What waterproofing involves
Basement waterproofing is the set of repairs that keeps groundwater and runoff from getting into your lower level, and moves the water that reaches your foundation safely away from the house.
The south metro has a lot of split-levels and walkouts, where part of the basement is dug into a hillside. Those homes get water from two directions: runoff coming down the slope, and groundwater pushing up from below in spring. A good contractor figures out which one you have before recommending anything.
Signs you need it
- Wet carpet or a puddle in a lower-level family room
- Water along the base of the wall after rain
- Peeling paint, damp drywall or swollen baseboards
- A musty smell that comes back every spring
- White chalky crust on concrete or block
What the work looks like
Find the source
The contractor checks inside and out: walls, the wall-floor joint, cracks, window wells, downspouts and the slope of the yard.
Written plan and price
You get a written scope. Ask how many feet of wall are covered, which pump is used and what the warranty includes.
Do the repair
Typical work is interior drain tile and a sump pump, crack repair, and outside fixes such as regrading or longer downspouts.
Water test
Water is run into the system so you can watch it reach the sump and leave the house.
What it costs
Compare every service in the cost guide. These are rough ranges; the real price comes after an inspection.
Questions
Will waterproofing ruin my finished lower level?
Not usually. Interior work needs about a foot of space along the affected walls, so the bottom of the drywall and the carpet edge come up and go back. Ask the contractor exactly what they remove and replace.
Is outside digging ever needed?
Sometimes, mostly for a single problem wall or where the yard slopes hard toward the house. Exterior excavation costs more and disturbs landscaping, so interior drain tile is more common in the Twin Cities.
How long does it take?
Crack repairs and pump replacements are often done in a few hours. Interior drain tile usually takes one to three days.
Read more
- Questions to ask a waterproofing contractor before you sign
- Clay soil, hills and runoff: why water finds your foundation
Related services
- Interior drain tile: A perforated pipe at the footing that sends water to your sump before it reaches the floor.
- Sump pump installation and replacement: Replacement pumps, new basins and battery backups for storms and outages.
- Foundation crack repair: Seal leaking cracks in poured walls and get block wall cracks checked before they grow.
- Yard drainage and grading: Regrading, downspout extensions and drains that stop runoff before it reaches the wall.
Where we serve
We connect homeowners with contractors across Dakota, Scott and south Hennepin counties, including Burnsville, Savage, Apple Valley, Bloomington, Credit River, Rosemount, Richfield, Lakeville. See all service areas.