Stone steps letting water into basement

[Dwilliamd]

Hi, can you advise of the options to waterproof the external steps - original 1860s, they go up to main door but there is a basement beneath which is getting damp through them, sometimes dripping. We have someone who has treated them (not sure what with) but it seems to recur in under a year and he charges around £700, so I’m wondering what the lasting solution might be. Thanks

 

[Cubist]

Those steps at first appear to be sandstone but could equally be some other stone, or even a concrete, painted to resemble sandstone. Regardless of the actual material all of them, and particularly sandstone, are porous and will absorb water to a greater or lesser extent. Ultimately that water will find its way into any materials beneath the steps including any brickwork or rubble and earth infill as well as the walls of the building. While some organisations claim to supply sealants that will prevent water penetration into the body of the stone few of these are known to be thoroughly effective or durable over extended periods. Frankly speaking I think you were ripped off and suspect that the work done consisted merely of a fillet of mortar between the treads and risers and the whole painted with one of the aforementioned sealants.

To suggest a long term solution it would be helpful if you could provide more information concerning the walls et all below and supporting these steps and a description of where precisely you are seeing drips forming in the basement - there is a more than reasonable chance that the source of these may be due to internal condensation if there are any heat sources in the basement.

 

[Janela]

the rows of daffodils are lovely and the puppy

 

[Cubist]

the rows of daffodils are lovely and the puppy

I wonder.... does the puppy water the daffs?

 

[Dwilliamd]

I wonder.... does the puppy water the daffs?

No, she’s a good girl!

 

[Dwilliamd]

I wonder.... does the puppy water the daffs?

No, she’s a good girl

Those steps at first appear to be sandstone but could equally be some other stone, or even a concrete, painted to resemble sandstone. Regardless of the actual material all of them, and particularly sandstone, are porous and will absorb water to a greater or lesser extent. Ultimately that water will find its way into any materials beneath the steps including any brickwork or rubble and earth infill as well as the walls of the building. While some organisations claim to supply sealants that will prevent water penetration into the body of the stone few of these are known to be thoroughly effective or durable over extended periods. Frankly speaking I think you were ripped off and suspect that the work done consisted merely of a fillet of mortar between the treads and risers and the whole painted with one of the aforementioned sealants.

To suggest a long term solution it would be helpful if you could provide more information concerning the walls et all below and supporting these steps and a description of where precisely you are seeing drips forming in the basement - there is a more than reasonable chance that the source of these may be due to internal condensation if there are any heat sources in the basement.

thanks so much for your reply. If the stone is porous, is this not most likely to be the source of the moisture? Though I take your point that some of it could be due to internal condensation, the problem is only occurring beneath the front (and actually also the rear) steps