Basement – Re-framing basement walls after flooding. Drain tile with no concrete

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Im getting ready to re-frame basement walls after basement flood (shocking images attached).

I'll be doing this for every wall portion that can possibly flood:

1) ridgid XPS foam insulation against side wall concrete
2) Pressure treated wood frame
3) cementboard + stucco finish (lime plaster) (instead of drywall+joint compound) -> as that survives standing water.

Now – as you can see from these pictures – house has drain tile around internal perimeter… and from what it looks like – existing rotten wall just sits on top of the pebbles….

Question – should I cover those pebbles with concrete prior to doing any framing?

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Best Answer

Yeah, major mistake from the previous remodel with the the plastic over the insulation. All that does is hold moisture in and create mold. Your XPS and treated lumber sounds like a good plan. The plaster idea is also probably a good final finish idea.

Once you get the framing removed you should see the rough surface of the footing. It may look like pebbles but that should be the unfinished top of the concrete footing. Your wall is not load bearing just cosmetic so if it sits on the rough footing or the basement floor it should be fine.

The perimeter drain tile you spoke of is supposed to be on the outside of the wall at the footing and carry the water away from the house or into a sump to be pumped away.

Good luck!