Water leaking into basement? You probably need Basement Waterproofing?

Do you have leaky basement walls? The issue of our times is a changing climate, and the impact that has on all of our lives. As the air becomes warmer, and temperatures rise up, that means a more intense water cycle, with more moisture evaporating into the atmosphere.

That leads to changes in rainfall patterns, and more storms. Downpours are more intense. There is more snow, which melts more rapidly.

With an increase in precipitation comes an increased risk of flooding. If you own or rent a house, with a basement, you know what we are talking about.

The home’s foundation drainage system is interconnected and complicated, just like french drain, it includes the city’s sanitary sewer lateral, perhaps a storm service lateral (in newer homes), a weeping tile system that channels water away from the foundation, drain pipes. Any failure there leaves the home exposed to flooding.

Cost of waterproofing can total thousands

For most people, purchasing a home will be the most significant investment they make in their lives.

How many of us though have directly experienced, or heard horror stories, about walking down the basement stairs to find a foot or two of water, or a cascade of water pouring into a finished basement through a clogged-up window well during a heavy rain storm, personal possessions being washed away forever in some cases.

Cost estimates to fix water damage vary – but it’s in the thousands, all to repair or replace drywall, floors and hardwood, or anything electrical. Those home repair costs go up the more the water damage is left untreated, or if the homeowner is dealing with clean water as opposed to a sewer backup, or contaminated water. Around $1.7 billion is paid out in insurance claims due to water damage in Canada each year.

Moisture will spare no part of the home – timber, block structures, floors, and bricks. Many people spend a lot of money finishing a basement, perhaps creating a rental apartment for income purposes, all to help push up the value of that investment, only to have to do the work again.

For homeowners the issue becomes balancing the potential repair costs associated with a flood with buying flood insurance from your provider. That becomes even more of an issue for people living next to waterways – in case a river or body of water overflows.

Then there are the health effects – water damage leads to mould and mildew growth. You look at it and it seems harmless, but mould spores can travel anywhere, and can lead to throat and eye irritation, coughing, headaches, fatigue, fever, skin problems, nasal congestion, nose bleeds and allergies. It is important to not only get rid of it when you see it, but stop it from showing up in the first place.

Hydrostatic pressure and water leaks

So why does water leak into your basement?

Maybe you have heard the term “hydrostatic pressure”. By definition, it’s the pressure exerted on a fluid at equilibrium (not flowing) by the force of gravity. Hydrostatic pressure increases the deeper you get from the surface due to the increasing weight of the fluid from above.

Hydrostatic pressure is the reason you see water leaks in the basement walls of a home. Water that is building up against the foundation wall will eventually leak through eroding concrete, at the joint where the poured concrete floor meets the wall, and through cracks in the wall, mortar joints or floor if left un-checked.

With more precipitation, that becomes more of a factor, especially as the soil becomes more saturated. The more loose the soil, the more water it absorbs. That expanding soil also puts more pressure on the foundation walls. In the event of heavy rain or a rapid snowmelt, water tables will rise, putting pressure on a basement.

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Do-it-yourself fixes

You can’t control the weather, but you can control how well you protect your home. If you want to stop water from leaking into your basement there are a number things you can do on your own before contacting waterproofing contractors.

1. Landscaping should be a focus. You need to keep the water away from the house. Slope the ground away from the foundation, around six to 10 feet. Install asphalt or patio stones next the home, so water doesn’t settle into the soil.

2. Make sure the eavestroughs and gutters around the home are clean. Water will overflow if they are clogged by dirt or leaves and will over-saturate the ground next to the foundation or basement walls.

3. Make sure downspouts are directed to where you want the water to go, like a garden.

4. A window well with a clogged drain can lead to water flooding in through the basement walls. Placing covers over each of the window wells will help keep out leaves and other debris that can lead to clogs.

5. Clear snow away from the home’s foundation during winter regularly.

6. Protect your HVAC system – make sure the furnace and water heater is not sitting on the basement floor.

But if you really want to stop the problem of flooding at its source, you need exterior waterproofing or interior home waterproofing system.

Weeping Tiles

For the average homeowner, not in the waterproofing business, a French drain, also called a weeping tile, is a trench filled with gravel or sand that contains a perforated pipe with filter fabric.

The purpose of a French drain is to redirect ground water or surface water away from building foundations. In the case of a home, the French drain is usually installed around the foundation on the external side.

We have said it before – with more instances of heavy rainfall, more water is being absorbed into the ground, next to the home’s foundation, meaning there is more water pressure on the concrete walls.

