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.
Andrii was incredible. Incredible!! We had a seepage leak in our basement and couldn’t find the cause after asking multiple people to come and take a look at it. After just 30 minutes he found the issue and we now have a plan in place. Would recommend him to anyone and will for sure keep Andrii and Canada Waterproofers in mind for future jobs!! Thank you SO MUCH!!
Dima and his crew were efficient, clean and timely. All work was completed and more than satisfactory. The follow up by Carl was excellent. I will not hesitate to recommend Canada Waterproofers.
Aquamaster has done well with my basement. I have had problems with flooding and they were able to seal everything up for me. Glad I went with them. Very respectful and would recommend to give them a call.
I have had Canada Waterproofers do two separate jobs at my home. The crew, was great, they are professionals, I am very pleased with the results. The jobs were done on time, & clean up was superb. You can't go wrong choosing Slava and his team.
I had Canada Waterproofers waterproof the exterior of my home in September 2024 and they did an exceptional job.They set up an appointment to meet with me to discuss and inspect the areas which required waterproofing. They inspected the areas both from the outside as well as the inside. They provided detailed explanations of the work they felt was required based on their inspection and then provided me with a detailed written quote. They didn't pressure me for an immediate answer, instead they followed up with me days later to discuss whether or not I wanted to proceed. Once I agreed, we set up a mutually agreeable date for the work to commence.The workers were polite, professional and worked in an organized manner. They only opened a trench the length they could complete in a day so there was never a trench left open overnight. Each day they opened a new section to work on until they completed all areas. The area was kept neat as they worked and was cleaned up each night before they left.Overall, it was a very good experience from start to finish. I feel their pricing was reasonable for the work they did and I am relieved I no longer have to worry about water in my basement.
Slava and his team are not only reliable but masters of their craft! My basement was full of water and their prompt response to assess my problem and provide me the information and options to make an educated decision was very much appreciated. When they fixed my foundational leak, they worked fast and hard under harsh conditions and completed the job. It’s been over a year now and I feel comfortable to finish my basement thanks to them! Highly recommend.
We experienced basement flooding from seepage on July 16, 2024 from the massive rainfall in Toronto. Being new homeowners it was a stressful situation. I was referred to Canada Waterproofers by a friend who had a good experience with them. Slava and his team completed exterior waterproofing on three of our walls and installed a battery back up sump pump within about 2 weeks of the flood. They completed all of the work over three full days which we found very impressive. They left the job site as they found it and even our neighbours commented on how efficiently and tidy their work was. We also found the price reasonable considering it required a lot of manual labor. Slava took the time to explain how the waterproofing works, how the sump pump works and even explained to us about our back up water valve (which was installed previously). We definitely recommend Slava and his team and will most certainly call on them again if we ever want to waterproof the fourth wall or do additional plumping work.
We have been working with Canada Waterproofers for over 10 years, and as a contractor/builder, we can't speak highly enough of their exceptional service and expertise. Their team consistently delivers top-notch work, ensuring that every project is completed to the highest standards. Whether it's waterproofing basements, solving foundation issues, or providing drainage solutions, Canada Waterproofers has always been reliable, professional, and thorough. Their attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction make them a trusted partner in our business. We highly recommend Canada Waterproofers to anyone in need of quality waterproofing services in Toronto and the GTA.
I had a great experience with Canada Waterproofers, especially working with Slava and his crew. From the start, Slava was professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely focused on finding the right solution for my home. He took the time to explain everything clearly, without any pressure to choose the most expensive option. The team did an excellent job on the waterproofing, and the quality of their work was impressive. I felt confident and well-informed throughout the entire process. I highly recommend Canada Waterproofers and Slava for anyone needing waterproofing services.
Thank you, Canada, waterproofing for doing a excellent job 👏 saving me a lot of money 💰 and very professional and friendly customer service , I'll recommend 👍 Canada waterproofing for any plumbing issue .
This is the second time I have used this company's services. My kitchen drain was severely clogged, and my attempts to use a plumbing snake were unsuccessful. Later, I called Karl, and their service was very prompt—they came the same day and fixed the issue within an hour. They were very professional. The technician was not only efficient but also very friendly, explaining the root cause of the problem and preventive measures in detail. Over the years, I have never considered switching to another company. Their service has always left me extremely satisfied.
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
