The Problem: Rainwater Entering Through the Basement Door
A homeowner in Brooklyn, NY contacted Zavza Seal after experiencing water intrusion through a door next to the basement stairway.
During our inspection, our team found that the existing drainage system did not have enough capacity to handle the amount of water flowing down from the stair landing. During heavy rainfall, excess water could collect at the bottom of the stairs and move toward the basement door.
The existing concrete landing also needed to be removed so the drainage system underneath could be inspected and improved.
Rather than simply sealing the door area, Zavza Seal developed a solution focused on collecting the rainwater at the bottom of the stairs and safely moving it away from the house.
The Solution: Improved Drainage and Waterproofing
The project combined several drainage and waterproofing measures to improve water management around the basement stairway.
The work included upgrading the drywell and sump pump system, installing a new drain, rebuilding the concrete landing and waterproofing the stairs and surrounding brick walls.
Rebuilding the Bottom Stair Landing
Our team first demolished and removed the existing concrete slab at the bottom of the basement stairs.
Removing the slab provided access to the existing drainage system and allowed us to improve the area beneath the landing.
If the existing drywell was found to be in good condition, it could be cleaned and returned to service. If it was damaged or lacked sufficient capacity, it was to be replaced with a new structural foam polyethylene drywell installed over a 12-inch gravel bed.
The drainage area was thoroughly compacted to create a stable base for the new landing.
Installing a New Drain and Sump Pump
A new drainage point was installed at the center of the bottom landing to collect water flowing down the stairs.
A 1/3 HP high-efficiency sump pump was installed inside the drywell to help move collected water away from the stairway.
A durable cast iron dome grate was installed over the drain. The grate was selected to help withstand regular use while reducing the chance of leaves and dirt blocking the drainage opening.
A soil separator was installed around the compacted gravel surrounding the drywell while keeping the bottom of the drywell open to allow water to move freely into the gravel.
Installing the Underground Discharge Line
The sump pump was connected to a 1 1/2-inch discharge line.
The discharge pipe was embedded through the concrete landing and routed through the foundation wall using a diamond-bit drilled opening.
The line was then run underground toward the front flower bed, where it connected to a pop-up emitter.
This created a controlled route for water collected at the bottom of the basement stairs to discharge away from the affected entrance.
Pouring a New Concrete Landing
After the drainage work was completed, Zavza Seal constructed a new 4-inch-thick, steel-reinforced concrete slab using 4,000 PSI concrete.
The landing was carefully pitched toward the center drain so rainwater would flow into the drainage system instead of collecting around the basement door.
This was an important part of the repair because the concrete slope works together with the new drain and sump pump to control surface water.
Waterproofing the Stairs and Brick Walls
The drainage improvements were complemented by waterproofing work on the concrete stairs, landings and lower portions of the surrounding brick walls.
Cleaning and Preparing the Surface
Our team thoroughly power-washed the stairs, landings and surrounding areas to remove dirt and surface buildup.
The area was then allowed to dry properly before the waterproofing materials were applied.
Waterproofing the Lower Brick Walls
The lower sections of the brick walls around the top landing were treated with two coats of Radon Seal Plus concrete sealer according to the manufacturer’s application requirements.
The goal was to seal and waterproof the exposed wall surfaces that could be affected by moisture.
Repairing and Waterproofing the Concrete
Cracks and damaged areas in the stairs and landings were repaired and patched.
Old and damaged sealants were removed before the new waterproofing coating was applied.
A two-component, fast-curing elastomeric polyurethane waterproofing coating was then applied to the stairs and landings.
The coating was selected for its durability and suitability for surfaces exposed to regular foot traffic.
The Result: Better Water Control at the Basement Stairway
The completed work improved the way rainwater was collected and moved away from the basement entrance.
The new or restored drywell, central drain and sump pump provide a dedicated drainage path for water flowing down the stairs. The underground discharge line carries pumped water toward the front of the property, where it exits through a pop-up emitter.
The new concrete landing was also designed with a proper slope toward the drain, reducing the chance of standing water.
Waterproofing the stairs, landings and lower brick walls added another layer of protection against moisture exposure.
Together, these improvements created a more complete basement stairway drainage and waterproofing system for the Brooklyn home.
Why Basement Stairway Drainage Matters?
Below-grade stairways can collect significant amounts of rainwater because they sit below the surrounding ground level.
If the drainage system cannot handle the incoming water, water can pool at the bottom of the stairs and move toward basement doors and foundation walls.
Improving drainage capacity, creating a proper slope and giving collected water a controlled discharge path can help reduce this risk.
At this Brooklyn property, Zavza Seal addressed the drainage capacity issue instead of relying on a surface seal alone. The repair combined drainage, pumping, concrete reconstruction and waterproofing to improve protection around the basement entrance.
Need Basement Stairway Drainage in Brooklyn, NY?
Water collecting at the bottom of a basement stairway can quickly become a problem when the existing drain cannot handle the flow.
Zavza Seal provides basement drainage, sump pump installation, drywell systems, concrete repair and waterproofing solutions throughout Brooklyn and the surrounding New York City area.
Contact Zavza Seal to have your basement stairway and drainage conditions evaluated and find a practical solution for controlling water.