I guess digging a trench in the side/front yard is just a thing we have to do now to (maybe?) prevent water in the basement.
(For the reply guys: 1. I know this isn't a permanent solution 2. There is a crack in our foundation but it can't be reached to be filled without tearing out a staircase
or digging up the sidewalk along the side of our house 3. It only seeps when water stands in the gangway between our house and the neighbors for too long. 4. We have new 6" gutters that are well maintained but our neighbors have trees growing in theirs, so they overflow into said gangway.)
Yeah a French drain sounds like the thing if it’s standing water causing the problem?
It sucks you have to do this but I know a guy that can get you a great deal on a drawbridge
