Basement Waterproofing 101

Having a problem with leaks or flooding in your basement can be incredibly stressful. If it’s the first time you’ve encountered a problem, you might not know where to start or who to call. Here at Over The Top Waterproofing, Philadelphia, we help homeowners in the Tri-state area tackle their basement waterproofing challenges.

Here’s our handy guide to the basics of basement waterproofing:

Where’s the water coming from?

First things first – you’ll want to know the source of the water or damp in your basement. Is it coming from an internal, or external source?

When it comes to basement waterproofing, there are both internal and external solutions available – but choosing the right combination requires a good understanding of where the problem areas are, in and around your home.

Interior Waterproofing: Managing water inside your home

In the vast majority of cases, some form of interior waterproofing will be needed. This could be as simple as sealing any cracks and/or applying a waterproof coating to your basement floors and walls.

Even the tiniest of cracks can allow water to seep into your home, and the longer they are left untreated and unsealed, the more likely it is that they will grow in size and become a bigger problem. Getting the cracks sealed and the concrete repaired as soon as possible can prevent you from needing more extensive and expensive work done further down the line.

If your basement is prone to flooding, and it’s not enough to seal the cracks, you may need to have an interior drainage system like a sump pump. These systems collect any water that finds its way into your basement, and directs it outside and well away from your home.

Exterior Waterproofing: Managing water outside your home

Depending on the lay of the land and natural drainage around your home, external waterproofing may be needed to prevent water seeping into your home, and also to help prevent any structural damage the pressure from the water in the ground around your home can cause.

If the leak in your basement is due to wall and floor cracks, it’s possible that those cracks were caused by the pressure of water in the soil around your home. In this instance, sealing the cracks will work temporarily, but if there’s constant pressure on the walls, over time new cracks are likely to appear.  Even worse, it could cause serious structural damage to your home.

In these cases, exterior waterproofing such as French drain installation can help remove or redirect the water, removing the pressure and the risks to your home.

Philadelphia’s Basement Waterproofing Experts

If you have issues with leaks or flooding in your basement, it’s always best to call in the experts as soon as possible. At Over the Top Waterproofing, we’ve been serving Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware, and the Tri-state area for over 25 years. Contact us today and our expert waterproofers will provide a free estimate and a customized plan for waterproofing your basement.