The last house I lived in had a shallow basement (only about 5' deep). We removed the flagstone floor (used those stones to extend the sidewalk, also of flagstone) and dug through the hardpan and additional 18" to put in a french drain and a cement floor. This helped immensely with the water problem in the basement (that, along with the dehumidifier and sump pump). It was nice to be able to stand up straight and not hit joists or furnace ducts. - Pam ------------ Previous Message from Philip McPherson <[log in to unmask]> on 06/09/99 11:05:41 PM ---------- The tiles were dirty and stained, and the whole thing sagged in places. It was only fifteen years old, and already ugly and worn out. It partly blocked the windows. It made the ceiling too low for comfort. All of us are taller than our grandmother was.