How should we address a water leakage issue in our newly purchased 1950s home after heavy rainfall?
Asked by Maximino Barrios 
2 months ago
Last Updated: September 13, 2024
So, our house was built in the 1950s and we just bought it in October. We’ve had a ton of rain lately, and this morning we woke up to find our bedroom carpet soaking wet in one spot. Turns out the patio outside is holding water against the house. Not the best way to start the day!
Ensure water is draining away from the house and clear the ground around the foundation.
Might need to consider getting it tuckpointed now that it’s leaking.
You’ll need to adjust the slope of the patio. Consider hiring a company to lift it up.
This seems to be the most suitable solution in this case.
Sorry, I can’t offer advice on repairs. Did your agent provide a warranty? If so, I recommend using it. It’s hard to believe this issue wasn’t previously known.
Take pictures that show the entire yard. Focus on redirecting water flow, which can be achieved through various methods depending on the layout of your yard.
Are your gutters blocked? Is the downspout pointed away from your patio? Check the landscaping for any blockages. Shana mentioned taking photos of the issue from a wider angle. Even if your patio is sloped correctly, without gutters, downspouts, and landscaping to direct water away from your porch, this issue will persist.
Even if you address the source of the issue, there’s still a risk of mold just from this one incident. Who knows how many times this has occurred.
Hey ! I suggest reaching out to a mold remediation company to help dry it out and recommend the next steps.
Make sure water is draining properly. Use a sealer on the brick and foundation.
You’ll need to break up that patio and have it redone! That’s the only solution, we just had to do the same for our own home.
Try taking a photo from farther back in your yard to get a better view of the overall yard slope.
Do you have a slab foundation or is it a crawl space home?
The patio isn’t sloped correctly, it should be raised so that water flows away from the house instead of towards it. You also need to establish drainage that directs water around the landscaping and into the flower beds.
Seems like it should be sloped to ensure water doesn’t flow towards the house.
Dealt with a similar issue in our house. Water pooling in the side yard caused seepage into three rooms. Regrading the yard and installing larger gutters solved the problem.
If you recently bought in October, your home warranty is likely still active if you have one. Make sure to use it.
Was the patio incorrectly graded and causing house flooding disclosed by the seller?
Sump pump
This is serious. The carpet must be pulled up and dried if possible. Those walls need to be drilled and dried. Mold risk is high.
I really like that trim.
Make sure to slope the ground away from the house.