Sealing wooden deck joints

[Tgo01]

I just noticed about a week ago that the area under my deck almost turns into a swimming pool after it rains and I figure all of that rain right next to my foundation probably isn't doing my basement any favors. I've been trying to grade the soil properly so it drains away from the foundation and it has helped but it still looks pretty bad down there, especially with the heavy rain we've been getting lately.

I was thinking that sealing the deck joints should pretty much keep it dry under the deck but I don't know if you're supposed to seal the deck joints. Anyone know of any reason why this would be a bad idea?

[Grey]

There are lots of reason from expansion (both thermal and moisture) to having water sitting on your deck encouraging growth and rot. You should mitigate the water issue with a french drain if possible. It's an easy do it yourself project.

[Tgo01]

I might be able to do a french drain, I'll check it out.

Part of the problem is the deck is built into a corner of two foundation walls and the grading right now from all sides of the deck is taking the water right into the corner. I've done grading before on other parts of the house but it's usually just moving water away in one direction, kind of a pain in the ass in this situation because I have to make sure it slopes away from two different walls.

I'm also wondering if it just looks worse than it really is because I have removed all of the weeds and grass that was growing under there and now it's just dirt. Bare ground always seems to look more wet than an area with vegetation.

[Ker_Thwap]

Unless your deck is teak, or that new fangled miracle wood, this is a bad idea. Even pressure treated wood will get soggy if you let water puddle on it. The goop they use on teak decks on boats would probably just kind of melt on through anyway without a base to support it.

I'll second the french drain. Start it at the deepest point of the puddle, dig a channel, pipe. gravel, done.

Edit: Based on what you just wrote, that's even more of a reason for the french drain, just send it out even further past the bad slope to the good slope.

Start digging!

[Tgo01]

There is no way I'll be able to have this french drain end up at the edge of my property though, it's probably a bad idea to let it just end under ground somewhere. Guess I'll have to make the end drain on top of my soil 10 or so feet away from the foundation.

[Grey]

If you terminate underground you can end in a pit basin.

[Tgo01]

If you terminate underground you can end in a pit basin.

Is that like a dry well? I tried a dry well once for my downspouts but it wouldn't have worked because our yard seems to be almost solid rock about just 18-24 inches down, the dry well wouldn't have drained too well.

[Androidpk]

I just noticed about a week ago that the area under my deck almost turns into a swimming pool after it rains and I figure all of that rain right next to my foundation probably isn't doing my basement any favors. I've been trying to grade the soil properly so it drains away from the foundation and it has helped but it still looks pretty bad down there, especially with the heavy rain we've been getting lately.

I was thinking that sealing the deck joints should pretty much keep it dry under the deck but I don't know if you're supposed to seal the deck joints. Anyone know of any reason why this would be a bad idea?


Would depend on the weather in you area, as the wood will expand/shrink with the temperature, which could cause problems if they're sealed.

[Archigeek]

No. Just no.

Slope the ground away from the house, run downspouts away from the house, provide foundation drainage outside the house if possible or inside if it's not, and provide subgrade waterproofing if possible. You can do the french drain if you have the right sort of soil, but it's an iffy proposition if there's a lot of clay in your soil. Otherwise they can be a good solution.

But never ever seal up the joints in your deck. All that will do is cause the deck to rot.

[Tgo01]

I think I'm gonna finish sloping before I proceed any further. I managed to get the corner graded away from the foundation and we had like an inch of rain this morning and the corner stayed relatively dry (no visible puddling that is), wasn't perfect but it was a lot better than it was just a few days ago. Also now the corner is almost dry while the area around it still has visible puddles.

So the sloping seems to be working, I just have to wait for it to stop raining now so I can finish it.

Foundation draining like a sump pump?

I don't think sub grade waterproofing is an option but I can look into it I suppose. It seems to stay pretty dry around the entire foundation of the house because I think they did a pretty good job of grading when they built the house, it's just under the deck seems to be a complete mess. Not sure if they did a horrible job under the deck or just didn't give a shit or what.

It's not like the dirt near the foundation settled so it's just a little incline, you can visibly see how about 7 or 8 feet away from the foundation that the ground just starts to slope towards the corner of the foundation walls.

[Archigeek]

Foundation drainage = sub-grade perforated pipe.

[Tgo01]

Foundation drainage = sub-grade perforated pipe.

I Googled this and the pictures I saw seemed to show the pipes like at the very bottom of the foundation wall, would I need to do that or is that just an option?

