Did you check out the slope around your foundation before putting up the barrier? Sometimes even a solid barrier won't do much if the grading is off. Learned this the hard way at our last place—thought we had a roofing leak because water kept pooling near the house. Turned out, whoever landscaped before us didn't angle the ground away properly, so all that rainwater had nowhere else to go but toward our foundation.
Ended up having to regrade a section of the yard, added some gravel trenches too, and it made a huge difference. Underlayment definitely matters, but it's just one piece of the puzzle. Have you considered adding some drainage features or adjusting your landscaping? Might save you from another unexpected lake next storm season...
Had a similar issue at my old house. Thought I had everything covered with a premium underlayment and barrier, but water still found its way in after heavy rains. Turns out the previous owners had built up garden beds right against the foundation, which looked nice but basically created a moat around the house whenever it stormed. Ended up pulling those out and regrading slightly away from the walls—made a noticeable difference.
Underlayment is definitely important, but it's not magic. If water wants to pool somewhere, it'll find a way eventually. I'm skeptical of any product claiming to solve drainage issues completely on its own. In my experience, you really need to address landscaping and drainage first, then let the underlayment do its job as an extra layer of protection.
Yeah, I learned this the hard way too. When I bought my first place, I thought a high-quality underlayment would solve everything. Nope...still had water sneaking in after storms. Eventually realized the gutters were clogged and overflowing right next to the foundation. Cleared those out, added some downspout extensions, and regraded slightly—problem solved. You're spot on about tackling drainage first; underlayment helps, but it's not a cure-all by itself. Glad you figured it out!
Haha, gutters strike again...been there myself. I spent way too much on fancy underlayment thinking it'd magically waterproof my basement. Nope, Mother Nature laughed at me. Ended up digging a trench and installing a French drain—cheap DIY job, but it worked wonders. Makes me wonder though, has anyone tried those gutter guards? Worth the cash or just another gimmick?
Gutter guards can help, but honestly, they're not a silver bullet. I've seen plenty of setups where debris still sneaks in—especially smaller stuff like pine needles or seeds. If you're looking for a more sustainable fix, consider a green roof or even partial planting trays. They absorb rainfall, reduce runoff significantly, and protect your underlayment from UV damage. Bit more upfront work, sure...but long-term payoff is solid. Just something else to chew on before dropping cash on gutter gadgets.
