Basement Waterproofing and Drainage for Midwest Homes

A wet basement can cause serious damage to the structure of your home. The excess moisture could lead to rotting wood, cracking foundations, and a weakened overall structure. This can be expensive to fix and could decrease the value of your property. Moreover, a wet basement can create the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. Mold spores thrive in damp and humid areas. Once they take hold, they can release harmful toxins into the air that can cause respiratory problems and other health issues. A wet basement can also be a breeding ground for pests like rodents and insects. It’s not uncommon for rats and mice to take shelter in damp areas, and cockroaches and other pests can also be attracted to the moisture.

A few methods can be effective when waterproofing a basement, but the best approach depends on the specific situation. One commonly recommended method is to install a drainage system to redirect any water that might seep into the basement away from the foundation. Sealing any cracks in the foundation walls is essential to prevent water from getting in. Another option is to apply a waterproofing sealant to the walls and floors of the basement. It’s worth noting that basement waterproofing is a complex process that a professional contractor should handle. They can help assess the specific needs of your basement and recommend the best course of action to keep your space dry and protected.

It depends on your specific situation; without a proper inspection, it’s impossible to say which one is necessary. Exterior waterproofing involves excavating around the outside of your house and installing a drain tile system and waterproof membrane to prevent water from seeping into your foundation. This is typically more expensive and disruptive, but it can effectively prevent water damage to your home. On the other hand, interior waterproofing involves addressing water issues from the inside of your home. This can include sealing cracks in your foundation, and applying waterproof coatings to your basement walls. This option is usually less expensive and less disruptive, but it may not be as effective in preventing water damage in the long term.

Basement waterproofing is a complex process that requires specialized knowledge and equipment. Unless you have experience working in the construction industry, you’re probably not going to know what you’re doing. Even if you’re handy and good at DIY projects, certain aspects of waterproofing (like ensuring proper drainage) are beyond the average homeowner’s expertise. Another issue with DIY basement waterproofing is that you risk not addressing the root cause of the water infiltration in the first place. Without proper diagnosis, you might throw money at quick fixes that won’t solve the problem long-term. This can lead to wasted time, effort, and money – not to mention frustration when the water starts seeping in again.

A waterproofed basement can prevent water damage and mold growth, which can be costly to repair and hazardous to your health. It can also increase the value of your home, as potential buyers will see a waterproofed basement as a desirable feature. For more information, see Basement Leak Repair.

Basement waterproofing can be pretty expensive. Depending on the method used and the size of your basement, the cost can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. This can be a significant financial strain, especially if you’re on a tight budget.Another disadvantage is that some basement waterproofing methods can be quite invasive. For example, if you choose to install an interior drainage system, it will likely require jackhammering up the basement floor and removing sections of the wall. This can be a messy and disruptive process, and you will have to deal with dust, noise, and debris. See Why Foundation Crack Repair Kits Aren’t the Best Waterproofing Solution.

The short answer is technically yes, but we don’t recommend it. Here’s the thing: basements are notorious for being damp, which can cause all sorts of problems like mold growth and structural damage. That’s why it’s generally a good idea to waterproof your unfinished basement before you do anything else.

The size of your basement plays a big role. A larger basement will take longer to waterproof than a smaller one. The severity of any existing water damage or leaks will also impact the timeline. That said, waterproofing a basement can take a few days to a few weeks, depending on what needs to be done.

There is no straightforward answer to this question because many factors could impact the longevity of basement waterproofing. Some of these factors include the quality of the waterproofing materials used, the type of waterproofing method applied, the age of your home’s foundation, the level of moisture in your soil, and the frequency and amount of rainfall in your area. In general, most basement waterproofing systems are designed to last for at least 10 to 15 years, but some high-quality systems can last up to 25 years or more. With proper maintenance and upkeep, you can help extend the lifespan of your basement waterproofing.

That depends on what the issue is and what you want to accomplish. Typically, most waterproofing is done from the inside of the home. If you have a unique situation or don’t wish to control water from the inside, we can then work from the outside. However, it’s usually a lot more cost-effective and also better to control the water with an interior drainage system than an exterior drainage system.

We get asked that a lot, and also face that issue a lot. If your basement is finished, typically portions of that finish will need to be removed so that we can install an interior drainage system. Not always, but it usually is better to remove as much as possible to make sure that we are seeing all of the issues, and we don’t miss anything because of coverings on the walls or floor. We deal with A LOT of finished basements and can help you properly remove the least amount needed to complete the work and then get everything put back together.

After you call our office and book an appointment, one of our foundation repair specialists will be sent out to take a look. That appointment typically takes 45-120 minutes, depending on what the issues are and how many questions the customer might have for us. After the inspection process is complete, the foundation repair specialist will either give an estimate right there on the spot or a day or 2 after the inspection if they need to get any more advice, engineering, or the project needs another set of eyes.

Our recommendations are based on a detailed assessment we perform of your home’s needs. Our proposals take into consideration your preferences, as well as your budget, to ensure you get the repairs you need.

Fixing a foundation can be a very complex or a very simple process. It just depends on what the issues are. A typical foundation waterproofing job done by Epp is around $5K. But that fix might just need to be as simple as an epoxy wall injection, which could be drastically less than that. We can give typical costs and have several videos on YouTube discussing cost and how you, the customer, can figure out an approximate cost, but every job is so unique and different that it's difficult to give a specific cost to fix an issue.

Yes. The majority of our repair solutions are covered by manufacturer warranties. Depending on the product, some last 10 years and others last 25 years.

We do. We offer service plans for several items that we install. They can be purchased yearly or in blocks. We highly recommend that people purchase our service agreements, as it's great to have a professional come out and check your home for any issues every year.

The scope of work and what we are doing greatly changes our time frame. Our average (general) time frame on a project is 3 days. 90% of our work and our solutions take less than a week from start to finish. Some solutions can be accomplished in a few hours, and some may take several weeks, depending on the scope and what all needs to be accomplished.