All You Need to Know About Basement Waterproofing – A Conclusive Guide

Whether or not you’re an experience houseowner, Water intrusion is an issue that can cause severe heartburns.

For those who’ve face this annoying condition in the past, they know how much of a hassle it is get rid of it once it starts. As for the people who haven’t experienced it yet, here’s a definitive guide on Basement Waterproofing where we’ll cover all the ins and out of these detrimental problems alongside the solutions.

With years of experience in the Waterproofing systems, JDE foundation knows how to avoid basement water intrusion and keep it for the years to come.
So, without further due,
Let’s begin!

What Really Is Basement Waterproofing?

While there’s a clear misconception about the term basement waterproofing that means the elimination of water from your basement, there’s a lot to that.
While most of the contractors apply a coat of water shedding paint on your basement – which is quite effective at keeping water from entering your basement but well, it destroys the foundations of your basement as it cannot keep water from entering the insides of the wall.
In simpler words, even if you have paint over the inside of your basement walls, or apply another type of water stopping material, your foundation will be forced to hold onto the water that seeps into it. This is not what you want. Water left sitting in the walls for long periods of time can cause them to crack, decay, crumble, deteriorate and mold.
So, what does Basement Waterproofing actually mean?
Well in simple English we’d say,

Waterproofing is the control and management of water that enters your home.

To some up this knowledge – Basically a basement waterproofing system is referred to as the drainage channels that are installed along the inside perimeter of your basement walls.

Now that you’ve got a fair idea of what Basement Waterproofing is, let’s talk about why basements start to leak.

Why Do Basements Start Leaking?

While it may sound quite confusing initially and there’s no solid answer to that, there are quite some common reasons that add up to getting your basement leak. Also, the reason for basement leakage may vary depending upon the type and age of the house.

Here are some common reasons for the Basement Leakage.

1. The outside of the basement walls is covered with some kind of foundation putty.
2. A corrugated drain pipe is laid around the outside of the basement. The builder can place gravel over this pipe and then fill in the rest of the space with soil that was removed when the basement was excavated.
3. Use of roofing tar underground as it degrades faster because – which is normal because the material isn’t actually meant for this purpose.
4. The drains around the outside of your home can back up. They are buried deep in the ground and the soil above them puts great pressure on these drains. If the drain tube persists, it may gradually become clogged.

While these reasons may sound like it’s quite impossible to protect your basement from water intrusion, surprisingly, it’s not.

There are multiple ways that you can leverage to protect your basement from getting damp (Which we’ll discuss later in this read) but, is the basement waterproofing really worth it? Or you can just let your basement go damp.

Well, considering the fact that a house is one’s greatest investment, we’d say it’s a yes.

Now let’s talk about some reasons why you need to avail of the Basement Waterproofing services.

And BTW, if you’re being troubled by wet crawlspace or a damp basement, feel free to reach out to the JDE Foundation as we’re always on top of our waterproofing services.

Back to the topic

Is Basement Waterproofing Really Worth It?

Being fair and clear, it’s not just worth it, but quite essential to get your basement waterproofed due many reasons, with health being on top of the list. Not to mention that ignoring a damp basement can   also create structural issues with your foundation, which can threaten the stability of your home.

Let’s talk about some reasons why you need to get your basement waterproofed.

Water Means Insects

While ants and spider may sound quite annoying, but boy! When we talk about damp basements, ants or spiders are the least of troubles that you must think will come from the insects.

What really threatens you here is the termites and Beetles.

Termites will dig into the wooden beams, joists, and sill plate that makes up your flooring structure while the beetles have a strong preference for hardwoods like oak, walnut, hickory, etc.

If you’re thinking insects the only problem, then think again! Because the mold is yet to come.

Not All Mold Types Are Healthy!

A damp basement is the home to growing mold. While most of you owe an appreciation for the mold because who doesn’t love the cheese, right? Not all molds are the good types. In fact, even the people with downright strong immunity can suffer from issues like Eye irritation, Blurred vision, Chronic cough, Nasal and sinus congestion, and the most annoying out of all, the skin rash.

Now you wouldn’t want it, do you?

Presenting the Foundation Damage!

Now this is where things start getting way serious. The stability. If you’re ignoring damp basement and crawlways, you’re neglecting and practically, putting the stability of your house at an ultimate risk.

Here’s how the foundation of your house is damaged with water.

water collects in the ground when it rains. Water saturating the ground adds weight, which then creates pressure; eventually, it wants to expand into the space your home is occupying. Your foundation is in its way, functioning like a dam which weakens the walls enough that they can develop cracks.  These cracks allow more water to seep in, increasing the pressure on the already weakened wall section.  The cycle keeps repeating, until the walls bow, bulge and eventually, collapse…

Can You Stop the Water From Entering Your Basement?

