Honest Review: Best Basement Waterproofing Methods

Waterproofing Your Basement

When homeowners ask us at Blue Umbrella how to protect their biggest investment from water damage, we always start by breaking down the three types of waterproofing: interior waterproofing, exterior waterproofing, and basement wall sealing. It’s important to know if it’s better to waterproof a basement from the inside or outside, and if you can truly permanently waterproof a basement (hint: the answer is yes!).

“Interior basement waterproofing involves managing the water after it has entered the foundation. This is  Blue Umbrella’s preferred and most common method to waterproof a basement because it is efficient and guaranteed to keep your basement waterproofed for good.“

-Steve Karlik, Owner & Founder of Blue Umbrella Waterproofing

The Interior Basement Waterproofing Solution (The Only True Lifetime Fix for a Waterproof Basement)

Interior basement waterproofing involves managing the water after it has entered the foundation. This is  Blue Umbrella’s preferred and most common method to waterproof a basement because it is efficient and guaranteed to keep your basement waterproofed for good.

• How Interior Basement Waterproofing Works: We install a French drain, which is a 4-inch pipe, around the entire perimeter of your basement, next to the footing of the foundation. The pipe collects water that is traveling down the walls and underneath the floor.
• The Key Component: The water collected in the French drain then flows by gravity into the sump pump basin. The sump pump then ejects the water away from your home.
• The Goal: The interior system allows the water pressure to be relieved by opening up the inside of the basement floor creating a pressure relief system. This stops the water from damaging your basement and belongings.

We consider this a lifetime warrantied solution that we only have to do once.

The Exterior Basement Waterproofing Solution (Good for New Construction Home)

There is a lot of debate about whether it is better to waterproof a basement from the inside or the outside.

• For New Construction: In our experience, exterior waterproofing is best reserved for new construction homes. When a house is being built, the foundation is already open and accessible. Builders can easily apply a tar coating or a spray-on rubberized damp proofing and install drainage piping at the bottom of the footing on the exterior 
• For Existing Homes: However, for existing homes whether they are six months old or 100 years old interior waterproofing is the superior choice. Digging up the entire perimeter of an existing home is invasive and costly. The exterior waterproofing can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 or more, due to the excavation and labor required – not to mention you have to remove decks, walkways , patios, driveways, an hvac units. The interior waterproofing system, conversely, comes with a lifetime warranty and is the most effective choice.

The Difference Between Basement Sealing and Waterproofing

Many people confuse “sealing” with true waterproofing.

• Basement wall sealing (Damp Proofing): Sealing is typically a coating applied to the outside during construction to stop the block from absorbing water. Over time, this coating wears down.
• True basement waterproofing: True waterproofing is a permanent interior waterproofing system designed to manage water intrusion. It is not about painting over the problem.

Why You Should Not Use Drylok or Flex Seal as seen on tv products  on Basement Walls

We often see homeowners try to “seal” their basement walls from the inside using paints like Drylok, so-called waterproof  paints or sprays like Flex Seal. We do not recommend this. We call these products “band-aid fixes.”

• Trapped Moisture: Cinder blocks and concrete need to breathe. Painting them traps moisture inside the block, leading to deterioration and breakdown of the masonry units , cmu / cinder blocks 
• Mold Growth: Mold can and will grow in between the layer of paint and the wall itself, creating a health hazard.
• Costly Removal: These products mask the problem rather than solving it. They often fail, and removing them to do the job right later makes the project more expensive.

Pro Tip: Assess your basement walls to see if previous sealing attempts are causing hidden damage.

The Strongest Basement Waterproofing Solution: Encapsulation

If you want the strongest protection, we combine an interior drainage system with basement encapsulation (vapor barrier). This provides true negative side waterproofing where the water is handled inside the structure.

This involves installing a heavy-duty 16 mil vapor barrier that runs from top to bottom on the walls. If the wall leaks, the vapor barrier forces that water down into the French drain system underneath. This keeps your basement dry and ensures that if you finish the basement, your building materials like insulation and framing / sheet rock never touch the damp concrete walls.