Is it a job I can do myself?

This article is here to provide a simple jumping off point for your project to either stop a wall or floor seepage situation or at the very least, stop one from starting in the first place.

The fundamentals.

Internal water damage happens because of hydrostatic stress. Water in the ground finds the path of least resistance to your interior. Or it can gather in the brick, cement or concrete and build the humidity levels in the basement.

With either of these circumstances, you end up with property damage; ie: your furnishings, carpet, boxes etc. You also have the potential for increased risk to your health due to airbourne fungus and mould.

The alternatives are many. Generally it would include at the very least blocking the exterior moisture from accessing the foundation.

Interior and perhaps exterior waterproofing may need to be undergone to avoid further transmission of water through the foundation.

A foundation waterproofing professional will be able to give you choices of which method is appropriate for your particular scenario.

There are products available, which your service provider may or may not know of that are claimed to be able to seal your foundation completely from the inside, without any need to service the exterior.

There are also a wide range of techniques developed to eliminate water from your below grade spaces, each having positive and negative characteristics. They must be analyzed carefully to allow an educated decision.

Customers need to arm themselves with accurate information. Only then can the BEST choice be made without falling victim to a sales pitch and lofty promises.

There are thousands of companies supplying this service. For example, a fast internet search for "foundation waterproofing" in New York state, provided us 33,500 listings.



I would advise you to gather at least 5 companies to whom you could discuss your particular problem with. Make sure that they are willing to provide you a no-charge assesment, ideally in print.

An evaluation and an estimate for what they would charge if you grant them the job.

Arm yourself with information. Lots of it. Then decide if it is DIY project. If not, then use the estimates to choose a contractor. Make sure you utilize word of mouth and references to make sure you hire only a reputable company to do the job.

If they do great work, their customers will let you know. Be sure to stay clear of contractors who promise you the world at an incredible price. Also, be sure to take photos of the job as it goes along to keep for YOUR records. Better safe than sorry. Good luck with your project.