When you are remodeling your basement, adding a new room, or repairing the basement to stop moisture from entering, you must factor in the cost of waterproofing. These costs can add up quickly and you must waterproof before you can make your basement a livable space. Estimating these costs is difficult because there are many different types of materials.
The first tool many people think of when they think “waterproofing” is a dehumidifier. A dehumidifier doesn’t waterproof your basement, but they do work well when there is a moisture problem and humidity levels contributing to it. Dehumidifiers aren’t the tool to use when water is seeping through the interior walls and floor. Dehumidifiers can cost anywhere between $300 and $1,000.
If you do discover moisture seeping into your basement, you will need to divert this water away. Drainage pipes can be laid out around your home and then away into your yard. This is usually a job for professionals, as you need a backhoe, as well as several yards of crushed rock and PVC drainage pipes. This costs between $2,000 and $4,000 depending on the size of your structure.
If the water isn’t running onto the floor, but just leaves the wall damp, then you can use damp sealant on the walls and floor. This is a project you can do yourself, because damp basement sealant can be painted on, just like any other wall paint. Make sure that your basement is free from damage that allows water through, such as holes, cracks, and fissures. Many of these problem areas can be repaired with simple mortar, while more complicated structural damage will require professional assistance. If your basement doesn’t have any major damage, and you do the work yourself, you can pay as little as $300 to seal a large basement.
When the water that pools near your structure isn’t in an amount to warrant an entire drainage system, you can waterproof the outside walls. Special spray-on paint is used to form a thick membrane over the basement walls. You will have to dig down to the bottom of the foundation to do this. Hiring professionals to do this will cost over $1,000 while doing it yourself can cost as much as $500.
Sump pumps are another effective tool in basement water removal. The pump is mostly used for basement that aren’t finished, or basements in an area prone to flooding and excessive runoff. Good sump pumps can cost between $150 and $300 for the pump and installation, if you do it yourself. Hiring someone to do it for you can cost as much as $500.
