Keeping Water Out of Your Home: Two Ways to Do It

Water getting into your home is expensive and really annoying. Maybe your basement gets wet all the time, or maybe you just want to stop flooding before it happens. Either way, you need to know about two ways to keep water out: fixing things from the outside or fixing things from the inside.

Both ways work, but they’re good for different problems. If you pick the right one, you can save lots of money and keep your home worth what it should be.

Fixing Water Problems from the Outside

This means stopping water before it gets into your house. Workers have to dig around the bottom of your house and put in special covers that don’t let water through. They also put in drains that take water away from your house.

Why this is good:

• Water never gets inside, so the bottom of your house stays safe
• It works for a really long time if they do it right
• Your house is worth more money because people see you take care of it

Why this might be hard:

• It costs a lot of money and workers have to dig up your whole yard
• Your garden, driveway, and sidewalks might get messed up
• You can only do it when the weather is nice and dry

Fixing Water Problems from the Inside

This means dealing with water that’s already gotten into your house. Workers put in pumps that suck water out, put up barriers to stop wetness, make drains inside your basement, and fill up cracks in your walls and floors.

Why this is good:

• Doesn’t cost as much money and doesn’t mess up your yard as much
• You can do it any time – winter, summer, rain or shine
• It helps with things like dampness, small leaks, or water coming up from underground

Why this might not be enough:

• It doesn’t stop water from getting in – it just moves it around once it’s already inside
• If your house has big cracks or your yard doesn’t drain right, this might not work

Which One Should You Pick?

It depends on how much money you have, how bad your water problem is, what kind of house you have, and what you want in the long run.

• If you just have some dampness, smell something musty, or see white chalky stuff on your walls, fixing things from the inside might work
• If your basement fills up with water when it rains, or you see water coming right through your walls, you probably need to fix things from the outside
• Some people do both, especially if they have an old house or live somewhere where there’s lots of underground water

What Someone Who Does This for a Living Says

We asked someone from AquaBoss Waterproofing what really works:

“We see this a lot – when they build new houses in neighborhoods, the builders don’t want to spend money on the good outside waterproofing. Then a few years later, people have water problems. For those houses, putting in inside waterproofing with pumps works really well. But if the walls at the bottom of your house are cracked or there’s lots of water pushing from outside, you really have to fix it from the outside where the problem starts.”

They say every house is different. They think you should have someone who knows what they’re doing come look at your house. They’ll check what kind of dirt you have, what the bottom of your house is made of, and how much underground water is around your area.

Some places make you get a permit before you can dig up your yard or put in water pumps.

How Much Money Will This Cost?

• Outside waterproofing usually costs $80 to $250 for every foot they have to work on. It depends on how deep they have to dig and how hard the job is
• Inside waterproofing costs less – about $50 to $100 for every foot, plus another $1,500 to $3,000 if you need pumps
• Outside work costs more money right away, but it might save you money later and stop your house from getting damaged

Other Stuff You Should Know

Do You Need Permission from the City?

Some places make you get a permit before you can dig up your yard or put in water pumps. Check with your city before you start.

Will This Make Your House Worth More?

Yes – especially if you have papers showing professionals did the work. When you sell your house, people will see that you took good care of it.

Making Water Go Away Better

No matter which way you choose, you also need to make sure water goes away from your house properly. Fix your gutters, make sure water runs downhill away from your house. If water keeps coming at your house, waterproofing won’t work.

What You Should Remember

Fixing water problems from inside and outside do different things. The best thing to do is figure out what’s wrong with your specific house. Inside fixes cost less and help with water that gets in. Outside fixes stop the problem where it starts and last longer.

If you don’t know what to do, have someone who knows about this stuff come look at your house first. Like the people at AquaBoss Waterproofing say: “Getting the right waterproofing is worth spending money on – not just for your house, but so you don’t have to worry about it.”

Need help? Contact AquaBoss Waterproofing

https://aquabosswaterproofing.ca

80 Marine Parade Dr, Etobicoke, ON M8V 0A3, Canada

+1 647-773-5755