Interesting to hear your experience. I've been dealing with moisture issues in my historic home for a while now, and interior sealing hasn't done much either. Did installing exterior drainage disrupt your landscaping or foundation at all? I'm curious about the long-term effects, especially since older homes can be pretty sensitive to major changes... Glad to hear it worked out well for you though—gives me some hope!
I had similar worries when I put in exterior drainage at my place—it's from the 1920s, so I get the hesitation. Honestly, landscaping took a bit of a hit initially, but nothing major long-term. Foundation-wise, no issues yet... fingers crossed it stays that way.
"Honestly, landscaping took a bit of a hit initially, but nothing major long-term."
Yeah, that's usually how it goes... temporary chaos for long-term peace of mind. Did you end up using gravel or something else around the drainage pipes? I've seen mixed results depending on the material—some swear by gravel, others prefer geotextile fabric to prevent clogging. Also curious if you noticed any difference in basement humidity afterward? Older homes can be tricky with moisture control, and sometimes exterior drainage alone isn't enough. Did you pair it with any interior insulation or vapor barriers? I'm always wondering how different approaches work out in practice, especially in homes as old as yours. Glad to hear your foundation's holding up so far though—always good news with these vintage houses.
We went with gravel around ours and honestly, it's held up pretty well. Basement humidity dropped noticeably afterward too, but we did add some interior foam insulation later on... older homes can definitely test your patience, haha. Glad yours is looking good so far!
Gravel's a solid choice—glad it's working out for you. Older homes definitely have their quirks, but they're worth the effort in the end. We did something similar with gravel drainage and foam insulation, and it made a huge difference. Just keep an eye on things after heavy rains... sometimes water finds new ways to surprise you, haha. Sounds like you're on the right track though!
