Caught my basement wall sweating after heavy rain last night

I went down to grab some storage bins and found water beading on the interior concrete wall... must've been 4 feet of it wet. I grabbed a shop vac and a fan but I'm worried about mold behind the drywall. Should I cut into the wall to check or just seal the exterior first? Has anyone dealt with hydrostatic pressure in an old house?

2 comments

2 Comments

reesea491mo ago

I read somewhere that if you've got that much moisture beading up, you're dealing with a drainage issue outside more than anything. Sealing the inside is just a band-aid if water is pushing through the foundation. You'd be better off fixing gutters and grading first before cutting into anything, that hydrostatic pressure is no joke.

hernandez.finley1mo ago

Haven't you checked your gutters and downspout extensions yet before worrying about the wall?