Skip to Main Content

Basement Waterproofing

Water pooling in your basement is incredibly frustrating. Let us help turn your basement into a dry, comfortable living space.

Schedule Free Inspection

Basement Waterproofing Problem Signs

If you see these issues around your home, then chances are your basement needs waterproofing:

AquaGuard Foundation Solutions

Flooded Stairs

Floods from Basement Stairways in Georgia. Prevent flooding through basement stairways and hatchway doors.

AquaGuard Foundation Solutions

Moldy Basements

Your house can be a cesspool for mold growth if any moisture issues are left untreated.

AquaGuard Foundation Solutions

Bugs in Basement

Keep pests out of your basement or crawl space with waterproofing solutions from AquaGuard.

Don't see your water problem?

VIEW MORE BASEMENT WATERPROOFING PROBLEM SIGNS

Finding water in your basement is an awful feeling, and it can steal value from your home. Basement waterproofing protects your home against mold growth and keeps unwanted pests away.

Offer ends 03/31/2023

A Crack in Your Foundation Shouldn't Break the Bank

Learn More About This Promotion

Take advantage of

No Payment

and

No Interest

(if paid in full within 12 months)

Learn More About This Promotion
Groundworks Omaha

Wet Basement Causes

The following are a few of the top causes of basement water problems that can be addressed through our repair methods, drainage systems, or waterproofing solutions.

Sump pumps are vital to protecting your basement from flooding—they capture water before it penetrates your basement and directs it away from the home. Whether due to a power outage, capacity overload, mechanical issue, or poor maintenance, a sump pump failure can lead to basement flooding.

When a plumbing or water line ruptures, it often leads to basement flooding. This can happen due to old plumbing and equipment, frozen pipes, sewage backup, or construction damage. The best way to catch a plumbing flood before it happens is to pay close attention to water pressure and your water bills—if you notice a drop in pressure or increase in utility cost, it may be due to a plumbing clog or leak.

When water pools around your foundation, the soil surrounding your home can become oversaturated. When soil becomes oversaturated, it will allow water to funnel through like a sieve. The soil turns to mud, gets extremely heavy, and starts to place thousands of pounds of excess pressure on your foundation walls. This phenomenon is called “hydrostatic pressure.” To alleviate the pressure, water will find the path of least resistance and will force its way through the smallest of openings in your foundation, whether that be hairline cracks or floor joints. This can eventually lead to basement leaks, floods, and if not addressed, structural foundation damage. 

The slope of your yard should help groundwater naturally drain away from your foundation. However, some houses are built on sites that rest at the bottom of a hill, meaning that groundwater actually flows towards the home. This is called negative sloping and can be detrimental to the home’s structure, as it causes water to pool around your foundation. Eventually, the soil will oversaturate, and if your exterior drainage system clogs (which can happen at any time), all that rainwater will funnel down towards and beneath your home. If enough hydrostatic pressure is placed on the wall, or if the penetrating rainwater finds a crack or seam in your foundation wall, your walls can crack and your basement can leak or flood. Many of these issues start as hairline cracks, but they’ll worsen over time, so it’s important to address wet basement issues due to negative sloping sooner than later.

Did you know that the leading cause of foundation waterproofing damage is improperly channeled roof water? Without adequate protection, your gutters are susceptible to clogging or pulling away from your house. This causes your gutters to overflow, fail at capturing water, and allow rainwater to sheet right over your gutters or through the fascia boards and siding behind them.. If your gutter downspouts and drainage system don’t divert water away efficiently, water will pool up around your foundation walls and can eventually find its way into your home’s foundation. Learn more about how the importance of gutters and proper water management.

Foundation floor and wall cracks provide an opportunity for water to seep into your basement. Hydrostatic pressure from oversaturated soils surrounding your foundation can force water through floor and wall cracks, causing leaks and puddles of water. 

Want to learn more about your basement issues?

View more causes here

Award-Winning Service

Basement Waterproofing Solutions

If your basement leaked once, it’ll leak every time. But with AquaGuard, you get permanent solutions to keep your basement dry and healthy for years to come.

