Water appears to be seeping through the concrete slab of the house during prolonged heavy rain. The house has a couple of levels and the higher slab does not get wet but the lower areas take on about an inch of water. These areas are tiled but the tiles are not lifting. You can't see the water coming in, it just appears but it covers half the house.

The garage slab, which is attached to the house, appears to have been laid at a later date than the house slab and may be just slightly higher than the house!

The people who we bought from didn't mention the flooding but have tried to fix the problem by pooring concrete around the edge of the house. This appears to have lifted due to the rain?

We have had all the drains cleared, we have had a number of plumbers look at the property and they all have no idea how to help. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Note - the house was built in 1971 and is in the wet tropics, where they have white ant. The walls are fibro with a concrete slab and wooded structure. An inground pool was put in about 10 years ago. Neighbours have told us the house has flooded as long as they have been there but I'm not sure if that was before or after the pool. I can't imagine the house has flooded each year for the past 40 years so I imagine something has changed to causing the flooding.

Please help we are desperate as if we don't get this sorted we will have white ant and then no house...

Tropics of what country?
Sometimes you can sue the previous owner or the inspector, depending on the disclosure statements. Not easy though.
A slab poured in 1971 would have no vapor barrier under it, most likely and you are pretty much stuck with a water problem, even if you did remove all the useless concrete around the sides and excavate and install all new drainage at the footings, which are probably clogged if they even exist.
A house in the tropics shouldn't have levels below ground. I don't know what you have for multiple levels, on a hillside maybe? It's going to be a battle to solve. You could try the latest in trench drains with landscape cloth wrapped around large gravel, all around the house, about 2 feet down, but don't expect much.

You didn't say what room the water came up in. The way I see it you have two options.
1- If possible install a sump pump. **OR**
2- If a sump pump's not possible run french drains,(see image) around the foundation of the house and direct the water away.

we have had a number of plumbers look at the property and they all have no idea how to help Where do you live and what caliber of plumbers are there that couldn't have given you this advice? Good luck, Tom

Tropics of what country?
Sometimes you can sue the previous owner or the inspector, depending on the disclosure statements. Not easy though.
A slab poured in 1971 would have no vapor barrier under it, most likely and you are pretty much stuck with a water problem, even if you did remove all the useless concrete around the sides and excavate and install all new drainage at the footings, which are probably clogged if they even exist.
A house in the tropics shouldn't have levels below ground. I don't know what you have for multiple levels, on a hillside maybe? It's going to be a battle to solve. You could try the latest in trench drains with landscape cloth wrapped around large gravel, all around the house, about 2 feet down, but don't expect much.

Hello, we live in Cairns Far North Qld. Thanks for your advice, I have been in touch with the inspector and he is going to come and take another look to see what we can do. Cheers

You didn't say what room the water came up in. The way I see it you have two options.
1- If possible install a sump pump. **OR**
2- If a sump pump's not possible run french drains,(see image) around the foundation of the house and direct the water away.
Where do you live and what caliber of plumbers are there that couldn't have given you this advice? Good luck, Tom

Hi Tom,

We live in Cairns Far North Qld, sounds like we are going to need more than luck. Thanks for your reply though, I will do some digging and see if we can install a sump pump. Cheers

What room is the water coming into? Can you install a pit in this room? If not then a french drain around the foundation might just be your best bet. Let me know what you think will work best for you. Tom