We've noticed some water damage on a small 8 inch section of baseboard in our basement. See below:
I was going to remove the baseboard to look behind. Any other suggestions?
Worried it could be a hairline crack in foundation. Or issues with perimeter drain...
It's not an active leak, it's dry and wasn't visible to us for some time.
We've also been going through a cold spell in Vancouver, with 18 inches of snow and -10 degree weather.
On the outside wall, there is a hose connection.
Any recommendations on what to do next? Or ideas of what could cause this?
Thanks!!
Update #1: We've cut a hole to peek behind. I didn't feel any moisture but I think I need to make a cutout lower. Looking for a contractor to help us out, but of course...Christmas tomorrow, it'll have to wait. How big of a section will they need to cutout? Guessing at least stud to stud. Then they'll have to fix the vapour barrier, insulation, etc.
Update #2:
I've pulled out the insulation and drywall. It's clearly a weeping crack in the foundation. See below:
Near-term work: Now we had a foundation expert look at it, he recommends we inject/fill and patch the crack.
- Does it make sense to repair the crack on the inside of foundation?
To allow him to do that, I'll need to remove a stud.
- Any tips for removing studs? I want to put them back in afterwards. Should I remove the drywall higher and just remove the stud at the top? Any risks when removing studs? I might need to remove two, so the guy can access the crack.
Longer term work: When the weather gets better, my plan is to look at what might be causing water issues on the outside. I'll scope the perimeter drain, see if it can be cleaned out, and possibly raise a slab of concrete to make it slope away from our home.