How do I fix water seeping in under our front door?
by
Thelma H
+5
Our sidewalk is too high and when it rains the water seeps in under the front door of our home. What is the best way to fix this problem? (our entry is also cement) I suggested to my husband to raise the floor in our entry an inch or so, he thinks we would have to raise the casement with the door and that would be a HUGE expense. Any ideas??? (FYI< the sidewalk is 10 foot wide and 30 foot long and enclosed on both sides with exterior walls.)
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No matter what you do, it's going to be expensive, but something must be done asap. You'll have the cost of fixing it as opposed to fixing it and mold remediation. You really need to lower and slope the sidewalk away from the exterior of the house. You don't want water sitting against both sides of your house for 30 feet. That's not good for the exterior and the water is probably seeping into the walls and could be causing mold and rot in the whole length of the house beside the sidewalk. You don't need 10 foot wide walkway to your front door. You could make it a soft Y with the top of the Y at the door. Put in French drains on both sides of the walkway. Getting the water away from the house is most important. You could plant some shrubs and flowers or put some potted plants over the French drains. Good luck with your project.
If I were you, I'd bite the bullet and have a contractor look at it and fix it right
While you checkout different perminant solutions...sand bag the outer door.
Sand bag it, until you get a permanent solution. Have a chat with a contractor they may be able to lower the side walk. Until then, sand bag the door when rain is likely.
It costs about $300 or more but have concrete guy drill holes and pump concrete until it slopes away from door and walls
Add some gutters to your home and address the water issues. You might need to call a contractor.
I would put in a channel drain right in front of the door to direct the water via french drain away out to the street storm drains or to a catchment basin large enough to hold the water...
channels... https://www.google.com/search?q=front+door+drainage+channel&client=opera&hs=VjK&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_hJ288ovcAhVYIDQIHUl5B5wQsAQIywE&biw=1473&bih=701
they also make several types of thresholds to prevent water influx.... https://www.google.com/search?client=opera&hs=QPf&tbm=isch&q=front+door+drainage+channel&chips=q:front+door+drainage+channel,online_chips:threshold+drain&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjcnaPO8ovcAhVjHDQIHXEPAEYQ4lYIKigC&biw=1473&bih=701&dpr=0.9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sBBrsZejsQ
direct the water to both or one side to move away from the house via french drain and possibly catchment basin.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUSTOqSsVtA&t=119s