Downspouts, French drains, grading, and window wells. Solve the water problem at the source so your basement stays dry by default.
Exterior drainage issues are almost always the root cause of wet basements. If you see these warning signs, water is already attacking your foundation.
Standing water within 3 feet of the house after rain means water is soaking into your foundation walls.
Downspouts dumping directly next to the foundation are a #1 cause of basement leaks — easily fixed.
Your yard should slope AWAY from the house 6 inches over 10 feet. If it doesn't, water heads straight for the basement.
Window wells that fill with water during storms push moisture straight into basement windows and walls.
Persistent wet patches, algae, or moss on the lawn signal poor drainage that eventually reaches your home.
Soil washing away or mulch displacing at the foundation is visible proof water is moving the wrong direction.
Interior waterproofing catches water after it enters. Exterior waterproofing stops it from ever getting close. The best systems layer both — but if you're starting fresh, start outside. It's cheaper, easier, and prevents the damage in the first place.
Here's what a full exterior drainage system includes:
Underground or above-ground extensions that carry roof runoff 10+ feet from the foundation. The single cheapest waterproofing upgrade you can make.
Perforated pipe in gravel collects groundwater from problem areas and moves it to daylight or a dry well. Invisible once finished, highly effective.
Re-sloping the ground around your home so water flows away from — not toward — the foundation. Often overlooked, always effective.
Clear polycarbonate covers keep rain, leaves, and debris out. Interior drains keep water moving even if the well fills.
Catch basins and trench drains that intercept water in low spots before it pools near the house.
We diagnose where water is actually coming from before quoting. Sometimes the fix is downspout extensions; sometimes it's a French drain. We don't oversell.
Proper grading is the cheapest, most effective fix most homes never get. We re-slope around foundations to direct water away — not pool against your walls.
If a French drain or window well system we install fails, we come back and make it right. The terms are on paper before we start.
Free exterior drainage inspection. We'll map out every problem area and show you the simplest path to a dry basement.