Concrete slab foundation wet?

[fbeaty]

I have a new house about six months old. In Ga. with red clay...lol.
My house is on a very small slope, the rear of the house is at ground level, and the front is higher up on the slope. When it rains, 1 or 2 days later my garage area is moist(all of it) and some areas near the concrete blocks are very wet, not just moist. The garage when it is moist takes a patchy look, as if it will peel off in the future. The slab house is higher than the slab garage, waist side higher. My front porch slab, also becomes moist which is almmost the level as the house slab. The brick stair case in front porch also is wet at its base. I have an issue with water of course. Is the rest of my house slab moist too? Or would this be a water level mark. I will have to put some french drains on the side and rear of the house, mayby because the slope allows the water to go under the foundation? What do I need to do? Water seal the garage floor to keep it from cracking? Is this an issue for my builder to address before the 1 year warranty is gone? Is this normal? Is the house in trouble?Thanks

[Rich]

It sounds like the perimeter drain is not functioning correctly.. allowing water to flow, as you said, under the foundation. Typically soil with clay in it will not allow water to pass through it - so water ends up hitting it and traveling along the top of it.. right into your foundation.
I would definately be informing the builder before the year is up.. and even better have them do an investigation into it before the year is up. As long as an issue is known your contract should cover the work on that until it's complete even if it's over a year.. as long as it's known and documented before the year.

[fbeaty]

What is this drain? Is it standard for all sites, I live in Ga. Building codes differ? What about ground water level? How do I know if I have this drain?

[Rich]

Typically in clay type soils you should have a perimeter drain at one of two places. A couple feet below grade with 6" of gravel against the foundation wall and good clay free topsoil above it. Or at the bottom of the footing (not under) with a drain board against the foundation.
Perimeter drain is essentially a perforated pipe with a mirafy fabric around it so it doesn't get clogged that is layed in a gravel bed to allow proper water flow. This will take any ground water and divert it away from the foundation. It's usually a 4" pipe.
In non clay soils it's still used but usually with a 4" pvc pipe with perforations layed in a gravel bed at the bottom of the foooting.
After your foundation is backfilled there is no real way to know if you have it without tearing up the ground.. you may see an outlet pipe for it in some instances.
This isn't really a code issue - it's just good common sense. Your builder should have installed it - period.