Paul R.
1/5
Harring Construction failed to properly grade my property and provide an adequate foundation drainage system for my conditioned encapsulated crawl space. Harring Construction compounded the additional surface water sheet flow and subsurface groundwater penetration of my foundation when they graded my neighboring uphill property and directed roof gutter runoff towards my foundation and into swales they created on my property with the final grading.
In late August, after a major rainfall compounded by Harring Construction overwatering newly laid sod on my neighboring property, my foundation drain system failed flooding and compromising my conditioned crawl space. JES estimated repair and restoration would be around $35,000. They removed portions of my saturated floor insulation and waterproof membrane and observed that Harring Construction failed to bury the interior foundation French drain pipe down to the footer level and it was resting on the surface of crushed rock in the perimeter French drain reducing the drain’s effectiveness.
When I brought this issue to the attention of Chesterfield County Residential Inspection and Environmental Engineering officials and my County District Supervisor, he contacted Harring Construction after personally visiting to observe the flooding in my crawl space. Harring Construction hired Brent Johnson from Koontz, Bryant, Johnson, Williams to inspect my foundation and crawl space. In the report Mr.Johnson filed he determined that the cause of the flooding was due to a partially obstructed foundation drain where it daylighted in a storm swale on my property and a hole drilled in my foundation wall without properly sealing it when wiring was installed by Harring Construction for my irrigation system. In the report Mr. Johnson filed he said that there was grass in the foundation drain opening that caused the interior crawl space flooding.
After receiving Mr. Johnson’s report, I hired a contractor to inspect the foundation drain to make repairs. He pointed out to me that not only was the foundation drain opening Harring Construction installed buried and covered under a layer of sod, it was crushed and crimped in half about three feet from the opening. Having a degree with a concentrated research in sedimentology and groundwater hydrology, I questioned how grass clippings could prevent the hydrostatic pressure of 240 cubic feet of water weighing 15,000 lbs at a crawl space slope of 6% from flowing out the end of the drain pipe. Mr. Johnson failed to observe and mention the crimped and buried condition of my foundation drain pipe in his report. He also failed to note and report the substandard installation of the interior French drain pipe in my conditioned crawl space. He also failed to note the sub surface groundwater pressure Harring Construction created against my foundation on the opposite side of my house at the higher elevation when grading and directing concentrated gutter flow towards my driveway and foundation. Mr. Johnson claimed the gutter flow was directed towards a swale in the rear of my property which was partially true. But he failed to account for the volume of concentrated roof runoff Harring Construction directed downhill towards my driveway and foundation wall that is infiltrating the #57 crushed bluestone under my poured concrete driveway and foundation. Evidence of the buildup of subsurface groundwater from roof runoff are in pictures I took and submitted to Harring Construction of an 18 inch deep hole I dug next to my foundation wall that was filled with groundwater.
