Had something similar happen in our old Victorian. Thought we were good because the basement looked dry, but turns out moisture was creeping up through the foundation walls. Ended up sealing the walls with a waterproofing paint and adding a dehumidifier down there—made a huge difference. Definitely agree on checking humidity levels, though... sometimes moisture issues aren't obvious until you dig a little deeper.
"Ended up sealing the walls with a waterproofing paint and adding a dehumidifier down there—made a huge difference."
Glad that worked out for you, but honestly waterproofing paint can sometimes mask deeper issues. If moisture's consistently creeping in, exterior drainage improvements or grading adjustments might be more effective long-term... just something to consider.
Glad that worked out for you, but honestly waterproofing paint can sometimes mask deeper issues.
Good point about waterproofing paint sometimes just covering up bigger issues. A friend of mine had a similar situation—painted the basement walls, thought everything was fine, but ended up with mold behind the paint because moisture was still seeping in from outside. Eventually, they had to redo the grading around their house. Makes me wonder, have you checked if your gutters and downspouts are directing water far enough away from your foundation? Could be worth a look...
Yeah, waterproofing paint can definitely be a double-edged sword. Had a similar experience myself—thought I'd solved the moisture issue in my basement with a fresh coat, but a few months later noticed some bubbling and peeling. Turned out water was still getting in from outside, and the paint just trapped it there. Ended up having to fix the drainage around the house, and that made a huge difference. You're right about gutters and downspouts too; mine were dumping water way too close to the foundation. Once I extended them, things improved noticeably. Anyway, sounds like you're on the right track—just keep an eye out for any signs of moisture returning, and you'll be fine.
Did you check if your soil grading slopes away from the house? Sometimes even small adjustments there can make a huge difference. Waterproofing paint is tempting because it feels like an easy fix, but you're right—it can mask bigger issues. Ever thought about adding a sump pump as backup? Might seem like overkill, but trust me, it's saved more than one basement I've worked on...
