Snow and rain - mitigation ideas
 

Just noticed we're going to hover around freezing all week then the temp goes way up Friday with over an inch of rain.

This is going to be a mess. Gutters are all frozen and I have feet of snow piled up on the east side of my house which has a poor grade. With shrubs, snow removal would be problematic.

Any ideas? Last time anything like this happened I had water pouring through the sills into my cellar.

While not ideal, you need to give the water a place to go that is easier to get to than the cellar. Might be as simple as one shovel wide ditch in the snow drift...
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Yes, plan to cut some swales but it's not ideal.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I'd say screw the shrubs, if you damage them a bit, they will recover. remove what you can and make some pathways for the water.

I put ice-melt into stockings before and threw them up onto the roof/gutter area last time I was worried about this. melted some channels for the water at least.

Pitch a tarp on the east side of house to channel the rain away and to provide shade for a slower melt.

Interesting idea but I think there's just too much surface area to try and cover. I think I'm just going to dig some channels toward the drain and pray.

Sounds like a plan to solve the immediate problem, I'd buy a couple of big bags of icemelt also, calling someone to do the work this coming season would be a start on a permanent solution. :)

you could try spray foaming the sills but water will find it's way in the path of least resistance so might be futile since you say it's problematic to get to the area from outside.

I hope you have a pump in case

I need to insulate the sills regardless. Old house and they leak cold air badly. Not sure the best way to go about this. Access from the cellar is good though.

Pic?
Poured foundation or stone? Condition of sills? Any chance you are going to have to replace any rotted sections? If not, spray foam from inside. Stuffing fiberglass batts in there tight is a less expensive way to go. Need to see outside grade to have an opinion on mitigation.... Maybe a temporary outside sump in a bucket? That blower would have come in handy to cut your pathways.... Just cut a path in my front yard to rake the snow off my roof.

Stone rubble foundation for most of the house with a concrete foundation for an addition added in the late 80's. Main house is 1860 and the foundation and the old sills are in good shape. I don't have water issues with those as the grading is good, they just leak air badly. It's the addition on the east side that's the water problem as the grade is basically flat from the house to the driveway. I wish they would have made that room a step up and gave me an extra foot of foundation.

There is a drain system in the driveway but getting water to it is an issue.

Jeff,why not just eliminate the snow with a roof rake
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Not for nothing but you bought a house that is almost 160yrs old.Screw the band-aid fixes,at some point you're going have to spend $$$,get it done and get it done right.Been in this business way to long to tell you anything different.

For the moment do what you have to do...but don't wait to long.Think about the fact you've been in this house for a short while...the issues you are experiencing have been happening long before you got there,the damage you don't see is probably much more than you think.

Roof snow isn't the issue.

Water issues have more to do with the addition than the old structure which is rock solid. It's not a chronic issue...just the addition of snow and rain together create a situation.

Has anyone mentioned digging a French drain around your house? Dig down c couple of feet deep, lay in a 4” perforated pvc pipe, then fill with gravel. Link it to your driveway drain.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I don't think that would help. Ground is still frozen...it's really a grade issue I don't see any way to easily fix. Sill plate is too low on the addition.

Ultimately, that is the solution, along with re-grading. You should actually start calling for estimates and have them see the issue in the winter time as well....

I'm surprised this was not picked up on by the inspector before you bought.

Its chronic.It will happen every single time when the situation is created.


You bought a 160yr old house with an edition,this is why I said what I said.It was never going to be easy or cheap but you need to get it done and done right.You need to get hold of a licensed general contractor.

Check to make sure Home owners insurance is paid up to date.
Crack open a gas valve in the basement, light a handful of candles on the 1st floor, gather up the whole family & head out on vacation, lock the doors behind you.... problem solved !
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

And if you hate your wife, lock her in th closet
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device