Dirt floor in basement advice

We're looking at a century farm house that has a dirt floor in about half of the basement. I'm wondering what the GRM brain trust has to say about this. The house has a field stone foundation and the basement is about 5.5' high. It doesn't have a sump pump and I'm assuming no weeping tile. The lot is sloped to the rear and the basement doesn't appear to have any moisture issues. If I were to pour a concrete floor in the rest of the basement I'm thinking that I would have to install weeping tile around the entire foundation and a sump pit. Am I on the right track? If I leave the floor as is what issues can I expect or are there any?

Thanks

Had a house with a dirt basement/crawl-space. The only cement was a ~4' pad the furnace was on. It was built on a slope, so the back yard was higher than the house & the front was lower. Never had any standing water, but it would get a little muddy after the spring downpours.

We did, however, have a huge issue with termites. Not sure if that was in any way related though.

PM me I'll give you my phone number. I can walk you through some issues. I've been dealing with this stuff for about thirteen years.

French ditch.

You might want to check with the local city and state offices to see if you 'need' a basement sump if you are doing remodeling. Be prepared for bureaucracy.

my parents had a similar situation when they bought an older home in their small Pa. town. My father appraised real estate for a living and didn't think it was unusual or a problem until they tried to move their laundry into the space. My Mom wasn't crazy about having any appliances sit on dirt and draining the washer wasn't going to be easy. Where they live, even the water flowing off your roof and gutters must now go into the towns sewer system.

I have environmental induced asthma (mold) from working in an office with a half dirt basement for 2 years - old mansion converted to law office but they never put a cement floor in the utility space right across the hall from my office. That's all I needed to know about dirt floors.

It is easier to bury things in than many other common materials used in basement flooring so... if you have stuff you need to bury in the basement or need a "pit" for anything... its a consideration.

I suggest digging out the floor so you can stand up without brain injury. Then break your back digging 18" deep footing drains around the perimeter. Install filter fabric, drain tile and stone. Lead the drain to daylight or a well.

Recover from the ideal. Instead of the hassles of good concrete I suggest renting a small electric tiller and mixing the top few inches of dirt with a mix of Portland cement and lime. Mix it up, rake it more or less flat and tamp it down. Let sit for a week and the moisture in the soil will hydrate the cement. The result will be a floor you can walk on and vacuum clean.

Wayslow wrote: We're looking at a century farm house that has a dirt floor in about half of the basement..... Thanks

When I bought my house the FHA would not allow a dirt floor. Maybe things have changed, but check with your bank or mortgage holder.

Dan

Put the lotion on Wayslow!!