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I live in New Orleans, and have had my two story brick home renovated post Katrina. About a year ago, the hardwood floors I installed on the first floor started popping up, water was seeping through somewhere. The contractor came out and "thought" the water may have been running down the inside of the wall from the gutters. I had the gutters repaired, didn't notice anymore water.
About 4 months a go, we noticed water again, just a small puddle sitting on the floor. I called the roofer, he said he noticed a small hole in the gutter that wasn't there before....maybe a bullet from New Years Eve or something. Hadn't noticed any water since that repair was made....until today!
Today I noticed a small puddle just sitting on the floor in the same area, but few feet away from the last one. Most times the water is noticed after a hard rain.
Could this be a foundation problem my contractor has overlooked?

Submitted: 137 days ago.

Category: Home Improvement

Value: $9

Status: CLOSED

Posted by Stephen Cutler 136 days and 23 hours ago.

Answer

Hi Lupita and thanks for using JustAnswer.com.
If the water was comming from a foundation leak there would be a trail of water from an exterior wall to the puddle on the floor. Also there would need to be a low spot in the new hardwood floor, the exact shape of the puddle. Water runs to the lowest spot. So the answer is no, the water is not comming from the foundation. This is assuming your foundation, after renovations is ABOVE flood stage. If your foundation is a basement, or another form of below grade, AND your first floor is below grade, then you would be able to track the leak backwards from the puddle, to the point in the exterior wall where the foundation is leaking.
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136 days and 23 hours ago.

Reply

Mr. Culter,
Thanks for your reply!
I have taken the floors up where the water initially started, up to the point where I saw the recent puddle, so the water is just sitting on cement. I have not been able to match the flooring yet, which is a good thing, since I am still having the problem.
Could this still be a gutter/flashing problem I am having?
I do have some dips in the floor, and can tell when the water comes, it does run to the lowest spot, but there's usually not a trail.

Posted by Stephen Cutler 136 days and 22 hours ago.

Info Request

Your description indicates you have a cement slab on grade. The slab is not a foundation. The foundation is located at the perimiter and is supported by footings. From your description you have water accumulating of the top of your slab. This could be from a high water table, poorly draining clay with heavy rains, or from above as in the past. When it rains several inches, does the water sit on top of your yard, AND against the house slab?

136 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

Yes, I have a two story house that sits on a slab. I have two steps to the first level.
Sometimes, but not always. I have been told to dig a trench or level the grass, but when the roofer came and made repairs, that seemed to worrk.....for a few months.

Accepted Answer

Your yard should slope AWAY from the house. NEVER toward the house!!! If your yard pushes water to your house it is going to find a way in.

Accepts:
Expert:	Stephen Cutler
Pos. Feedback:	99.3 %
Answered:	7/8/2009

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35 years of troubleshooting construction, remodel, component & material failures. What to do next

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Yes, I have a two story house that sits on a slab. I have two steps to the first level.Sometimes, but not always. I have been told to dig a trench or level the grass, but when the roofer came and made repairs, that seemed to worrk.....for a few months.

Accepted Answer

Your yard should slope AWAY from the house. NEVER toward the house!!! If your yard pushes water to your house it is going to find a way in.

Related Home Improvement Questions

Yes, I have a two story house that sits on a slab. I have two steps to the first level.
Sometimes, but not always. I have been told to dig a trench or level the grass, but when the roofer came and made repairs, that seemed to worrk.....for a few months.