Reliable Basement Waterproofing Contractor in Toronto & Nearby

If your finished basement floods, the groundwater will damage drywall, fiberglass insulation, and many other wall-finishing products. To repair a finished basement that's flooded, you will need to cut away the damaged wall, fiberglass, and studs so that someone can install a drainage system.

However, it's to install that drainage system before basement remodeling. Many homeowners choose this option as a precaution, even if their basement has never flooded before.

Installing a sump pump system ensures that you can discharge large volumes of water from your home in the case of heavy rains or a plumbing failure. If you've installed a drainage system, you should install a sump system too.

The best sump pumps are ready for anything, including power outages and sump pump failure. This means that your system should include a battery backup sump pump and a secondary sump system that can kick on if your primary pump fails.

The systems we install at Clarke Basement Systems also include an alarm system that sounds off in the unlikely event of a pump failure so you can respond right away.

A sump pump system will discharge water outside your home, sending it downhill so it does not pool around your foundation. One of the most common causes of sump pump failure occurs when these discharge lines become clogged with ice or debris. Once the water has no way out of the home, the sump system backs up, and a flood occurs in your finished basement.

Your drainage system should include an open discharge line extension such as our IceGuard™ System, which gives water a secondary way out of your home.

Because concrete basement walls are porous, they sponge moisture from the earth outside. This moisture enters your basement in the form of water vapor. Then moisture builds up behind walls, leading to mold, mildew, and moisture issues.

Address this issue by covering your basement walls with a vapor barrier system, like our Vapor Barrier System. This product creates a barrier for water vapor, protecting your finishing products and directing any water into your perimeter drain.

Like the basement walls, moisture can also make its way upward through a concrete floor. If you're planning on installing anything on your floor that can be damaged by mold or moisture (carpeting, wood, chipboard, glue, etc.), then it's vital that you install a vapor barrier beneath it to protect your floor finishing.

Your basement windows are vital to the beauty and appeal of a finished basement. They're not doing their job if they're dingy, rusty, and providing a front-row view of a rusted window well.

We recommend upgrading your basement windows to a model with energy-efficient glass and a vinyl frame. You can also protect the windows from rain, snow, and cold winter winds by installing covered basement window wells at each window location.

Along with keeping back the cold, the cover will also hold back dirt, leaves, and other debris that would otherwise fill the window well, grow weeds, and look ugly.

Keeping your basement dry is key to creating a healthier, more comfortable space in your home. Eliminating humidity will keep mold, mildew, and rot under control and can even lower heating and cooling costs.

A good dehumidifier should run without the owner even knowing it's working. The best ones are self-draining and can be installed with ductwork. That way, they can dry air in your living space while being stored in a closet or utility area. Our SaniDry™ XP Dehumidifier can be operated via a digital control panel, similar to a home thermostat.

When possible, look for a dehumidifier that's ENERGY STAR® Rated to ensure maximum savings on your utility bills.

For a typical home, a 1" rainfall adds up to about 500 gallons of water on your roof. Unless your exterior is properly designed to handle this water volume, this can mean a lot of water in the soil around your basement. Keeping your gutters clean of leaves and debris is an important part of properly maintaining your home (and will help prevent damaging ice dams in the winter). Your basement window wells should also be carefully cleaned of leaves, debris, and weeds about twice a year.

To make sure that water is running away from your home, it's also vital to check the grading. If necessary, regrade this soil so it's pitched away from the foundation.

Basements are prone to flooding by design since they are typically built below ground level. Basements often flood during times of heavy rain or snowmelt, but flooding can happen even during dry weather. Aside from flooding in your neighborhood or a plumbing leak, there are several other sources of water in the basement, including surface water, groundwater, or sewer water backup. Surface water from overflowing gutters or sloped pavement or landscaping can pool next to the foundation and seep or leak into the basement. When the groundwater level rises above the level of the basement floor, hydrostatic pressure pushes water through cracks in the foundation. An overwhelmed sewer system or clogged sewer line can cause a backup of water in the basement.

When your basement floods, call a restoration contractor who can help with cleanup, then have your home inspected by a basement waterproofing professional. We can provide a no-charge evaluation and design a custom waterproofing solution to prevent future water damage.

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Basement waterproofing involves a range of techniques and waterproofing products used to prevent water leaks or seepage and reduce the risk of a flooded basement. Water in your basement can damage walls, floors, carpeting, and furniture and lead to mold growth. A wet basement can also lead to ruined irreplaceable items, including photos, antiques, and family heirlooms.

If the water in your basement is a recurring problem, have your home checked to determine the source of the water in your basement. We will conduct a no-charge thorough inspection of your home and design a custom solution for your specific basement water problem.

Depends. The source of your wet basement problem will determine the best approach to waterproof your basement. Sometimes, the solution to a wet basement is as simple as keeping water away from the foundation with high-quality gutters and proper yard grading. Many homeowners try DIY, off-the-shelf solutions for a quick, temporary fix. But if entire walls are wet, water is coming up through the floor, or there's standing water in the basement during heavy rain, it might be time for a long-term, permanent solution, including a heavy-duty sump pump and interior drainage system installed by a waterproofing contractor.

We offer a range of basement waterproofing services to prevent potential water leakage and remove water that enters the basement.

Clarke Basement Systems provides no-charge inspections to check for leaky basement windows or window wells, wall or floor cracks, bowing walls, wet or damp basement walls, exterior drainage issues, and equipment issues, including sump pump failures or drain clogs. Depending on your unique situation, we can design a customized solution for your wet basement problem. Basement waterproofing typically involves an interior drainage system, sump pump installation, and foundation crack repair. We also use techniques to prevent water from entering the house. To prevent mold and mildew caused by excess moisture and humidity, we can install a high-performance, self-draining basement dehumidifier.

Our long-term basement waterproofing repairs are designed to keep your basement dry and the air healthy all the time.

Waterproofing a finished basement can require pulling up carpeting and removing drywall, if there's damage from water and moisture.

To reduce basement humidity and prevent water from entering the basement, you should take steps to keep water away from the foundation, including installing gutters and sloping the soil around the foundation away from the house. To reduce musty basement smells and prevent mold and mildew growth, we can install a large-capacity basement dehumidifier to remove excess moisture throughout the year. For leaks and standing water, have your basement inspected and consider having an interior drainage system installed to direct water in the basement to a sump pump that will pump the water out. For damp basement walls, our CleanSpace vapor barrier is a quick, long-term solution to keep the walls dry and prevent mold and mildew problems.

If you're planning to upgrade your finished basement, we offer a complete basement finishing system that includes wall, floor, and ceiling materials that are mold and mildew resistant.