Exterior foundation waterproofing for Windsor-Essex homes
If your basement gets wet after heavy rain or during the spring thaw, water is getting through the foundation wall. Exterior waterproofing fixes that from the outside. We excavate down to the footing, repair the wall, and seal it with a waterproofing membrane and drainage board so water is kept off the wall and directed down to the drainage.
Signs you may need exterior waterproofing
- Water or dampness where the wall meets the floor after rain
- Damp, stained or musty-smelling basement walls
- White, chalky deposits (efflorescence) on block or poured walls
- Cracks that seep water
- Crumbling or hollow-sounding parging on the outside of the foundation
- Paint or drywall bubbling on the inside of foundation walls
Why we fix it from the outside
Water gets into basements because it's pushing against the outside of the wall. Here in Essex County, heavy clay soil holds water and drains slowly, so that pressure can last for days after a storm. Interior coatings and patches can help with minor dampness, but they don't stop water from soaking into the wall. Exterior waterproofing puts the barrier where the water is.
Our waterproofing process
Every Bedal's dig follows the same written job procedure, start to finish. These are the same steps listed on your written estimate.
- 1
Locate utilities and protect the work area
Before any digging, Bedal's books the utility locates for you, and we protect your landscaping, walkways and the work area. We confirm the scope, walk the site with our lead, and plan where the soil will go.
- 2
Excavate down to the footing
We excavate along the foundation wall down to the footing, with room to work the full height of the wall. Trenches deeper than 1.2 m (4 ft) are sloped, shored or protected before anyone goes in.
- 3
Clean the wall and inspect for cracks
We clean the exterior foundation wall, scraping off mud, loose parging and sharp edges, and inspect it for cracks. Any cracks we find in the wall we're waterproofing are sealed with Sika epoxy injection and crack ports as part of the job. Cracks outside the waterproofing area are quoted separately. Voids, honeycombs and tie holes are filled and failed joints raked and repacked so the membrane goes on a smooth, solid surface. We never coat over a wet, frozen, dirty or loose wall.
- 4
Footing drain, weeping tile and stone
We clear or set the footing drain as your job requires, keep it free of mud and debris, and keep proper fall to the outlet or sump connection. Where weeping tile is replaced, we use sockless weeping tile at the footing, bedded in 3/4" clear drainage stone with filter fabric where specified to keep fines out of the pipe, and socked tile at window wells. Weeping tile replacement is included in the price along the wall we're waterproofing. Tile outside the waterproofing area is quoted separately.
- 5
Blueskin waterproofing membrane
On every job, we apply Blueskin waterproofing membrane to the cleaned foundation wall, from the footing to grade, sealing edges and laps with Hi-Tac membrane sealant and following the manufacturer's data sheet for overlaps. No thin spots, gaps or stretched corners.
- 6
Platon dimple drainage board
Platon (DMX) dimple board goes over the membrane from the footing to grade, fastened with Tapcon concrete screws and Platon plugs, and finished with Platon weather strip along the top. It protects the membrane during backfill and gives water a path down to the drain.
- 7
Backfill, compact and grade
After our lead signs off on the wall, we backfill the excavation and compact in layers, never dumping a full bucket against a fresh wall, keep rocks and debris away from the membrane, and grade the soil away from your foundation. Downspouts are extended away from the house as part of the job.
- 8
Parge the wall above grade
We parge the exposed foundation wall above grade, for a clean, protective finish. Parging is always included on our waterproofing jobs.
- 9
Cleanup, photos, walk-through and warranty
We do a full cleanup of the work area and remove all debris from the site. We photograph each stage (after prep, after membrane, after drain and drainage board), walk the finished job with you, and the work is covered by the Bedal's Waterproofing Warranty once it's paid for and the Work Completion Form is signed.
Pricing
Every job gets a free, written estimate after a site visit.
Quoted separately when needed:
- Weeping tile or crack repair outside the waterproofing area
- Window well installation
- Sump pump discharge line
- Extra depth, tight access or hand digging
- Removing and replacing decks, patios, interlock or concrete
- Disposal of excess soil
Every estimate shows the price before tax, 13% HST, and the total. We accept all major credit cards, Interac, cheque, e-transfer and cash. A 50% deposit is due before the job start date.
When we can dig
We dig 12 months a year. Winter doesn't stop us, so you don't have to wait for spring to fix a leaking basement.
Your warranty
Our waterproofing warranty covers failure of the membrane, failure of drainage board or weeping tile we supplied and installed, water getting in through the area we waterproofed, and workmanship defects on that work, for 25 years from completion. It's written down, with clear exclusions (like sewer backups, plumbing leaks and damage from later digging), and a simple claim process. On top of that, our waterproofing is backed by our own 50-year guarantee that it won't leak.
Pair it with the right extras
- Weeping tile replacement: if the old drain is crushed or clogged
- Window wells: so basement windows aren't a weak spot
- Grading: so rain runs away from the house
- Parging: a clean, protective finish on the exposed part of the wall
- Downspouts: carried well away from the foundation Flood Protection →
Frequently asked
How long does it take?
It depends on the length and depth of wall and access. Most single-wall jobs take 2 to 3 days.
Do I need to be home?
Not the whole time, but we'll need access to the yard, water and power.
Will you wreck my yard?
Digging is messy, but we plan where soil goes, protect what we agreed to protect, and restore the grade. Hardscape removal and replacement is quoted up front.
Book a free estimate. We'll measure, explain what we find, and give you a written price.
Project photos
Real Bedal's job photos go here once available.
