Exterior wall renovation basement

Hello everyone,

this is my first post here in the forum, so please be patient if not everything is described correctly.

Last year in November, we bought a house from the 70s, with an extension from the 80s that needs to be renovated.

On 30.05, we had a lot of heavy rain events in NRW, which caused water in the basement (about 3cm). In the meantime, we found out that the water came through the masonry. After drying the inside, we started working on sealing the basement from the outside, and it turned out that a bitumen layer had already been applied, as well as styrofoam for insulation. Basically, the basement is dry.

Now to the actual questions. How should we proceed best? I have already removed the floor down to the horizontal barrier and removed the old styrofoam. On the web, I found two products that in my view are suitable for exterior wall renovation.

1. pci barraseal® turbo
2. MEM Express-Dicht

Which of these two products is best suited for the work?

I would also like to renew the insulation. What do you suggest here?

Attached are a few photos for a better idea.

Thanks in advance for your help/assessment.

Regards
Patrick

Hello Patrick,

I am always surprised that laypeople dare to undertake work which – according to my professional experience – belongs exclusively in the hands of specialists!

What do you suggest here?

Your basement cannot on the one hand be dry and on the other hand have 3 cm of water. Water always finds its way – the water ingress can have all conceivable causes. It must also be taken into account that a building structure from the 70s requires different renovation than a house from the 90s, etc.

Find an expert who is familiar with existing properties and masonry before you follow half-knowledge and recommendations from the internet. That of course costs money *up front*, but ensures you take the right steps and much enjoyment with your old building!

Rhenish greetings

Here I believe I can already identify a serious and dangerous mistake. The pit is not secured.

Here I already believe I can recognize a serious and dangerous mistake. The pit is not secured.

The pit was only unsecured for a short time. In the meantime, there are boards protecting the pit.

...
Your basement cannot on the one hand be dry and on the other hand have 3cm of water. Water always finds its way - the water ingress can have any conceivable cause
....

Rhenish regards

We were able to observe the water ingress ourselves 4 weeks after the first incident. In front of the basement window there was a drainage shaft where the water ran in. Since the connection between the bitumen layer and the styrofoam partly no longer held, water got in between. At some point, the water could no longer be absorbed by the underlying ground and was pressed through the masonry into the interior. This could only happen because the bitumen layer also partly has cracks.

...
Find an expert who knows about existing properties and masonry before you follow internet half-knowledge and recommendations. That of course costs money *up front*, but guarantees that you take the right steps and enjoy the old building!
...

Rhenish regards

Fundamentally I agree with you. There are things that really belong in professional hands. However, it is always a question of cost. The materials cost me about 200 - 300€. If I have a specialist company do it, I would be paying ten times as much.

@ALL:

Regarding my original question. Which manufacturer or product would you prefer?

Hello Patrick,
do you want to just apply the stuff on it, put insulation in front of it, and then cover it up again?
I would make sure that the water drains properly => drainage. Then everything needs to be properly protected (dimpled membrane, filter fleece) and compacted in layers. This is not something you do for 300 euros.

Better do it right now (and maybe spend more money) than redo the whole thing in two years.
Listen to and get professional expertise.

Hello

now don't demonize Patrick. When someone buys a house, they are often strapped for cash at first and can't spend a few thousand euros. Or they simply don't want to. And self-initiative is certainly admirable. I am also just an amateur, but quite interested and have now helped build on 3 houses. 1. Securing the pit properly is important. If the ground shifts, it can end fatally. 2. I think I see the foundation at the bottom of the pit. It needs to be uncovered and the Schwarze Wanne built up from there. It is important to thoroughly clean the wall. 3. The construction of the Schwarze Wanne is important. The building material supplier helps here with competent advice. 4. Perhaps spend some euros on an expert after all. Maybe you can arrange with him that he finds the cause and makes a suggestion for elimination. Then roll up your sleeves and be your own man. 5. What you have done yourself makes you proud and you do it right (if you know what to do).

Steven