Ugh that sucks. I hope it’s a relatively easy fix. Water is the worst. Well that, and groundhogs. I just got two new traps because one fuzzy motherfucker is destroying the patio. I knew he was tunneling and had to do a repair but I literally just took a step this morning and almost broke my ankle.
I’m going to take great pleasure in his demise.
Just re-read your post. It seems like it’s a footing drain issue and not leaking in from somewhere else?
Luckily we don’t have ground hogs to worry about, but, we do get a shit ton of water.
I’m fairly certain I know the issue, but, our perimeter drains are original clay tiles from the 1950s. When I moved in I dug up the corners and had them all flushed out and they were remarkably clean. My soil is also quite sandy so water doesn’t tend to pool. That was 7 years ago. It’s possible one has collapsed or been clogged somewhere, which I am dreading.
Replacing them all is an expensive task in the $30-40k range. I can certainly do it myself for probably $5k in materials (my neighbour has a mini excavator… Time to call in a favour) but it is time consuming. And with a 1 year old time isn’t in plentiful supply 
.
Fuuucking hell lol. I’m not laughing bc it’s funny but I’m disbelief of the homeowner shit. It’s never ends !
I hope you get it sorted. Thanks for the advice on the gate.
The maintenance never ends. It’s absurd. Even DIYing shit is annoyingly expensive these days.
Good luck with the gate!
My lazy hack would be to put the gate here. Install a post at the rails and have the gate swinging in towards the rail. You can be at the top of the stairs to open and then have a little landing before the stairs.
Ok this wins. I never thought of that but I agree it would be the easiest and also the landing would be a nice bonus form the other side.
Appreciate it!
nothing but a +1 for sweathog’s
I added a baby gate on an inconvenient staircase in my house, and to square up the posts I waterjet cut some clamps that surrounded the off-kilter post and made a parallel surface for the gate to push against.
My question is, why do you need/want a gate there?
The kiddo and the dog. So we can hang out there without worry.
You could install an outdoor retractable gate across the top step. Then you wouldn’t need to worry about it swinging towards the stairs as it just retracts. Simple low-cost and very easy installation.
@Kid
Damn this is a good option too. We already have the second gate (bought both at the same time) so it would be a shame to waste it. But it’s also a pain to put together…
The outdoor weatherproof ones are the same we have inside which is nice.
Thanks!
Your idea won. My wife loved the idea and said to give you a big thanks.
Appreciate it!
I’m not sure why you just can put the kid and the dog on leashes. 
Bc then I’d need a muzzle for my w…nvm.
electric fence is one hell of a teacher, has made the man I am today
We use the dog’s E collar for kinky Friday nights.
You’ve never truly felt alive until you’ve wrapped your wet puckered lips around that red plastic insulator.
…is that a euphemism?
Yeah I gotta say I read that and felt a little bit hot under the collar.
