Basement water shows up in a few familiar ways. A flooded floor, moisture found behind a finished wall, a crack that lets water through, or no visible source at all. The question that follows is where to waterproof your basement, from the inside or from the outside. At KC Pier, we have multiple repair options, and we can assess these problems pretty easily once we see them. In many cases, homeowners can choose one approach or the other.
Where to Waterproof Your Basement: Two Repair Paths
Some basement waterproofing issues are repaired from inside the home. Others need to be repaired from the outside.
The Cost Difference
Interior basement waterproofing tends to be cheaper overall than exterior waterproofing. The reason comes down to how much digging the repair requires.
When the Choice Is Yours
Depending on the waterproofing issue itself, many homeowners have the option to go either direction. We look at the problem first and lay out what applies.
Key Takeaway: Not every wet basement points to one fix. The repair depends on the issue, and sometimes you choose.
Exterior Waterproofing And What It Involves
The Excavation
Waterproofing a wall from the outside requires an excavation. The work is labor-intensive and often takes heavy machinery to dig the full outside of the wall and expose it down to the footing. On most homes, that is an 8- to 10-foot exposure.
From there, the job involves:
- Removing all of that material
- Waterproofing the exterior wall
- Adding some form of water management inside the house, in most cases, to carry water from the outside to a sump pump
- Directing that water away from the home
Cost and Lifespan
Exterior work is an involved process, and it comes at some expense. It is also a lifetime product. Once the wall is repaired this way, it is repaired forever.
Need help deciding between the two? Contact KC Pier and one of our structural consultants will come take a look.
Interior Waterproofing Options
Interior repairs are much more affordable because the dig is already done. When we are in your basement, we are already 8 feet below ground, so we do not have to do as much digging to find the source of the water.
Water Management Systems
We can build a water management system into the wall itself to carry water away from the home.
Crack Injections and Membranes
We also handle simpler water remediation solutions, including crack injections and crack membranes. There are a lot of options when it comes to waterproofing a basement from the interior.
Pro Tip: Whether you have found the water, seen the water, or cannot tell where it is coming from, that is enough information to call.
What Happens When You Call KC Pier
A Holistic Look from a Structural Consultant
One of our structural consultants comes out and looks at the basement from a holistic perspective. The visit runs somewhere in the range of 30 to 40 minutes.
How We Help You Decide Where to Waterproof Your Basement
It is not a hard sell. We do not sit at the table for three hours the way many companies do. The consultation is straightforward, honest, and transparent, and homeowners tell us they appreciate it for the education even when they do not end up hiring us. Give us a call and let a KC Pier consultant show you where to waterproof your basement.
