Waterproofing a Basement

Having water in your basement can compromise the structural integrity of your home really fast. While you may be tempted to do a DIY repair, waterproofing a basement is a complex job best left to the pros. Learn more in this DIY Network video:

The cardinal rule of a wet basement is find the source first. Before you make any repaits, figure out where the water is coming from. Every home is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. And that’s where a qualified waterproofing specialist can investigate the source of the moisture and then put together a specialized game plan to address your home’s particular issue. They can also deal with any permits and inspections that are all part of the repair process.

Generally, there are two approaches to waterproofing a basement. One addresses the exterior of your home, where the goal is to prevent water from ever getting in. The other approach includes interior remedies taken so that the moisture already in the home doesn’t become a more serious issue. A thorough waterproofing specialist will recommend a combination of these two methods that’s tailored to your home’s specific needs and challenges. Their goal is to deal with the source directly and keep your basement dry for years to come.

Installling floor drains, crack fillers, and waterproof coatings are fairly simple DIy projects, but many pros consider these to be temporary fixes. More permanent solutions include excavation around your home’s foundation or within the basement itself, if necessary. Some homes requre new concrete walls and flooring, trenching, or elaborate French drain systems. A French drain can be built alongside the interior or the exterior of a foundation wall. Perforated pipe is buried in gravel and will trap any incoming water and then divert it into an interior sump pump or an exterior catch basin that’s located some distance away from your home’s foundation.

Once your basement is watertight from the outside, a specialist will go the extra mile and make sure that floors and interior walls are buit properly with vapor barriers and the appropriate insulation. this keeps moisture from building up behind the walls and creating problems should the tiniest bit of water seep in.

As a final note, most homeowners spend $2-$6K waterproofing basements, with the average job costing $3,816.