Many would be the reasons a basement should be waterproofed, such as to prevent floodings, to increase the value of your house, having to repair a very deteriorated foundation can amount to thousands of dollars on repairs and deter future prospective buyers, also to prevent health hazard like mold and mildew.
Many homeowners decide to do it as a precautionary method even before there are any signs of water leaking in the basement or moisture showing in the basement’s walls. Like the saying goes “A good solid foundation means a strong home.”
There are distinct types of approaches when waterproofing foundation walls, and with that also, there are different price ranges, all depending on the complexity of the repair to be done. For example, exterior waterproofing versus interior waterproofing. Between these methods the exterior waterproofing can be quite pricy, with the price ranging from $100-$300 per linear foot. If you are going to get your basement waterproofed from the outside, then you can be sure that if done correctly the basement will be dry and moisture free for an exceedingly long time. We usually recommend interior waterproofing repair when there is not enough space between neighbouring houses, and with unfinished basements, with this method the prices are between $70-$200 per linear foot. Most times we recommend the installation of a sump pump while waterproofing from the inside to collect the water from the weeping tyle and dispose it away from the house. The cost to add a sump pump varies from $565-$3500.
If the foundation has a crack generated by pressure on the wall by soil that is wet, a professional opinion should be sought to determine how serious it is and how to get it repaired. There can be several types of cracks present in the foundation wall and they can be easily fixed, the price ranges from $1600-$2000 all depending in the size of the crack and the depth of the foundation wall. If the crack runs from floor to ceiling and is more than ¼ of an inch wide this may be an indicator of a structural issue and then the repair becomes more expensive as this indicates a more severe problem with the physical integrity of the home’s foundation wall.
Sometimes there is a spot on an area of the wall that is a cause of concern for our clients. Usually, a leak in certain area in the basement or a patch of moisture, and the way to get it fixed before it gets worse is to do what is called a spot repair. The way we do a spot repair is by digging a trench of usually 8 feet wide by 8 feet deep and the cost can vary from $1600-$3200 depending on how deep we must dig and if we should install new weeping tiles (older houses seldom do not have any system installed), soil conditions, etc.
Another basement service we provide is window wells. They are necessary when the soil around the window must be lowered down, by lowering the grade around the window the basement will be brighter making it more of a usable space. You are thinking of making more use of the basement space by setting an office up, a playroom, or a man cave, but whatever the new use is going to be, adding a window well surely will make a difference. The cost of installing a new window well is $1600-3800. There can be different finishes like galvanized steel, which is the most used, or wood, which can cost more but is more aesthetically pleasing. With the drainage system that we put in when installing a new window well water is directed away from the exterior wall meaning no water enters the basement.
Egress windows are usually combined with window wells, their purpose is to facilitate faster escape in case of emergencies. They are larger windows often required by building codes on buildings or home’s basements when there are more than one dwelling, such as legal basements apartments. They are also a way to light up the basement with natural light. They will cost between $3200-$5800. They are another way to add value to the home, by adding them to the basement you can market your basement as an additional new living space.
Another way we can help our clients with basements preventions’ solutions is by installing a back water valve, another term frequently used is backflow or sewer back up valve. This valve is installed on the main sewer line to allow water or sewer to flow one way and away from the house through a flap that opens to allow the water to exit the home. The backwater valve will prevent sewage from coming into the basement in the event the city sewer line gets overwhelmed with torrential downpour of rains, in which case the flap will close to prevent water or sewer from coming in causing damage to property. To install one, it will cost $1600-$3500. City rebates are available to homeowners who decide to install a sewer back up valve.
These are some of the services we provide and the cost to homeowners. Regular maintaining of the house is a key to prevent unnecessary unreasonable prices in basements repairs. Like Don McPherson said, “True prevention is not waiting for bad things to happen, it’s preventing things from happening in the first place.”