Concrete is a porous material, so over time, especially as the house shifts, cracks will form in the walls, leading to water leakages into the basement. Older foundations built with cinder blocks held together by mortar are particularly susceptible to erosion.

The size of the French drain or weeping tile depends on the anticipated volume of rainwater or runoff. Consult a professional from Canada Waterproofers about this.

INSTALLING A FRENCH DRAIN

• Dig a trench alongside the footing of your house. The French drain will intercept water before it can enter the basement.
• The French drain pipe is something you can pick up from a Home Depot or Canadian Tire. Rigid PVC with pre-drilled holes is a type of pipe that’s preferable in part because you can clean it with a plumber’s snake if need be.
• The trench should be at least two feet wide. If the objective is a dry basement, make sure the pipe is positioned below the slab or finished floor level.
• Lay the pipe down on the virgin soil. Make sure the holes in the pipe are pointed downwards. All the groundwater is sitting along the bottom, so it can then percolate into the pipe.
• Wrap filter fabric around the pipe so dirt or weeds don’t obstruct the system. Pour one-half feet of gravel on top and over the side of the pipe.
• The filter fabric is also laid over the gravel to prevent soil from getting through and clogging the perforated pipe that you just laid down. It is important that the French drain or weeping tiles don’t become clogged. If that happens then water pressure will build up and leak into your basement, through the base of the wall or through cracks in the floor.
• Back-fill the foundation with topsoil, bringing it back up to its original grade level. Compact the soil every two feet.
• Landscaping is a big focus at this point in the job. Always slope the ground away from the home’s foundation, around six to 10 feet. Install patio stones or asphalt next to the home, so water doesn’t settle into the soil.

A French drain is much easier to install during new home construction. It gets more challenging with older homes, especially if you have taller basement walls and you need to dig deeper to the footing level. Landscaping, cement walkways or backyard decks might need to be ripped up to install the French drain.

Installation is labour-intensive if you take it on yourself. It’s not something you want to install incorrectly, because going back in again to install it properly will be costly. Call a professional to take care of the job.

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Sophia Gao

21:06 18 Oct 25

Had a really stressful time with our tenants having a blocked drain. Called a few plumbing companies but no one showed up. Canada Waterproofers came the same day, found the issue quickly, and fixed it right away. Super friendly and honest guys. Definitely recommend them if you need drain or plumbing work done! Thank you guys!

Raymond Sigmaringam

18:59 25 Sep 25

I had a foundation leak, and the job was done by Canada Waterproofers. I was fortunate to connect with Andrii, the project manager. He is very knowledgeable, prompt, and easy to communicate with—he even answered my calls after working hours.I had my entire house waterproofed. Andrii explained everything in detail, and the price was very reasonable. His crew, especially the foreman Andrew and his team, did an amazing job. The work was extremely clean and professional, and I am 100% satisfied with both their knowledge and workmanship.I highly recommend Canada Waterproofers to anyone who needs waterproofing for their home. Since they couldn’t bring heavy machinery inside, they dug almost 7 feet down by hand and still completed the job in an unbelievable timeframe—with no mess and no issues.

David Ciccolini

12:52 09 Sep 25

Amazing experience from start to finish. Andrew was a pleasure to deal with. If you have any waterproofing needs these are the guys to call!!

AN

23:38 08 Sep 25

Waterproofed my home, incredibly thorough and proper job. I recommended to family and they did a wonderful job for them too. Perfectionist and experts in their craft.

Chris Chua

02:04 01 Aug 25

Amazing team.

Luke LAY

01:40 01 Aug 25

Honest and trust worthy team. Quality work for fair price

ACaminerIT

01:44 05 Jul 25

Andrew was very flexible with scheduling and always answered my email. He and his crew were all very professional and they did a great job installing the backwater flow preventer valve in my basement. I hightly recommend Canada Waterproofers

Sam Vadim

15:50 02 Jul 25

I have used Canada Waterproofers in the past and Valentin always provides excellent service. He is a skilled professional, completes work in a timely manner and offers great advice. Very pleased with the installation of bathroom sink and faucet, it looks and functions perfectly! Customer service is also courteous and easy to talk to. Thanks Valentin and team!

Jobin John

16:49 29 Jun 25

Highly recommend this company. We had a water leak in the basement due to a crack in the foundation, we called for a quote and they came right away and gave a reasonable price. Andrii was very professional and responsive throughout the process. His crew was very skilled and did a good job, found the problem and fixed the leak. The whole team including Carl, Andrii and the crew who did our job were outstanding.