Also I was wondering. The basement is called either a daylight basement or a garden level basement, where the windows are actually above the grade rather than below it. Since only about 4 feet of the basement is actually buried underground does this mean it is less likely to leak anyways or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

I still want to keep as much water as possible away from the foundation but I was just wondering about that. I think our house is the only one in the neighborhood that has a basement like this, everyone else has a basement that is buried about 8 or 9 feet underground.

[Androidpk]

I made a french drain last summer and it has worked really well.

[Tgo01]

I made a french drain last summer and it has worked really well.

Yeah there is a small part of my yard where I will have to use some sort of drain to move the water away, I might end up doing a french drain. It's a very tiny part of the yard and it's really only an issue when it's really windy when it rains and the wind carries the rain right to this particular spot so I'm not too worried about it yet.

[Archigeek]

I Googled this and the pictures I saw seemed to show the pipes like at the very bottom of the foundation wall, would I need to do that or is that just an option?

If you're not having water in the basement I wouldn't add it, but it's good to know that you'd only have to excavate a few feet to do it if you do need to.


Also I was wondering. The basement is called either a daylight basement or a garden level basement, where the windows are actually above the grade rather than below it. Since only about 3 feet of the basement is actually buried underground does this mean it is less likely to leak anyways or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

Yes, it is less likely to leak, but proper slope is still important. It's less likely to leak because less hydro-static pressure would build up and push water through your walls. I wouldn't decide not to do things to keep water out because of it.


I still want to keep as much water as possible away from the foundation but I was just wondering about that. I think our house is the only one in the neighborhood that has a basement like this, everyone else has a basement that is buried about 8 or 9 feet underground.

Good plan. Keep the water out.

[Latrinsorm]

wasn't perfect but it was a lot better than it was just a few days ago.you mean since obama took office?

[Tgo01]

you mean since obama took office?

Well this problem did seem to develop since Obama was in office so....Thanks, Obama!

This reminds me of one time my brother-in-law was commenting that I should bury my downspouts like he did his and I asked how did he bury them and he said oh it's easy, just cut off the part that sits on the ground, dig a hole a foot down and extend your downspout into the hole.

I was thinking...uhh...isn't that defeating the whole purpose of a downspout? Then he offered to do mine. I declined.

[Androidpk]

Global warming.

[Ker_Thwap]

Well this problem did seem to develop since Obama was in office so....Thanks, Obama!

This reminds me of one time my brother-in-law was commenting that I should bury my downspouts like he did his and I asked how did he bury them and he said oh it's easy, just cut off the part that sits on the ground, dig a hole a foot down and extend your downspout into the hole.

I was thinking...uhh...isn't that defeating the whole purpose of a downspout? Then he offered to do mine. I declined.

Stop being lazy and build elaborate water gardens.

[Tgo01]

Stop being lazy and build elaborate water gardens.

But but but D:

[Tgo01]

I have a similar question.

So I sealed the joints of my cement driveway last year and so far it's working perfectly, it seems to be keeping the water out and no more weeds or grass are growing between them.

Now I'm wondering if it's okay to seal the joint that separates my driveway from my garage. I don't really think any water gets in there from rain (well, very little anyways) but it would mostly be to keep grass and weeds from growing there. Is there any reason I shouldn't seal this joint?

Also the road and my driveway is separated by a thin patch of dirt that of course always gets overrun with grass and weeds. Is there any reason I shouldn't seal this? If I do decide to seal it would it be okay to use the same stuff I used to seal the joints or should I use something else to keep weeds outta there considering it's just dirt?

[Tgo01]

You all will be happy to know that the area under my deck is doing a lot better after a rain storm now.

7555

This is about 12 hours after a really bad rainstorm we just had. You can see the corner there I'm talking about that used to get completely flooded, now that corner and the entire one foundation wall managed to stay completely dry. Normally 12 hours after a rainstorm like the one we just had and there would still be a very visible and very large puddle in the corner there. Also the entire foundation wall would be completely wet.

I still have some work to do because the other foundation wall still managed to get water next to it but it's a hell of a lot better than it used to be.

[Wrathbringer]

You all will be happy to know that the area under my deck is doing a lot better after a rain storm now.

7555

This is about 12 hours after a really bad rainstorm we just had. You can see the corner there I'm talking about that used to get completely flooded, now that corner and the entire one foundation wall managed to stay completely dry. Normally 12 hours after a rainstorm like the one we just had and there would still be a very visible and very large puddle in the corner there. Also the entire foundation wall would be completely wet.

