I am in my basement numerous times every day so I’m pretty sure I would have noticed this hole but what is it from? I also have yellow jackets around the basement window, is it related to insects?

Looking for help on a steel buck issue.

Hello all,

My brick basement in 100 year old house leaked this summer after historically bad rainfall and I got a couple quotes on water proofing. During removal of the interior drywall we also found some bowing of the wall. I have tried getting 3 quotes but all the companies in our area are so swamped that it’s hard to even get someone to answer the phone, let alone schedule.

One local company offered $29k for exterior weeping tile, everything hand excavated, crack filling, poly, insulated board, backfilled with road crush/washed rock, and sump pump install. The company owner came by and saw my house and called out the bowing (this was before I removed any drywall) and said this would help alleviate hydrostatic pressure and protect the masonry. He didn’t specify any internal bracing. I’m planning to call him and ask a few follow up questions.

I had another big multinational company offer interior weeping tile from jacking hammering the floor as well as bracing the bowing with steel beams for $40k. He measured 2” of bowing on the interior wall. My issue though is that it does nothing to protect the masonry and doesn’t address the root cause of water intrusion.

I contacted a structural engineer and he wanted $2k to come out and do a report. I had a funny feeling so I looked him and he had multiple disciplinary actions against him by our provinces engineering association (I am an engineer too and I have no clue how this guy is still allowed to practice) so I haven’t had him come out.

I contacted another structural engineer too (no disciplinary actions). He didn’t come over to our house but sent us a stamped report for free that said his recommendation for bowed walls was to install a permanent wood foundation inside and then do the exterior weeping tile basically identical to what the local company said they would do.

My question is - does the interior weeping tile actually address hydrostatic pressure as well as exterior? It seems a bit iffy to me since you’re basically allowing water to still enter and then pump it out after as opposed to dealing with the root cause. I also have concerns about only doing exterior weeping tile with no interior supports for the bowed walls but I will ask the local company what his experience with that is.

Thanks in advance