Another method of redirecting water away from a leaky basement is an interior waterproofing solution.
Exterior waterproofing is always the best way to go, but some homes might be located too close to neighbouring houses, making exterior waterproofing (involving major excavation work) impossible.
For wet basements, Interior waterproofing doesn’t cost as much. Some homeowners opt both for interior and exterior waterproofing – they don’t want to take any chances with water leaks or flooding and want that extra layer of protection.
It could be a problem where constant rain or snowmelts over-saturate the soil and apply pressure to the foundation walls. Or it could be a situation where the water table below the concrete basement floor is rising, in part because of more substantial rainfall. That in turn puts pressure on the floor, causing water leaks through the floor or the area where the floor meets the wall.
Water and moisture in the basement will only get worse if it’s ignored. Over time it will lead to mould and mildew, and with that severe health issues – headaches, fatigue, coughing, throat and eye irritation, nasal congestion, skin problems, and fever.
Like with exterior waterproofing, building that layer of protection inside the home is labour intensive. It requires expertise. It needs to be planned and executed properly.
This method pushes water that has already entered through the foundation walls or from under the footing away from the finished interior. So the homeowner is re-directing water away, which is good, but it isn’t tackling the problem at its source.
Interior waterproofing is a drainage system located along the inside wall of the home and involves a multi-step process, according to professional home waterproofers:
How easy is waterproofing a basement
Again, you can do it yourself. There are DIY “Dry Systems” out there involving a chisel, grinder, dust mask, knee pads, high torque drill, adhesives and sealers for the foundation walls and concrete floor, directing water via a plastic pipe system into floor drains or sump pumps. That process is detailed and comprehensive to make sure the system works effectively, especially during heavy, steady rainstorms to prevent a wet basement.
However, there are no guarantees on how well-sealed the concrete walls are in any house – especially older homes. Water stays up against the foundation walls for a long time.
If the homeowner has invested money in creating a living space in the basement, perhaps an entertainment area for the family, a workspace, or even a revenue-generating basement apartment, peace-of-mind when talking about putting in place a waterproofing system becomes more of a factor.
If the space feels humid or smells musty, or there is mould present, and water stains, then that’s a sure-fire sign there is a water seepage problem. Water pressure on the foundation of the home, and the effects of that, is a constant issue for homeowners unless there is an effective waterproofing system in place installed by experienced professionals.
Foundation cracks are repaired with a waterproof cement compound, this is the first step in a waterproofing process.
Delta ms-drainage membrane installed
A membrane is installed onto the wall to direct water to the weeping tile
Gravel to cover weeping tile pipe allowing more drainage
A layer of gravel is installed around the weeping tile to allow water to enter the weeping tiles
Concrete finish with a trowel finish
Concrete is installed on top of gravel and then finished with a 25mpa concrete finish
Weeping tile installed and connected to a sump or storm line
Interior weeping tiles are a great way to collect gorund water and direct them to the sump pump or storm drain
Holes are drilled into the blocks to allow water to escape
Holes are drilled only when the foundation is made up of concrete blocks, as the blocks are hollow they allow water to accumulate inside them and eventually damage the walls.
Andrew and his team did an amazing waterproofing job for our basement. Andrew came to our house to do the estimate and I received the quote the next day with all the details. Throughout the process, Andrew was very responsive and the job was done on time. His crew were very professional and organized. I definitely recommend Canada Waterproofers for anyone who needs that kind of project to be done.
I've worked with Slava and his team multiple times. Once for basement waterproofing, the second time to fix a sewage pump disaster that another tradesman caused, a 3rd time to upgrade the water supply, and a 4th time to fix an emergency plumbing issue. All on different properties and occasions, and all of which have been excellent work done! Slava and his team are experts at what they do, pricing is fair, and always professional. There's a reason why I keep going back. Don't look anywhere else, this is the team you want to work with when it comes to waterproofing and plumbing!
Slava is amazing he has been doing this for years... I myself have used his service in two different properties, very wise good price and amazing service! Totally recommend if you have a water leak related problem at your house
You don’t need to call around for a waterproofing company. We’ve done it, and we won’t go anywhere else. Carl is professional, knowledgeable, personable, and timely. Most importantly, he provides HONEST advice during assessment. He’s helped us with our house in Mississauga and our rental property in Hamilton when we found water in both basements. Thanks again
Andrew from Canada Waterproofers just completed the installation of a new sump pump at my basement. He is knowledgeable and accommodating. The owner is very responsive as well. I used to doubt the authenticity of all 5 star google reviews under a single company. But Canada Waterproofers does deserve positive feedback. Thank you, guys!
