WHAT DO i DO TO MAKE an existing basement with a high water table last a lifetime ?
There is a high water table underneath a existing basement which has the proper size sump and french drain with pebbles, rocks underneath the floor, how would you finish a basement.
The pump pumps continuous EVERY 20 minutes during about 60% of the year until the water table recedes in Delaware County ( near Philadelphia), Pennsylvania. It is
high altitude but sits in a little valley. The poured concrete walls are painted with DryLoc and the floating poured concrete floor is not coated. The edges of the floor/wall are stuffed with the expansion joint when it was built about 11 years ago and this expansion joint was removed in various spots due to power failures when the basement flooded with 4" of water and we had to get the water out to drain into the french drain system. This has happened about 4 times. Also, the drainage around the house is excellent except for hurricanes , Hurricane Floyd , and every winter the melting of snow, ice which builds up along the foundation and melts in spring and pours over the walls of the basement.This is minumum water into the basement over the floor joists and top of the basement concrete walls but not through the walls.
What should I do ? Do I remove the expansion joint at the wall/floor joint and allow more moisture to enter or do I push the joint down ( recess it) and drill holes say every 1 ft to collect it and drain it to the french drain to minimize moisture entering the basement air. Also, DO I install this vapor barrier also or leave it out ?
ALSO, DO i INSULATE THE WALLS or will it cause problems ?
Also, along the permiter of the floor/wall where the expansion joint has been removed, there is efflorensce ( white dust ) at the opening. We are about to have the basement finished and the studs just started and wanted any ideas since no one has the right answer.
Please any suggestions.....