Sealing storage room from water intrusion?

[The motor guy]

What's a good water proof sealant that will seal 2x4 against concrete? I used some silicon sealant.and that didn't work. The storage room still fills up with water. I'm thinking may a marine grade below the water line caulking or just make a plywood floor and raise it up with 2x4 boards.

 

[CT8]

Explain filling with water. Like a sinking boat? Is the room below grade? Does the roof leak?

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

KILZ has a couple paint/primers they guarantee to waterproof cinder blocks.

 

[PimTac]

Nothing will work unless you stop the water from the outside. Diversions, drains, etc. A sump pump might be of good use here.

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted By: CT8
Explain filling with water. Like a sinking boat? Is the room below grade? Does the roof leak?


It just puddles up inside. 1/4" deep at most. It comes in from the driveway when it rains. The drive isn't sloped enough to keep the water away.

 

[fdcg27]

Originally Posted By: PimTac
Nothing will work unless you stop the water from the outside. Diversions, drains, etc. A sump pump might be of good use here.


+1
Unless the OP's storage space can be made into a submarine, water cannot be excluded.
It needs to be drained away or it will come in without limitation.

 

[Warstud]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
It comes in from the driveway when it rains.


You need to install Channel Drain in your driveway.

 

[Oldtom]

How about getting some used pallets and covering the floor with them? Quick, cheap, and gives you four inches of. " freeboard" I did this in a storage locker that was prone to flooding. You may have to cut some pallets down to fit.

 

[maxdustington]

Originally Posted By: Oldtom
How about getting some used pallets and covering the floor with them? Quick, cheap, and gives you four inches of. " freeboard" I did this in a storage locker that was prone to flooding. You may have to cut some pallets down to fit.


The wood will wick water from the floor and absorb water from the rain. It will get gross and smell, then it will rot out and be all rickety eventually. Plastic pallets would not be a bad idea, and they could be modified to control water flow.

 

[The motor guy]

Well I was thinking to make a 2x4 frame then put plywood over that. I would think that would be enough. Although I think it would look better to be able to seal it off, then it wouldn't be as noticeable and look tacky.

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
Well I was thinking to make a 2x4 frame then put plywood over that. I would think that would be enough. Although I think it would look better to be able to seal it off, then it wouldn't be as noticeable and look tacky.




If the wood gets wet though you will have termites coming in amongst other pests. The best idea is the drain pictured above.

Is this a garage conversion?

 

[The motor guy]

It's a townhouse so I don't think I'm responsible for rotten wood, but I don't think the water issue is something they'll fix. The easiest way would be caulking, but I don't know what sticks to concrete and wood

 

[JC1]

Can you remove the studs against that wall and put some dimpled membrane against the interior wall to let the water seep down behind the wood Framing? Is there a floor drain in that area to get the water out?

The best option is to have the outside waterproofed first.

 

[Warstud]

A picture would be nice.

 

[OilFilters]

Run a dehumidifier inside.

 

[PimTac]

Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
It's a townhouse so I don't think I'm responsible for rotten wood, but I don't think the water issue is something they'll fix. The easiest way would be caulking, but I don't know what sticks to concrete and wood



So do you rent this townhouse or own? This is getting convoluted. Good luck.

 

[The motor guy]

Its owned, but the hoa is responsible for things like the siding and the roof.

 

[Ducked]

Originally Posted By: PimTac
Originally Posted By: motor_oil_madman
It's a townhouse so I don't think I'm responsible for rotten wood, but I don't think the water issue is something they'll fix. The easiest way would be caulking, but I don't know what sticks to concrete and wood



So do you rent this townhouse or own? This is getting convoluted. Good luck.


Its not "convoluted" as I read it. Its simple.

What the OP wants to do is simply impossible, and won't address the problem.

You cannot keep liquid water out of an underground space by sealing interior wall spaces. You have to cut off the supply of water by improving the local surface drainage.

IF the space is below the actual water table at any time, water will inevitably get in. Wooden interior structures will create rot traps and hinder ventilation, unless you build yourself a fully waterproof "basement boat", preferably out of fibreglass. If this floats, though, it may exert significant upward pressure on the ceiling which might be damaging.

 

[The motor guy]

It's not underground. The townhouse is on stilts and the storage room is downstairs in the parking area, so what happens is it rains and the rain water puddles in the uneven areas of the driveway since it isn't angled enough for the water to flow out. Plus the wind blows the rain water in anyways even if it was angled.

 

[Nick1994]

Sandbags when you're expecting rain.