundation. But I'd do the downspouts first sand see how much better it gets, and then take the other steps and watch for improvements.

 

[buddyboy]

well, you could waterproof that wall before adding the sloping dirt.

I don't think i'd use concrete, as that is porous and it'll probably just crack and heave with the weather anyway.

if it were me, I'd try making a good slope away from the barn on the existing dirt. then lay down some kind of fabric that is not porous and designed to divert water. then flash the side of barn to that. and then add material (dirt) to the top of that to also drain away from the barn.

that way any water that the downspouts miss, and hits the wall will be diverted by the flashing, water that hits the ground will be diverted way with the top layer of material, and if (and when) the top layer is saturated with water the fabric will divert it away from the barn as well.

 

[bczygan]

Gutter and downspout kicked out at the bottom to take water far away from the foundation.
Remove trees (Roots are probably into the foundation).
Put a layer of 6mil visqueen on the ground along the foundation wall, and sloped away from the foundation wall for at least 4', and cover with 6" of soil.

 

[JeremyManning]

epoxy injection to the foundation wall in conjunction with the roof downspots, on my house I ran all of the downspouts into a tile and then take the tile away from the barn and through a rock bed or similar draining structure to move the water away quickly

 

[BSAschields]

Great ideas THANKS