It’s not always easy to know how much money to put away if you want to protect your basement from water damage. These basement waterproofing costs are highly individual, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start saving ahead of time.
Calculating Your Basement Waterproofing Budget
Home waterproofing costs are different for all parties, even if they live in the same city. That’s because each home has its own complexities that contractors will have to deal with. In the Cleveland area, you should expect to pay between $3,000 and $15,000 for comprehensive protection from hydrostatic pressure and year-round runoff.
Waterproofing Your Home’s Interior
You’ll want to start applying your waterproofing measures indoors. Some of the most effective waterproofing methods you can take advantage of include:
- Interior drain installation – Interior drains are responsible for collecting seeping water and keeping it away from the rest of your basement. These drains then channel this water to a sump pump system that will remove the water. The cost of an interior drain will vary based on the size of your home, but you can expect to pay between $3,000 and $4,000 for installation.
- Sump pump installation – Sump pumps pump water from the interior drains out of the basement and away from your home’s foundation. Depending on the model and size of the sump pump system, they can cost between $1,000 and $2,500 to install.
- Vapor barriers – To waterproof your crawl space, you’ll want to invest in a vapor barrier or a full-space encapsulation. Vapor barriers also can be used on basement walls to help with waterproofing, and can cost between $5,000 and $15,000, with costs rising if you have more square footage to cover.
- Basement Dehumidifier – If moisture and humidity are major issues for your basement, you’re going to want to take advantage of an energy-efficient dehumidifier. This unit will clean and filter the air, control moisture and humidity, eliminate odors, and reduce the potential for mold growth. Having this kind of extra protection installed in your basement can cost around $1,600.
- Foundation crack repairs – Foundation cracks can not only expose your home to additional hydrostatic pressure, but they can also have a significant impact on your home’s value. Repairing a foundation crack can run you between $750 and $1,200 but can be more if extensive repairs are needed.
- Additional repairs – If exposure to hydrostatic pressure has caused cracks in your walls, joints, or door frames, or if you find yourself contending with other types of small-time damage, you’ll want to have between $500 and $1,200 put away for repairs.
Waterproofing Your Home’s Exterior
You’ll need to keep the outside of your home safe from hydrostatic pressure, as well. While the measures available to you may vary based on how old your home is, what kind of structural supports you have in place, and other unique features around your home, you can usually choose from any of the following measures:
- Downspouts – Your gutters and downspouts work in tandem to direct water away from the perimeter of your home. Contractors working in the Cleveland, OH, area can install these home features for between $750 and $1,550, depending on how many you need, how long you want them to be, and whether or not you want them installed underground.
- Exterior drains – Just like interior drains, exterior drains will take advantage of a series of pipes established around the perimeter of your home. These pipes will direct runoff away from your home. The installation of exterior drains can cost between $4,000 and $6,000. Do note that this does not include the cost of re-landscaping your home.
- Window well drains – If you have window wells and basement windows, you’ll need to waterproof them to prevent seal breaks. This process can cost between $1,000 and $1,500.
- Excavation – Unfortunately, most contractors won’t be able to implement some exterior waterproofing measures without first excavating outside your basement and foundation. The cost of a home excavation will vary based on the size of your home and the depth at which your basement was established. In the Cleveland area, you can expect prices to begin at $7,500.
- Exterior repairs – Long-term exposure to hydrostatic pressure can also cause unexpected damage outside of your home, with variations depending on what kind of materials your home’s been made out of. Exterior repairs can run you between $2,500 and $3,500, depending on what kind of support you need.
Paying for Labor
It’s important to note that the aforementioned prices do not include the cost of installation and labor around your home. These fees can run you between $1,500 and $3,500, depending on the unique features around your home and the environment in which you live.
While the process of waterproofing your basement can seem intimidating, it’s always better to pay for protective measures than it is to try and repair damage that’s already been done. The professional foundation and basement contractors working out of the Cleveland, OH, area can help you determine what your waterproofing costs may look like after a home inspection. You can use the post-inspection free service quote from an Ohio Basement Systems expert to modify your budget as needed.
