There have been many debates over the years as to the best way to waterproof a basement. When one is considering having their basement waterproofed the obvious question most people have is “how much is it going to cost”. Cost really depends on multiple things, size of the project, job difficulty, location etc…
First thing to determine which type of Waterproofing is needed is a thorough inspection of the outside of the home. Grading of the landscape is crucial, condition of the exposed foundation if available, condition of the gutters, is there proper drainage on the outside of the home. Are there any obstructions in the way like wrap around porches, car ports, decks, patios etc…
If you are considering outside waterproofing, in order to do it correctly you have to make sure you first find the source of the problem and begin there. In most cases water intrusion problems for foundations are caused by water entering from where the footer of the home and the wall meet. That joint is the culprit in most water intrusion problems. A proper inspection may also lead to discovering other potential problems like a broken gutter drain or supply line from an outside spigot, cracks in the foundation wall or floor.
If it was determined that the problem was from the footer joint in order for one to get down to that joint outside, you would have to excavate a trench either in one desired location or around the whole house all the way down to the footer. In some cases that could be as simple as 2 or 3 feet or as much as 6 to 10 feet in some cases. Again, you have to determine accessibility, how many obstructions are in the way, gas lines, sewer lines, where the water will ultimately be drained to, where to put the dry well, storm drain or catch basin. There’s a lot to determine. Exterior waterproofing does work if done correctly.
Interior Waterproofing
One situation that can determine cost is when it has to do with interior waterproofing is whether or not the basement is a finished area or an unfinished area. Depending on the severity of the problem, if it can be determined that the water intrusion issue is coming in from an isolated location, sometimes it could be as simple as installing a sump pump with a partial interior drainage pipe. Just like outside waterproofing if you are having a significant amount of water coming in your basement, the only way to correctly take care of the problem is by first exposing the perimeter walls in a basement, then getting down to where the footer or bottom of the walls are. Now there many different scenarios one can run into when doing interior waterproofing, just like outside it has to be determined what kind of obstructions are in the way, hot water heaters, furnaces, steps, landings, fireplaces, interior walls etc… Then depending on the type of footer one has and the type of floor you have also determines what type of interior drainage system and where in relation to the footer the pipe should be installed. Also, location of the sump pump with the discharge lines needs to be considered as well. All these things have to be thought through before making a decision about how to waterproof a basement. Every home is different, that’s why a thorough inspection and planning needs to be done before an install.
Whether inside or outside as long as there’s a proper plan put in place and the job is done correctly both types of water proofing systems can work. We here at Dry-ngo L.L.C have experience in both types of waterproofing projects. If interested give us a call and we can help you determine which waterproofing methos is right for you.
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Ask Yourself…
- Are You feeling overwhelmed and concerned about your mold situation?
- Have you tried everything to try and stop the water intrusion in your basement?
- Are you tired of mopping up water from every rain storm?
- Is your wet basement destroying your home and its resale value?
- Do you have a musty smell or see visible mold growth?
- Have you had your basement “Waterproofed”-but it still leaks?
