Basement Waterproofing Service Near Cleveland, OH

In simple terms, exterior basement waterproofing mainly involves installing an exterior drainage system and coating the exterior walls with a waterproof barrier (via excavating the soil on all sides of the foundation – making a 7 or 8-foot-deep trench).

Interior basement waterproofing involves waterproof sealant and/or installing an interior floor drain and sump pump.

Since every home and every foundation is different, there is no one-size-fits-all waterproofing solution that works for every basement.

In determining which waterproofing method will keep your basement safe and dry, it all comes down to these factors:

• Where and how the water is coming in
• How the moisture is presenting itself
• The type of soil surrounding your foundation
• The age of your home
• The quality of your basement and foundation walls

A basement waterproofing expert can help you assess your situation and recommend the best basement waterproofing system for you.

No two jobs are the same, so an accurate quote cannot be supplied until the basement area has been inspected. For example, basement waterproofing sealants and epoxies are fairly low cost per square foot for professional application. However, if you need extensive exterior basement waterproofing, projects start to range in the thousands, with many factors affecting the total cost.

An interior floor drain system is a method that is used when you have large cracks and exterior excavation is not possible, or if previous sealants didn’t work.

An interior basement drain system is:

• Made from shallow excavation at the inside perimeter of your basement floor.
• Filled with pea gravel and perforated drain tile. (Typically, a sump pit and pump for water collection is also installed.)
• Then filled with concrete, leaving only a narrow grate leading to the drain.
• Involves a final step of installing plastic panels over leaky walls to help water travel downward toward the grate.

Absolutely. Using interior waterproof sealant and/or installing an interior floor drain and sump pump, basements with minor cracks and minimal leakage in basement walls, floors, and around windows and doors can usually be sealed.

For the best chance of success, it’s best to consult with a basement waterproofing expert to ensure your water issues are thoroughly assessed and to get the best insight on products to use, if you choose to do the work yourself.

In most cases, basement waterproofing is not covered by homeowners insurance because it’s viewed as a home maintenance issue and not a sudden or accidental loss – which is what homeowner’s insurance is designed to protect you from.

Since every homeowner policy differs, be sure to review yours and contact your agent to know for certain what yours does and doesn’t cover, and if there are any coverage add-ons you can obtain that will help with basement waterproofing.