Exterior waterproofing means excavating along the foundation down to the footing, cleaning the wall, repairing cracks, and applying a waterproof membrane or coating with a drainage board over it. A perforated footing drain at the base carries water to daylight on a sloped lot or to a sump. Then the trench is backfilled, ideally with material that drains better than the clay that came out, and the yard is graded so water runs away from the house.
When is the extra work worth it?
- You plan to finish the basement and want dry walls, not just a dry floor
- The original footing drain is missing, crushed or clogged with silt
- The house sits on a hillside and the uphill wall takes most of the water
- Old stone or brick walls are losing mortar to water coming through them
- The wall has to be exposed anyway for structural work
What gets in the way?
Porches, driveways, patios, front steps, big shrubs, and a neighbor's house a few feet away. Many Utica homes stand close together on narrow lots, which can rule out digging on one or both sides. The short construction season matters too: frozen ground makes excavation harder, so outside work is usually easiest to schedule from spring through fall. A good company will tell you which walls can be done from the outside and which may need interior drain tile instead.
What has to happen before anyone digs?
Buried gas, electric, water and cable lines have to be marked. In upstate New York that means contacting UDig NY through 811, and utilities generally need at least two full working days, not counting weekends and holidays, to respond. New York's Code Rule 753 requires professional excavators to make that request, so your contractor should handle it and wait for the marks. If the work costs $1,000 or more in the City of Utica, a building permit is also required.
What should I ask?
- What membrane or coating goes on the wall, and how is it protected during backfill?
- Where will the footing drain empty?
- What backfill will be used, and how will the lawn and walks be restored?
- What happens to the plan and price if the exposed wall turns out to be cracked or bowing?
What drives the price?
- Foundation depth and length of wall to excavate
- Hand digging near utilities or in tight spaces
- Concrete, pavers, decks or steps that come out and go back
- Wall repairs found once the foundation is open
Pricing comes only from the waterproofing company, after someone has been down in the basement, looked at the walls, floor joint and sump, and walked the outside of the house to see where roof and yard water goes. We don't quote prices, and nobody can price a basement accurately over the phone.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Is exterior waterproofing better than interior drain tile?
It keeps water off the wall itself, which interior drain tile doesn't. It also costs more and tears up the yard. Which is better depends on your lot, your walls and how you plan to use the basement.
Can just one wall be waterproofed from outside?
Yes. It's common to dig out only the wall that leaks, often the uphill side, and handle the rest with drainage inside or not at all.
Related services
- Interior drain tile
- Sump pumps and backups
- Foundation crack and wall repair
- Dehumidifiers and moisture control
More background: Oneida County basement water guide.
Snowmelt on the floor, a weeping wall, or a sump that never rests?
Call and an Oneida County waterproofing company will come find where the water gets in.