How Much Does It Cost To Waterproof A Basement?

There is no hard and fast ballpark figure for basement waterproofing cost. The cost of basement waterproofing has many variables, most notably the ways in which a basement can get water into it in the first place.

Some basements, or entire homes, have problems with condensation, the appearance of water drops and “sweat” on walls and ceilings. This can often be remedied by an adjustment in ventilation for the basement, or the use of a standard dehumidifier (average cost of$250).

However, most basements that get wet inside have problems with leakage, and if that is the source of moisture, dehumidifiers will be of little benefit. If leaking is the problem, there are three ways to approach the problem, all with variable price structures.

Seepage comes from cracks and leaks in floors and walls. Ground water is allowed to seep into the basic structure; the result is that the basement floods. This particular method of basement waterproofing is the best way to economize on basement waterproofing cost, and it requires the use of a baseboard drain. This is appended to the floors, and the portable and new-set drainage system moves seeping water to a sump pump, which mechanically disposes of the excess moisture.

The basement waterproofing cost for a sump pump works out on average to between $11 and $22 per square foot, depending on the size of the basement floor. Figuring the average basement at 1000 square feet, that runs into some money: between $11K and $22K for the complete job.

The best method for permanent waterproofing of a basement is sealing, which mends cracks rather than displace the water from them. The most common method of sealing involves excavating the foundational walls and then applying sealant to all the cracks. Since the sealant only runs $12 to $15 a gallon, the major expense in this area is labor; usually the excavation will require a back hoe and operator, and that can run into some money. Usually a contractor will charge a basement waterproofing cost between $5000 and $10, 000 for a project such as this one.

Of course, the reverse application is far easier; if one spots areas of moisture, one need only seal them from the inside; this is usually a do it yourself job with sealant as the only major expense. A professional grade sealant is a solution used for basement waterproofing; it will normally run about $12 to $15 a gallon.

A third effective method is the installation of a curtain drain, a sluice gate that redirects water from the home; this is also a job for a professional, who will excavate the walls around the leaks and seal the exterior walls.  He will then place footer drains along the base of the house, to direct water away from the house’s foundation. The cost of basement waterproofing with this method is very expensive, running from a simple $1000 to tens of thousands, depending on the size of the home.

Basement Waterproofing Contractors

The cost of basement waterproofing contractors is basically determined by which of the three methods are used. As noted, a basement waterproofing contractor will charge somewhere between $5000 and $10,000 for the sealing method; the average charge for the seepage method is $10,000 to $20,000 and more. The contractor installing curtain drains will charge the most in basement waterproofing cost, with average totals between $10,000 and $20,000 and higher.

B Dry Basement Waterproofing

Often, the cost of basement waterproofing contractors is offset by the quality and effective warranties of the work offered. Examples of the higher quality sealing centers include business such as Vulcan and B Dry.

B Dry, a national chain of waterproofing service centers, specializes in the methods previously mentioned, with crawlspace waterproofing and foundational repairs a specialty. They can be found on the website bydry.com and there is a designation box to determine the nearest of the chain stores to a consumer’s location. The B Dry guarantees work, although their prices are expensive; ball park basement waterproofing cost figures for sealing, their most popular method, begin at around $5000 and can be as high as $20,000, depending on the square footage of the basement they are sealing.

Vulcan Basement Waterproofing

Vulcan is a smaller chain of waterproofing service centers, confining itself to the East Coast, and their prices are comparable to B Dry, with an average range of $4000 to $6000 for simple jobs and higher basement waterproofing prices for larger homes, sometimes ranging into the tens of thousands.

Ever Dry Basement Waterproofing

The Ever Dry Basement Waterproofing Company opened in 1985, and has been quite successful in the Cincinnati area and environs, amassing numerous community awards and happy testimonials for good customer service. The cost of basement waterproofing with Ever Dry is comparable to the averages mentioned above, although their ball part starting figure for the less expensive jobs still begins at $5000 and up (they take the sting off this with a $900 internet discount).

Basement Waterproofing Systems—Which Is The Best?

Of the three waterproofing systems mentioned, Sealing is probably the best in terms of long lasting effects for the money. Most customers experience no leaks even after a decade.