Title: Building Base Structures—What If You Had To Start Over?
Funny you mention drainage—my last place had a “water feature” in the basement every spring, and it definitely wasn’t in the blueprints. I get what you’re saying about managing risk, but I’m always left wondering: at what point do you just over-engineer the heck out of it? Like, if you had to start from scratch, would you go full-on with French drains, sump pumps, the whole nine yards, or is that just throwing money at a problem that never really goes away?
I’ve seen some high-end builds where they basically build a moat around the foundation (not literally, but close), and even then, water finds a way. Sometimes I think the only real solution is to pick a spot on top of a hill and call it a day. But then again, who gets to be that lucky?
Ever tried those fancy waterproofing membranes? I hear mixed things—some swear by them, others say it’s just another layer to fail eventually. At what point does it become more about peace of mind than actual effectiveness? I mean, I love the idea of never worrying about water again, but is that even realistic?
Curious if anyone’s ever gone totally overboard with drainage and still had issues. Or maybe there’s just always going to be that one spot where nature wins...
