Water Intrusion through slab. Where do i begin? (insurance, house)

[elvie0120]

My house was build in 1961. The front four rooms are built on a 12 inch slab but the addition - you've all seen these and maybe have one - was added to the rear but built on a six inch slab. I have been getting water seeping in through the back wall/floor. When I noticed two cracks outside leading to the back wall, I filled them with concrete grout and re-grouted the entire base of the wall to foundation with the same concrete grout. I have also attempted to seal the wall from the top using grout and expandable foam. Additionally, I have covered the entire wall with Thompson's Water Seal. The roof is less than three years old. I suspect that the two cracks I previously filled extend further under the house. I have contacted two ""handyman" services in the past. One never showed for the appointment and the other took pictures and disappeared for three weeks. Where do I begin? I am of limited means and on a fixed income.

[HWTechGuy]

I think this goes way beyond "handyman" skill level which would explain why that didn't get you anywhere.

Is there any plumbing run through the area in question of the slab? You may need to look in an entirely different direction.

[elvie0120]

No plumbing. It is just an addition to the original house. Of course, there is electrical. thanks.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by HWTechGuy

I think this goes way beyond "handyman" skill level which would explain why that didn't get you anywhere.

Is there any plumbing run through the area in question of the slab? You may need to look in an entirely different direction.

I agree with this. You could have a problem you don't even suspect. For instance, you could have old plumbing with leaks underground or even your sewer line in a house that old that has disintegrated and the sewage is just seeping underground. This happens all the time, it happened to us in our 1954 rancher built on a slab. I would get it checked out, unless you know for a fact that the water is coming from rain, sprinklers or that type of source. Could be very serious, as in sinkhole serious.

[elvie0120]

It only seeps water when it rains. Right now and for the previous "dry" days, there is no seepage. I know this because I have towels inside against the floor/wall. I don't think it's plumbing of a leak.

[elvie0120]

There is no water source - sewer or plumbing - at the site if the incursion. So if we assume it is coming from a cracked slab, where do I begin?

[KPB]

Its most likely coming from the seem where the concrete block walls meet the slab/footer. You'd have to remove all the dirt from around and to the bottom of the footer, pressure wash it to remove dirt, let dry and spray it w/ a closed cell foam. Also may want to install gutters w/ downspouts to divert water away from house.

[elvie0120]

Thank you. At the risk of sounding stupid, i need to hire a professional. Do i look for a contractor? excavator? Concrete repair? My fear is calling ABC Contractor, paying a service call and then having to call DEF Concrete Repair, pay another service fee and then calling GHI Excavating. Where do I begin with the right repair services?

[housingcrashsurvivor]

If it seeps when it rains maybe a broken sewer pipe under the slab? I'd especially suspect that if you've a septic system out back, behind the addition in question.

Unless you've some sort of retaining wall behind it holding soil or are in a real low lying area that floods, with how porous is our sandy soils here it's hard to image that pooling and seeping up on its own.

I'd bring in a qualified home inspector or engineer to have a look.

[lavender]

I think you should consider a structural engineer, and check with your insurance company to see if they cover this
I'm not saying its any kind of major thing, but you can't afford to have cracks in floors or water intrusion. If you have no flood insurance, you may not be covered for this, but you can't ignore this

hope it works out ok