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Updated almost 9 years ago,
How would you handle selling with seeping block walls?
This basement is 32x29 with block walls that have previously been painted. I don't know if it was Drylock or just regular paint. There is one area about 6 feet long that looks like some sort of patch had been attempted at the cove along the area where the seepage is the worst. There are 2 or 3 other small areas that seep, one with a small crack. One wall shows significant signs of efflorescence but no seeping.
After getting a quote of $8400 for interior and exterior french drains, at the recommendation of a realtor, I had a sump pump only installed. It seems to have helped with the amount of seepage but of course not eliminated it. Just yesterday, I have also addressed some gutter/downspout issues which I hope will help more. In a few weeks, I'll also be doing some grading in a couple of low areas around the outside wall where the seeping is the worst.
The drains were plugged (I'll fix those in the next day or two) so standing water caused some mold issues. The mold was removed once but is coming back.
My plan was to pressure wash the walls, Drylock the seeping areas and repaint all the walls with a mold inhibiting paint. My research on Drylock indicates the walls must be dry and on unpainted masonry. Waste of time and money I'm thinking.
If I wash and paint, how long before the efflorescence starts to appear again?
If the seepage never stops, paint wont work, so will just look bad anyway, but maybe better than bubbling, dirty paint.
I'm not trying to hide the problem, but I do want the basement to look clean, even if there's some very small puddles of water along the wall.
What would you do? ARV for this home is only around $60 to 70k.