Factors that Could Influence Your Estimate for Basement Waterproofing

If you are considering having your basement waterproofed so that you can renovate it and use it as extra living space, there are a number of factors that could influence the final cost of doing so. Below, we are going to take a look at a few of the most common factors involved, so that you have a better idea of what to expect when you start to receive estimates from local plumbing and building specialists such as ourselves.

Waterproofing a Toronto Basement: How Much It Might Cost

To figure out how much you will need to spend on waterproofing your basement, the first thing you need to do is to work out why is it letting in water at the moment.

1. Cracked Foundation Walls – Cracks in your property’s foundations can cause water to leak into your basement. If the cracks are small your estimate will be quite low as they should be relatively simple to repair. There are several different methods that can be employed to repair such cracks, including the injection of epoxy or the application of hydraulic cement.
2. Bad Landscape Design – If the landscape designer who created your yard and garden did not consider what would happen to excess rainfall, it is possible that water is naturally making its way toward the foundation walls of your home and causing damp problems. If this is the case, a complete redesign of your property’s landscaping may be in order before you think about waterproofing your Toronto basement.
3. Geographic Location – If your house happens to be situated at the bottom of a hill, even the most ingenious landscape designer may not be able to prevent hydrostatic pressure from creating cracks in your foundations that let in water. In such cases, we normally recommend interior excavation waterproofing, which involves the installation of a new drainage system and an efficient sump pump. The new drainage system and pump will draw water away from your home.
4. Badly Positioned Downspouts – If your guttering was incorrectly installed, it could be directing a substantial amount of water toward your foundations. The obvious solution in such cases is to reposition the downspouts or to install a completely new guttering system but it may also be necessary to effect repairs to your foundations at the same time. The length of time that the problem has existed, together with its severity, will need to be taken into account when deciding on the best course of action to take.

As you can see, there are a number of factors that may be responsible for a wet or leaky basement and you will need to find out which one is causing you problems in order to estimate the cost of waterproofing your Toronto basement. Fortunately, this is not a task you will have to tackle alone. Call New Canadian Drain & Plumbing today and we will be delighted to survey your home in order to pinpoint the reasons for your leaky basement and to suggest affordable solutions.