Love Tayal

17:42 26 Jun 25

What an amazing team, Slava and the whole team was very professional, knowledgeable. Best waterproofing contractors in the city. They really know what they are doing, they did exterior waterproofing, interior waterproofing and sump pump installation for us. Explained us what materials are they using, the whole process and left the place so neat and clean. They are expert at whatever waterproofing services they provide. Thank you Canada Waterproofers.

Shikha Saxena

20:59 25 Jun 25

We recently hired Canada Waterproofers Mississauga after discovering major cracks and leaks in our basement walls. They handled everything from exterior waterproofing to a full foundation repair, and the difference is unbelievable. Their crew was kind, respectful, and incredibly professional throughout the entire process.They didn’t cut corners—they used the best basement waterproofing products and truly high quality materials that gave us the confidence our home is now protected long-term. Our basement waterproofing services also included a proper weeping tile system to ensure water drains away from our foundation, and it’s working perfectly.We can finally breathe easy knowing our waterproofing house project was done by a team that genuinely cares. Highly, highly recommend!

Gunjan Arora

21:46 24 Jun 25

My husband and I were really worried about water in our basement. After every big rainfall, we’d find puddles and damp walls. It was starting to feel like a losing battle. A friend recommended Canada Waterproofers, and honestly, they were a blessing. They checked everything and explained the issue in plain words. We ended up getting interior basement waterproofing and a sump pump installation. The crew was polite, respectful, and cleaned up after the job. It’s clear they’re not just any waterproofing contractor—they actually care about doing it right. It’s been dry ever since. No more panic during storms. If you need wet basement repairs, we highly recommend them. They gave us real peace of mind.

Kunal Sarhadi

19:58 24 Jun 25

We were so tired of dealing with leaks every time it rained. After talking to a few companies, we went with Canada Waterproofers—and I’m so glad we did. These guys are true basement waterproofers who actually know what they’re doing.They helped us with waterproofing basement walls from the outside, and the whole exterior basement waterproofing process was smooth and well explained. They even suggested installing a backwater valve to prevent any sewer backup—and thank God they did, because two weeks later, we had a massive downpour and everything stayed bone dry!Their team made the whole basement waterproofing job feel stress-free. Super professional, honest pricing, and no mess left behind. If you’re looking to protect your home for good, this is who you call.

Jessie Jia

23:17 13 Jun 25

We had the pleasure of working with Carl and his team. His expertise as a basement waterproofing specialist is absolutely top-notch.They were so professional, easy to communicate with, and kept everything on schedule. Canada Waterproofers Highly Recommend!

stefan buskovic

12:42 11 Jun 25

Phenomenal service, amazing workmanship, professional, would highly recommend themCarl and his team are so puntcual, great quality and easy to deal with

Sunita Gupta

20:28 08 Jun 25

What an amazing team, Slava and team did foundation repair for my house in Mississauga, whole crew was very knowledgeable and passionate. There were 3 basement foundation cracks near the window in the basement, Canada Waterproofers did a great job by repairing those, replaced weeping tile and left the whole place very clean and neat. Thank you Slava, I am glad I called you. Thank you team!

Ali M

21:17 17 May 25

I spoke to many companies, some were all about price - trying to be the cheapest provider but lacked a solid reputation, others I felt pushy or had poor communication. I found Canada waterproofers on homestars and it was a great experience. I specifically dealt with Andrew who was knowledgeable, patient and not pushy at all. He came multiple times to have a look and before diagnosing the issues suggested more trouble shooting to be able to understand what the root cause was. Anyhow, his team completed the work all in one day and was very neat And tidy. I got progress pictures throughout and was not asked for any money until I was satisfied with all the work done. This is how you know you’re working with someone who stands behind their work! Their work came with a lifetime warranty for leaks on the wall where they did the work! Thank you Andrew for your professionalism, communication and putting your customer first! Highly recommend you guys

Stan S.

15:33 15 May 25

Outstanding company and top quality work.I have never had major structural repairs done to my home and was nervous when I needed a foundation crack repaired. I shouldn't have been. Canada Waterproofers put me at ease from the beginning. Assessment and scheduling was easy. The work was done very fast and with absolutely no damage to the backyard grass and fencing. The quality of work was outstanding and matched exactly the quote. There were no hidden fees or overhead on the invoice.Overall, I am very satisfied and would recommend Canada Waterproofers!

Paolo Burzese

15:40 13 May 25

Slava and his team came in, gave a fair price and did the job on the day they said they would. They were quick. They had to dig a trench through the concrete in the basement and when they were done, they cleaned up so all you could see was the fresh concrete. Strongly recommend.

Morgan & Jeff Smith

13:41 30 Apr 25

Great experience. Fast, efficient and solid prices. Definitely will recommend.