I still have some work to do because the other foundation wall still managed to get water next to it but it's a hell of a lot better than it used to be.

I know I'll sleep better now. A question: What is the slope of the ground beneath the gravel that we see? If it's sloping toward your foundation, putting that gravel there only hides the real issue.

[Wrathbringer]

There are lots of reason from expansion (both thermal and moisture) to having water sitting on your deck encouraging growth and rot. You should mitigate the water issue with a french drain if possible. It's an easy do it yourself project.

LOL. No. It isn't. At all. FD's are only as effective as their depth, unfortunately, so I guess if you consider digging all the way down to the footers an easy diy project...

[Wrathbringer]

Also, in before Back how dare you have a deck when there are people with no decks, or even houses.

[Tgo01]

I know I'll sleep better now. A question: What is the slope of the ground beneath the gravel that we see? If it's sloping toward your foundation, putting that gravel there only hides the real issue.

That's all dirt in the picture. The dark brown is areas that got wet after the rain and the light gray area is where the ground managed to stay completely dry.

[Wrathbringer]

That's all dirt in the picture. The dark brown is areas that got wet after the rain and the light gray area is where the ground managed to stay completely dry.

Looks good then. Nice work. I know that's backbreaking work moving soil around. Unless you paid to have it done, in which case I imagine you've already sought representation for the lawsuit against whoever fixed it.

[Tgo01]

Looks good then. Nice work. I know that's backbreaking work moving soil around.

It was, and I'm still not completely done yet :(

It wasn't so bad at first, I started about 10 feet away and just started raking the dirt towards the foundation walls but eventually the dirt got almost as hard as a rock and it was a pain in the ass to move. I was considering having soil delivered and just start packing it high up on the foundation wall there but the ground was so high away from the foundation walls that I would have had to start packing the dirt on top of the siding to have it slope properly and that's a bad idea so I had to move it all.


Unless you paid to have it done, in which case I imagine you've already sought representation for the lawsuit against whoever fixed it.

Now you give me this idea! Could have saved me a lot of work and I could have made a few bucks while I was at it.

[Grey]

Now I'm wondering if it's okay to seal the joint that separates my driveway from my garage. I don't really think any water gets in there from rain (well, very little anyways) but it would mostly be to keep grass and weeds from growing there. Is there any reason I shouldn't seal this joint?

Also the road and my driveway is separated by a thin patch of dirt that of course always gets overrun with grass and weeds. Is there any reason I shouldn't seal this? If I do decide to seal it would it be okay to use the same stuff I used to seal the joints or should I use something else to keep weeds outta there considering it's just dirt?

Grace and W.R. Meadows make mastic sealant products specifically for concrete to asphalt joints like the one between your garage and driveway. You'd probably have to go to your local construction sealants distributor to get a tube as a cash sale, I doubt Home Depot or Lowe's carry any equals. If weeds are your only concern the best course of action might just be spraying Roundup every once in a while.

[Tgo01]

Grace and W.R. Meadows make mastic sealant products specifically for concrete to asphalt joints like the one between your garage and driveway.

I should have clarified, both the driveway and the garage are concrete. I was thinking of using the same concrete joint sealer I already used on the rest of the driveway.


If weeds are your only concern the best course of action might just be spraying Roundup every once in a while.

True. But I suppose it would be nice to keep the water out of that joint at the same time, even if it isn't much. I just checked the other day and the entire joint is filled with dirt, no wonder so many weeds keep growing in there.

[Grey]

Yeah, a polyurethane sealant will do the job then. Since you've used it I imagine you know the prep and installation.

[Androidpk]

So instead of sealing the joints on the deck you graded soil away from the house?

[Wrathbringer]

<negrep> You're not a professional water mitigation specialist but I am and I shart all the time and need soil to mitigate my shart rivers. -grey

Hey guy. You're right, I'm not a water mitigation specialist. I actually did something with my life. I lol'd at the idea that you're proud of yourself for knowing how to make water flow downhill. Good job.

[Grey]

I actually did something with my life.

Shartrepping sure is something alright.

[Wrathbringer]

Shartrepping sure is something alright.

Shart repped.

[Grey]

Not your best work.

[Warriorbird]

Not your best work.

So many of them are just half assed.

[Wrathbringer]

So many of them are just half assed.

Lol