For most people, their home is their castle so no one is happy when they discover that their basement is leaking. To make matters worse, homeowners have to figure out how to go about getting their leaky basement repaired – usually for the first time. In this post we cover everything you need to know about leaky basement repair, so that you can get your wet basement repaired with confidence.
In this post:
Selecting the best basement leak repair contractor
Factors that determine how a leaky basement is repaired
How basement leaks are repaired
What drives the cost of wet basement repair
Selecting the best basement leak repair contractor
Finding the right company to fix the leak in your basement is important because you want the job done correctly, and at a fair price. Finding a waterproofing contractor online is relatively easy; however, you have no guarantee that the tradespeople showing up to do the work are adequately trained, skilled and experienced. Some homework on your part is required to avoid an all to common contractor nightmare.
This subject is so important that we have published an entire article on the subject of hiring a waterproofer.
Factors that determine how a leaky basement is repaired
There are a number of factors that have to be taken into account in order to decide on the best method to use to fix your wet basement, as well as how much waterproofing is required (and ultimately what it will cost you).
Here are the factors to consider when deciding on how best to fix a leaky basement:
a. The location of the leak (a single spot or entire wall(s))
b. What exactly is leaking (a crack? the entire wall? a pipe?)
c. Foundation type (poured concrete, concrete block or stone)
d. Contributors to the problem (downspout location, grading issues, etc.,)
e. Interior and exterior accessibility (is there room to excavate? is the basement finished?)
f. Budget (is the lowest cost solution necessary?)
g. The waterproofing methods available to repair the leak (suitable repair solutions for the foundation type)
Given the considerations listed above it is clear that a one-size-fits-all approach is probably not in your best interest; homeowners often spend more money than necessary, or needlessly, on basement waterproofing when dealing with companies only interested in selling their services and not in solving the homeowner’s problem properly.
How basement leaks are repaired
There are several industry standard methods for resolving basement leaks. The waterproofing methods that are available to you are a function of the type of foundation being waterproofed as well as whether the repair will be done from the inside or the outside.
Many homeowners opt for repairs from the interior of the home because these repairs tend to be less expensive and less destructive than excavation. Be sure to read the post: Leak repairs from the inside or the outside – What’s better?
In general, the majority of basement leaks in homes built from 1980 onwards are fixed from inside using a method called crack injection because this repair is inexpensive, quick and doesn’t involve destructive excavation. Foundations built prior to 1980 are generally concrete block or cinder block; these foundations are waterproofed by excavating them, or by installing an interior perimeter drain system beneath the floor. Follow this link for more on concrete block foundation waterproofing.
What drives the cost to fix basement leaks
Many homeowners hate it when they discover a leak in their basement, but more significant is their fear of the cost of waterproofing. In fact, many people don’t fix the leaks in their basement because they are afraid of the cost of the waterproofing repairs. Sadly, in many cases, wet basement issues can be eliminated for a few hundred dollars!
In general, the cost to fix a basement leak is a function of the amount of work involved. Injecting a foundation crack with polyurethane is far less work than digging out and waterproofing an entire foundation wall.
What it costs to fix a basement leak properly is no secret; check out this article on the cost of basement waterproofing.