Exterior waterproofing

Exterior waterproofing for Columbus foundations

Digging the soil off the wall and sealing the outside face stops water before it touches the foundation. It is the most thorough fix and the most disruptive.

(380) 261-2333 Free inspection

Small excavator digging a trench along the foundation of a brick two-story house in a Columbus suburb

The sequence

Locate and permit. Utilities are marked before digging. Excavation along a foundation typically needs a permit from the City of Columbus or Franklin County building department, and we pull it.
Excavate. Soil comes off the wall down to the footing. Lawns are protected with plywood; spoil sits on tarps.
Clean and repair. The wall is scraped and washed. Cracks and failed mortar joints are filled.
Coat. A rubberized waterproofing membrane goes on the wall face.
Board. Dimpled drainage board covers the coating, protecting it and giving water a path down.
Drain. A new perforated footer drain is laid in washed stone at the footing and run to daylight or a sump.
Backfill. Stone goes against the wall, soil on top, graded so the surface slopes away from the house.

Gloved hands with a trowel applying black rubberized coating to an exposed poured concrete foundation wall — Rubberized coating troweled onto the cleaned wall.

Dimpled drainage board over a coated foundation wall with perforated footer drain in gravel at the bottom of the trench — Drainage board over the coating, footer drain in stone below.

Why clay makes this worth it on some houses

Columbus clay holds water against the foundation and pushes. On an old block or stone wall that is wet through, letting the water reach the wall and draining it inside is a compromise. Sealing the outside takes the pressure off the wall itself. It also helps when the original footer drain has silted shut or was never installed.

What to expect

One wall can take a few days; a full perimeter longer. Plantings and walks along the wall are disturbed. Decks, porches and driveways next to the foundation can limit where we can dig, and we price those sections separately so you can choose.

Price exterior waterproofing

We call back the same day to set a time. The inspector walks the basement and the outside grade with you, then you get the price in writing before any work starts.

Water in the basement?

Our phone line runs every minute of the year. Say where the water shows up and we set the inspection.

(380) 261-2333

Exterior Waterproofing

Common questions

How deep do you dig?

To the footing, which in most central Ohio basements is around seven to eight feet below grade. The exact depth is confirmed on site.

Can you do just one wall?

Yes. Many jobs are one or two walls where the grade is worst or a downspout dumped water for years. The estimate says which walls and why.

What happens to my landscaping?

Soil and plants along the dug wall come out. We protect what we can and tell you on the estimate what will be disturbed. Replanting is usually the homeowner's part.

Do you handle the permit?

Yes. Where the city or county requires one for excavation, it is part of the job.