Exterior Basement Waterproofing

Is Excavation Worth It?

One possible repair method is to waterproof the house's foundation from the outside through exterior excavation. In order to do this, you must dig all the way down to the bottom of the footing. This creates a large, unsightly hole,  Anything and everything in the way has to be removed, including:

• Sidewalks
• Porches
• Decks, and
• Landscaping

Next, a hole is dug to the footing -- and this is a BIG hole. The mounds of dirt taken out of the hole are dumped in piles on the rest of the yard. Once this has been completed, a proper waterproofing membrane is applied and a protective drainage board is laid over it.

A new footing drain is then installed that’s just like the one you had before. Most of the soil is backfilled, and any large stones or debris within can strike the basement wall and damage it during the process.  This soil is looser and more porous than ever, meaning it will hold even more water. The water will now run down the drainage board and into the footing drain.   If you don't have a steep grade or a deep storm sewer in the street to drain the water to, a sump pump will need to be installed.

Unfortunately, the system is still not made to last.  The clogging problem is still there, and in a number of years this drain too will have to be replaced. As the loose backfill will settles over the year, you'll have to add soil around the foundation.  Once this is completed, you can then re-landscape and put things back around the house. The bottom line is that this is a very disruptive and cost-prohibitive process.

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