Compost alongside house exterior wall...Good or bad idea? (foundation, drain, installing)

[BucsLose]

I have a home that does have some moisture/humidity issues in my basement. I always heard that this is usually caused by poor gutter drainage and not having the soil slope away from the home.

I am doing some final leaf clean up and old compost clean up around the yard. I got to thinking that some of it, perhaps I could just put along side the exterior wall....to add a little height to the ground around the outside soil.

Is this a good or bad idea to use a mixture of leaves/dirt/twigs that are mulched up?

[Charles]

I can't imagine it is a good idea. If you have drainage problems, solve them conventionally. I wouldn't want bug invested compost near my house.

[BucsLose]

Perhaps you're right. I just figured it would turn in to soil eventually anyways. As far as the basement goes, Im just assuming it's drainage issues. I dont actually have water coming into the basement but the bottom parts of the wall inside the basement feel damp at times and in the summer, the humidity is high down there and its musty.

[Pruzhany]

I dont actually have water coming into the basement but the bottom parts of the wall inside the basement feel damp

Then you want to think about installing a french drain or digging up the outer wall and waterproofing it. Make sure all the vents are open and not blocked by anything.

[North Beach Person]

Hmmm. A compost pile set up along the foundation would not be a good idea but raking leaves into flower beds there in a 1 or 2 inch covering as mulch wouldn't be that bad and would cut down on the fertilizer you need next Spring for there.