DavidTu
Member
We are closing off a basement entry door that is at the bottom of a short flight of concrete steps. This is a newly purchased older home and I think there was some question as to whether those steps were occasionally allowing water into the basement or not. Since it's a possibility / probability that there is at least occasionally leakage here, I would like to address it before we seal off the door.
The idea I have (and tell me your better ones!) is to place a channel drain where the last step is and pour new concrete around it. This would give me the height necessary to drain into the nearby stack base without having to break up the slab floor.
Assuming this is a sound plan, what are the issues with sewer gas getting out the drain. Obviously it'd be outdoors but the location may be just below a kitchen window and we'd not want any off smells of course. Do I need a ptrap? Would one work?
FYI, the doorway of course penetrates the concrete foundation. We'd be filling in the doorway with a wood framed wall, osb sheathing and new siding (another benefit of the concrete pour would be that it separates the siding from the ground.) Finally, over the old steps will be a new cedar deck with open-draining slats.
The idea I have (and tell me your better ones!) is to place a channel drain where the last step is and pour new concrete around it. This would give me the height necessary to drain into the nearby stack base without having to break up the slab floor.
Assuming this is a sound plan, what are the issues with sewer gas getting out the drain. Obviously it'd be outdoors but the location may be just below a kitchen window and we'd not want any off smells of course. Do I need a ptrap? Would one work?
FYI, the doorway of course penetrates the concrete foundation. We'd be filling in the doorway with a wood framed wall, osb sheathing and new siding (another benefit of the concrete pour would be that it separates the siding from the ground.) Finally, over the old steps will be a new cedar deck with open-draining slats.