While many claim to have solutions, the answer is contrary. Generally, you wouldn’t find out the water intrusion until it’s already inside the basement.

There’s a crack in your foundation, water is coming in there.  And you’re right- the obvious solution is to repair the crack. Many times, finding the source of the water will help you find a solution.  For some of you, it’s super obvious but you still need to look at why the water is coming in at that specific location.

Either way It is a worthwhile attempt to check the external environment of your home. Is a puddle forming there, on the outside of the fissure in the foundation? What is the reason for that blessing? Is there something in the landscaping to blame?

Let me give you a quick reminder from our review of typical building practices: When building a house, the dug pit was much larger than the basement. This gap allowed access for construction crews to build and install foundations, utilities, etc. Once the work was complete, they filled in dirt around their house and then installed the landscaping on top.

Backfill is a term used to refer to dirt removed from the ground during construction. Some of it is removed, but most of it is used to level the lawn and fill in the gaps around the foundation. This fill will settle over time because it is not compressed around the house. This would put excessive pressure on the external drainage system.

Sometimes it sits in such a way that it allows rainwater to flow into the foundation. Another element to consider is the components of your landscaping. Some of the most frequently used components – curbs, sidewalks, and edging made of wood or stone – can inadvertently trap water along the foundation and cause it to pool around your home.

Now that you know quite a lot about Basement Waterproofing and Water drainage. Let’s move down to the question which we all are curious about; How much does it cost to waterproof a basement?

Waterproofing Basement: How much does it Cost?

The answer is quite simple – Waterproofing basement will cost your somewhere between and average $5000 to $7000.

Now this cost may vary depending upon the certain factors, with the size of your basement and type of drainage system being two of the most significant ones.

Now we understand that some of you are quite new all this damp basement problem. Therefore, we’re going to tell you how to calculate the cost of your Basement Waterproofing, so that you can make the most out of it.

Let’s Begin

How to Calculate Basement Waterproofing Cost?

First thing’s first, you need to know how to calculate the linear footage of your basement. Note that the linear footage of your basement is different than square footage. Basically, it is the distance around the perimeter of your basement.  To calculate linear footage, measure the length of each wall, then add them together.

Now to determine the type of drainage track.

1. Fast Track drainage is a rectangular shape, with slits cut into it on all four sides. This is used if your home does not have a footer, or there are problems with your footer.  This type of drainage is more expensive, ranging from $70-$80 per foot.
2. Once you’ve calculated your approximate cost for drainage, then you need to add the sump pump, which runs between $2000 and $2600. This price covers the installation of the pit, pump, drainage line, and battery backup system.
3. Water Tunnel is shaped like an upside-down U. It goes directly on top of your home’s footer, with the footer making the bottom of the tunnel.  This type of drainage usually costs $55-$70 per linear foot.

Are There Any Additional Costs Involved?

The answer is, that depends… Here are some of the services that may add up top your total cost of the basement waterproofing. Although, it highly depends upon the magnitude of damage that your basement has taken so far.

Mold Treatment

If mold grows in the basement, it must be cleaned and treated. We have already reviewed this topic. We also cover mold dangers completely in this blog article.

In most cases, we use a two-part process. The first step is to apply a treatment that kills mold growth. Once this is done, we apply a sealant to the affected area to prevent further development. In extreme cases, it may be necessary to scrape the area before applying the removal treatment.

Treatment costs can vary greatly, depending on the affected area and severity. Treatment costs are priced per square foot; For example, dam options range from $2 to $3.5 per foot.

To sum up this cost, Mold treatment may cost you somewhere between $2000 -$4500.

Basement Encapsulation

Once you have a water drainage system installed, encapsulation can be done.  There are two parts to encapsulation.

First, the Whitecap. White cap can be referred to as the cover that is installed throughout the space, covering all of the walls.  The seams are sealed, and the white cap is secured at the top of the walls.

For the average basement, the cost ranges from $3500 – $4900.

Second, the Dehumidifier. Once the basement is closed with a white covering, the moisture that builds up inside is trapped. This will recreate a lot of issues you were going to stop by insulating your basement! But a high-quality dehumidifier will remove this moisture and clean the air that circulates throughout the house. The dehumidifier costs about $2,000 to $2,500 to install.

Wrapping It Up

While we hope that we’ve covered up most of your queries related to basement waterproofing along the calculation process, it is yet a better choice to get an experienced professional to evaluate your basement and costs that will be incurred to get it restored.

At JDE Foundation, we aim to provide you with the waterproofing services where you can sit back relax while we take care of all the hassle. Therefore, without thinking twice, reach out to us now and get a Free Estimation!