Water ingress - Who can help with the assessment?

Hello everyone,

After a long time, I have finally found a house that exactly matches my ideas and is also affordable. There are many minor issues to be addressed, which I can handle well. However, there is one thing I lack experience with:

In the basement, there is a room with a metal door that leads to the garden. Behind the door is a side staircase that runs along the house wall upwards. At the small area at the lower end of the stairs, there is a drain. Over the course of the year, a lot of leaves and other greenery have fallen into this area due to somewhat overgrown vegetation and clogged the drain. As a result, water stood behind the basement door for some time and then seeped into the basement through the door opening. On the inside, you can quite clearly see how the water moved diagonally toward the floor on the left and right side, in an area about 1 meter next to the door.

The remaining walls of the room and the rest of the basement overall are dry. There is no mold at the point where water entered; you only see water stains on the concrete. The basement itself consists of concrete up to approximately head height.

From everything I have read, the most important thing is to find out where the water came from – in this case, it seems quite clear to me. I feel that this area can probably be dried out again in a manageable time through good ventilation and possibly a construction dryer, after the drain is cleared and the door renewed.

However, since I lack experience and do not want to make a mistake with such a large investment, I would like to get a second opinion from someone who knows more than I do. I have contacted several building experts and surveyors, but after describing the problem, I either received no response at all or was immediately offered a complete property analysis or purchase consultation, which I do not need at all. A single assessment apparently is not really of interest to the professionals.

Therefore, my question: Is there perhaps someone in the Sonsbeck/Wesel area or nearby who would be willing to provide an assessment and have an hour or so to take a look at everything with me on short notice? Of course, there is compensation for the effort.

Best regards
Robert

I have the feeling that this area can probably be dried out again within a reasonable time through good ventilation and, if necessary, a dehumidifier once the drain has been cleared and the door replaced.

Based on your description, I would assume the same. A few pictures would help here more.

It is important to clean and flush the drain. Depending on its age, a camera inspection through the entire drain might make sense. The local waste disposal service sometimes offers this as a service – usually cheaper than sewer cleaning companies.

Otherwise, outdoor stairs along the basement wall are always a weak point that should be kept an eye on. Is the sealing between the stairs and the basement wall intact? Is the step at the basement exit free of any chips and cracks? Is the lowering of the basement door/floor drain high enough (according to DIN it should be 15 cm)? Is the floor drain below the backwater level or closed with a check valve?

Especially for basement entrances on the west side, I would consider a canopy/enclosure in the medium term.

Especially at the cellar entrances on the west side, I would consider a roof/covering enclosure in the medium term.

You're right, I definitely plan to do that; there is also enough space on this side of the house. Apparently, someone also tried to cover the stairs with a tarpaulin since the last occupants moved out, but the whole thing obviously collapsed at some point.

The exterior wall actually looks good so far, and the stairs are in good condition as far as I can tell. It's just that the "jungle" needs to be cut back properly and heavily, which I think would already significantly alleviate everything.

Here are two pictures: one of the house wall with the stairs, then the door from the inside:

The fact that the same picture appears on the right and left seems plausible as an explanation from the owners at first glance. Can the height of the water level at that time also be recognized on the outer wall?

The fact that the same image appears on the right and left sides seems plausible as the owner's explanation at first glance. Can you also see the height of the former water level on the exterior wall?

The owner was not on site, but the real estate agent was indeed very familiar with the house and did not sweep anything else under the rug. And yes, the outside shows similar traces.

Do you know how the floor is constructed? Could water be hiding somewhere there, is there a screed and insulation?

If not and it is the direct concrete floor, I would have no concerns.