AquaGuard Foundation Solutions

Vapor Barrier

Transform your basement into a clean, dry, mold-free storage and living space with the AquaStop WallSeal™ Vapor Barrier system.

AquaGuard Foundation Solutions

BasementGutter™

Our BasementGutter™ Atlanta French drain installations provide innovative solutions for basement waterproofing, but unlike traditional French drains, it takes away the possibility of clogging.

AquaGuard Foundation Solutions

Our Sump Pump Systems

Avoid flooding and water damage with sump pumps for your basement or crawl space. AquaGuard installs a variety of sump pump systems in homes throughout greater Atlanta.

Which options are best for repairing my basement?

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BASEMENT WATERPROOFING SOLUTIONS

Is Basement Waterproofing the Right Solution for Me?

If your basement is damp, musty, and leaking, you need a waterproofing expert’s help! A wet, moldy basement causes indoor air quality problems, structural damage, and an all-around unhealthy living environment.   

A waterproofing system installed by AquaGuard Foundation Solutions utilizes high-quality products to collect groundwater and safely drain it away from the home. We ensure your basement is dry and secure by using specialized products, like our cutting-edge sump pump, which includes three pumps for ultimate protection, and our 12-mil, 7-layer polyethylene wall liner.  

Long-term warranties ensure protection and peace of mind for years to come. Transform your basement into exactly what your family needs—a clean, healthy, usable space.  

Request Free Quote

FAQS

At AquaGuard, we use a combination of waterproofing solutions, offering the most complete basement waterproofing system. Basement drains, vapor barriers, dehumidifiers, and sump pumps work together to ensure you home is protected against every cause of basement water problems. Our patented BasementGutter system has waterproofed more linear feet of homeowners’ basements than any other residential waterproofing product in the world.

Although it is not always indicative of structural failure, the most tell-tale sign of structural damage due to basement water penetration is foundation wall cracks. Wall cracks can occur in multiple ways and often tell a definitive story about why and how they cracked. For instance, stair-step or vertical wall cracks often occur as a result of differential settlement. Differential settlement typically results from rainwater funneling underneath your foundation walls, washing out, and eroding the soil below, leaving voids. Void-laden soil simply cannot support the heavy foundation walls that sit atop it, and thus the walls will start to crack and shift or settle down into the void. Another common cause of foundation wall cracks is hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure can push against your foundation walls, resulting in horizontal or diagonal wall cracks. Over time, these cracks will widen, and your walls may start to buckle, bow or shear. This is a major structural issue, as total wall collapse can occur if your walls are left untreated.

Unfortunately, basement waterproofing issues will only worsen over time. If your external drainage system has already clogged, there’s no guarantee if or when that issue will become more severe due to heavy or extended rains. Therefore, if you spot any of the common signs or symptoms associated with basement moisture penetration, it’s definitely beneficial to schedule a free evaluation sooner than later. Your issue may be minor and therefore be less expensive to repair than major issues. We hope it is. You may have no issue at all, or it may just be a plumbing leak. If that’s the case, we’ll tell you that, too. No matter what, if you’re experiencing any kind of basement water problem, at least invite a professional out to take a look. Don’t wait for your issue to get worse to find out the problem is serious!

Our system design specialists do a thorough inspection of the inside and outside of your home to assess the source of your water intrusion issue. We can quickly determine if you’re dealing with a plumbing leak or water penetrating from the outside. The specific entry point can always be determined, though the source is sometimes harder to identify. This is because concrete is porous (so the walls can allow water in) and water will inevitably enter your basement through the point of least resistance (cracks, floor/footing joint, etc). Regardless, waterproofing issues are always caused by either oversaturated soil or a high false water table. Because water can always spread and create a new entry point, it’s important to address, at a minimum, the entire wall that’s allowing water into your basement, rather than a singular entry point.

