I've read so many posts that my eyes are crossing. I'm still a little confused. I have a 4 yr old home and my unfinished bsmt has concrete walls(they look like the ones that I saw in one of your posts.) My one wall has a big circle stain, it's near the corner close to the ceiling. This wall faces my driveway. I have other small stains on the same wall. My garage also faces the driveway and have stains on it and the wall that faces my nieghbors driveway has stains on it as well. When it rains you can see the wetness and if you touch it your finger will be moist. I have't noticed any water dripping only the wetness. It doesn't matter if it's raining a little or a lot there's always wetness. I wasn't concern at first because some of my co workers said that it's normal to have wetness on the walls but now I'm afraid that I waited too long to say something. My dad was going to put drywall up and drop ceilings but he wanted to make sure that the wetness wasn't a problem. I also see small cracks in the bricks(like where they're sealed) and wanted to know if I should be concern about that too. Your advice is greatly appreciated. Sincerely Nina

If I may butt in, after LicensedWaterproofer has responded to your questions about the moisture, ask your dad to consider using the new paperless wallboard in your basement, because it will not support mold growth. Several manufacturers make it.

N,

you have poured walls then?

ask your Dad if they are rod holes, if so you can fix/pack those from the inside and you need to do them ALL before finishing bsmt.

cracks.....you see cracks in the bricks/mortar joints on the outside OR you have Block walls and see cracks in the blocks/mortar joints? IF....you have damp spots/stains up high on block walls then several things 'might' be causing that on the outside incl`g....just below ground-just below driveway etc there could be openings along brick ledge OR, may be openings right-at ground level OR may be openings above ground level...look for any direct openings into home...around basement windows etc.

sometimes the brick ledge/top of basement wall AND first 1-3 courses of bricks are....BELOW ground level.Any bricks that have soil against them or a driveway/patio against them is where water/moisture can First enter.Those bricks and mortar joints aren`t sealed and can also begin to deteriorate.

Not saying this IS your problem, just tossing out couple things to look for. Anybody raising the grade around their home or having new driveway poured need to seal these bricks `n joints...first.Unprotected bricks below ground will cause a problem sooner or later.Some will begin to notice on outside...moss on bricks, efflorescence on bricks and on inside, they may see damp spots/discolorment of wall/paint peeling/efflorescence etc. Ask your dad if its block or poured wall and if poured ask him to poke/prod into these 'circles' with something like a screwdriver to see if they are rod holes that are beginning to.....give way.

Oh no Richard, I don't mind you "butting in," I appreciate all help. I'm a little embarass to say this but my dad isn't really that handy when it comes to things like that(looking at the bricks.) We were going to get one of those DIY books from home depot to do the dry wall . I'm going to print out the answers from you and Richard and see what happens. Right now it's snowing here in Pittsburgh, do you think we should wait until the snow stops or will it be better to look now since some wetness may show? I don't know what poured brick is but my bricks look exactly like the one you posted with the several pictures of different walls and it's the blocked one towards the end of your page.