We worked with Carl to quote out waterproofing our foundation. On top of the great customer experience during that quote process the on-site team doing the work was hard working, efficient, polite and eager.Carl went out of his way in terms of follow ups to ensure we were happy with the service.Highly recommend this service to anyone having issues with their waterproofing and foundation patching.
Andrew and his team (all the Andrews!) were fantastic. From the initial on-site inspection for basement foundation leak and sump pump installation quote, to all subsequent communication, booking a date that worked for our household, and day of repair, the team was professional, friendly, courteous, informative, honest, on time, super tidy, and provided excellent follow-up. I honestly can't think of a better experience for customer service and quality tradesmanship start-to-finish. Looking forward to quoting future underpinning work with this awesome crew.
I was having water leaking in our basement for a while just after periods of rains. ,but every time it rain the leak was getting worse , therefore making me more anxious. So after looking online for a reputable company I came across Canada Waterproofers. I gave them a call and got surprised on how quick they were able to come and take a look and give me the best solution to our situation. Not only was the technician very personable ,but the workers doing the job as well. When they finished actually the area they worked on looked better than before. Definitely will be recommending them.
We had an excellent experience with Canada Waterproofers - they completed basement waterproofing, a sump pump installation and a back water valve installation. Their prices were comparable to other companies and we appreciated that they provided all the services we required. Andrew was courteous and very helpful answering all our questions throughout the process; a pleasure to work with. The crew was quick and efficient, the worksite was left tidy at the end of every day, and the work was completed on time. We've had quite a bit of rain since the work was completed and everything has remained dry. Would certainly recommend Canada Waterproofers!
Carl and his team were excellent and we have no hesitation recommending. Having undertaken an entire home renovation Canada Waterproofers provided great recommendations and pricing. We had a very tight timeframe to get the work done to stay on schedule. They started on time and finished in half the estimated time allowing us to maintain schedule. Work included a complete replacement of all our underground sewer lines, moving of rough in’s, new window wells and an entire interior waterproofing of all walls.
This is our second time using Canada Waterproofers and would never call anyone else. Their first basement waterproofing job for us has held for the last 6 years with no problems despite occasional heavy rains. They gave us really beautiful window-well covers too- our friends and neighbours ask where to get them . Aside from great work, they are on time, on budget and very polite. Plus they take good care not to damage your property! Also, great communication and follow-up! Carl and his team are top notch!
Val did awesome job. He showed up on time and completed the job in a timely fashion at a reasonable price professionally answering all my questions. Wouldn't hesitate to hire him again if needed.
Amazing work, can’t thank Slava enough for taking care of us and with regards to the flawless execution of his work. We always come back for any waterproofing needs
Contacted CW because a leak in the building's foundation was coming through our drywall and flooding the inside of our office. It took CW less than a day to completely patch the leak. There have been no issues since.
We scheduled an in-home assessment. Valentin suggested that we buy a new replacement valve because when we explained the issue, he said it must be the faucet/valve.He kept us updated prior to his arrival and his service was friendly and prompt. He was very helpful and quickly finished the task! Highly recommend!!He even followed up a few days later to ensure everything was working well!
Great experience with this company! Valentin was awesome! He made the whole process clear and easy to understand. Valentin was also super friendly and upfront about pricing making the whole experience comfortable.
Remove any wall coverings needed to gain access to concrete, cinder block or brick wall
Excavate and open a trench against the interior wall and dispose of the excavated soils and debris
Drill blocks if present and install Delta MS drainage membrane on to walls up to grade level, and fix the wall with delta clips. Water that makes it way through the wall will drop down into the basement’s drainage system
Install four-inch “Big O” weeping tile with filter cloth and connect to the drainage system (ideally a sump pump). Weeping tiles are porous pipes made of plastic used to discharge water from the foundation of the property
Install sump pump. Encase tank with clear gravel. Water flows via the weeping tile incline to the sump pump where it is pumped to a location outside the home
Test the sump pump to make sure it’s operating as it should
Encase weeping tile with clear gravel, then back fill and re-cement the floor with a trowel finish
Clean up the work areas and remove all the debris from the site
Why waterproofing wet basement from inside?
Interior waterproofing is an effective way of redirecting water away from your basement, allowing you to enjoy a space that is warm and dry.
There are many reasons why you may choose to do waterproofing from inside. Here are just a few examples:
Very tight space between houses
Extremely wet soils that will collapse if excavated