Our basement waterproofing system utilizes a 20-mil thick, 7-layer polyethylene material reinforced with polyester cord. This 100% waterproof, inorganic vapor barrier resists the growth of mold and mildew. Its mold-resistance is also reinforced by an anti-microbial protection additive called UltraFresh.

Resources

Why is Basement Waterproofing Needed?

For many homeowners in Georgia, a wet, moldy, damp basement is a huge problem, but an all too common one. Regardless, tackling these problems with the right solution before it’s too late is essential. 

flooded basement

Eliminates Flooding

Georgia rainy weather and clay soil make basement flooding a common problem. But with high-functioning, reliable waterproofing systems, your days of mopping up a flooded basement are over. 

Once waterproofed, you can turn unusable basement space into another bedroom or living room.

hydrostatic pressure

Protects Your Foundation & Saves You Money

Hydrostatic pressure pushes water into your basement If your basement leaks for an extended period, the wear and tear on your foundation walls can lead to major structural problems. Waterproofing your basement means you don’t have to spend more money later on comprehensive foundation repairs.

moldy basement

Prevents Mold & Mildew 

Mold and mildew need three things to survive, water, food, and oxygen. A wet basement has all three. 

And mold in the basement doesn’t just stay there. Mold spores and the musty odors spread through the entire house because of the stack effect. 

Basement mold causes breathing problems, especially for those with respiratory issues like asthma and allergies.

Request Free Quote

Common Basement Waterproofing Tips & Mistakes

For more than 25 years, AquaGuard has been safeguarding Georgia homes. Over that time, we have developed a helpful list of tips and mistakes we have noticed over the years. 

3 Helpful Tips for Waterproofing Your Basement 

  • Check Gutters & Yard Grade 

When water pools around the foundation of your home, the results are never good. Make sure you clean and check the home’s gutters at least twice a year, typically in the spring and fall, and ensure your yard grade slopes away from the foundation, not toward it.

  • Dehumidifiers Are Key  

In areas like Georgia where humidity is high, a high-capacity, self-draining dehumidifier is needed to ensure your home’s air quality is as clean as possible. A dehumidifier also eliminates musty odors and the possibility of mold growth. 

  • Extends the Life of HVAC   

When humidity in your basement is high, the temperature is typically much warmer than is good. Water will condense on HVAC components and damage them. So, keep an eye out for rust!

3 Mistakes to Avoid When Waterproofing Your Basement  

  • A Sump Pump Alone  

When there’s water in the basement, a homeowner’s first thought may be to install a sump pump from a big box store. But sump pumps don’t address the root problem of eliminating water pressure on your walls. The sump pump also can only pump out groundwater beneath your basement and has no way of collecting the water already entering the home. 

  • Foundation Cracks   

Water enters through cracks in your basement wall. So, it only makes sense to seal the crack, right? Wrong. Not only does using epoxy to patch a crack not help, but it actually increases the pressure on your basement walls.

  • Waterproof Paint  

Waterproof paint from a big box store makes a lot of claims that are relatively misleading. While waterproof paint may hold water at bay for a short time, water will eventually find a way in. 

Find your service area

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta, GA

Atlanta has muggy summers and wet winters. Year-round moisture leads to damage in all foundation types, but AquaGuard has plenty of solutions to permanently protect your home.

Athens, GA

Athens, GA

With a damaged foundation, your entire home is at risk. Structural problems, mold growth, and sinking concrete are all problems that may arise in your Athens home, and AquaGuard has the tools to prevent them.

    Contact Us

    For Your Free Inspection

    * All fields are required.

    By clicking submit, you agree to receive marketing and informational calls and texts, including autodialed or prerecorded calls/texts, to the telephone numbers that you provide, including any mobile telephone number, from or on behalf of AquaGuard Foundation Solutions. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

    Publish Date:

    Last Modified Date:

    AquaGuard Service Map

    PROUDLY SERVING GREATER ATLANTA AND NORTH GEORGIA

    Atlanta Office

    875 Pickens Industrial Dr
    Marietta, GA 30062

    View All Locations