Exterior Foundation Waterproofing
The permanent fix. We dig down to the footing, seal the wall from the outside and give water somewhere else to go — so it never reaches your foundation again.
Excavate, seal and shield the outside of your foundation — the permanent fix for leaky basements.
Most wet basements are an exterior problem: water sits against the foundation, finds a crack, a tie-hole or a cold joint, and comes through. Interior fixes manage that water after it's in the wall. Exterior waterproofing stops it before it ever touches the concrete, which is why it's the longest-lasting system we install and the only one we back with a transferable 25-year warranty.
A full exterior system is excavation to the footing, a cleaned and repaired wall, a rubberized waterproof membrane, a dimpled drainage board over the membrane, and new weeping tile set in clear gravel at the footing. Then we backfill, compact, regrade and put your yard back together. Pricing starts at $275 per linear foot and depends on depth, access and what's on the ground along the wall — which is exactly what the instant photo estimate reads from your pictures.
- Full excavation to the footing
- Rubberized membrane & drainage board
- New weeping tile & clear gravel backfill
- Foundation crack repair included
- Transferable 25-year warranty
How an exterior job goes
Excavate to the footing
We dig along the affected wall right down to the bottom of the foundation, by machine where there's access and by hand where there isn't. Utilities are located first; obstructions like decks, AC units and interlock are planned around and noted in your quote.
Clean and repair the wall
The exposed wall is pressure-washed and inspected. Cracks are repaired, deteriorated parging is removed and the surface is made sound so the membrane bonds properly.
Rubberized waterproof membrane
A thick elastomeric rubberized membrane is applied over the entire wall from grade to the footing. This is the actual waterproof seal — it stays flexible through freeze-thaw and bridges hairline movement.
Dimple drainage board
Dimpled drainage board is fastened over the membrane. It protects the membrane from backfill and creates an air gap so any water that reaches the wall drops straight down to the weeping tile instead of pushing against the concrete.
New weeping tile in clear gravel
New perforated weeping tile is set on grade at the footing, wrapped in filter sock and bedded in clear gravel, and connected to your drainage or sump system so collected water is carried away.
Backfill, regrade and restore
We backfill in lifts and compact, regrade so surface water runs away from the house, and restore the yard — sod, garden beds, interlock or concrete — as itemized in your quote.
What the work looks like
$4,000 minimum job. Excavation, membrane, drainage board and new weeping tile included. Final rate depends on depth, access and site conditions — confirmed at a free on-site visit.
See Full PricingExterior Foundation Waterproofing FAQs
How long does exterior waterproofing take?
Most residential jobs take a few working days from the first dig to a restored yard, depending on how many feet of wall, how deep the foundation is and whether the crew can get a machine in. Your written quote includes the schedule for your job.
Will it destroy my yard?
Excavation is disruptive for a few days, but restoration is part of the job. We backfill and compact in lifts, regrade so water drains away from the house, and put back sod, beds, interlock or concrete as itemized in the quote. Our crews take pride in leaving the yard cleaner than they found it.
What does the 25-year warranty cover?
The exterior system — membrane, drainage board and weeping tile along the waterproofed wall — against water penetration for 25 years, and it transfers to the next owner if you sell. It's in writing in your quote.
Why is exterior more expensive than interior?
Excavation. Digging to the footing, handling the soil and restoring the yard is most of the cost. What you get for it is a wall that water never reaches, instead of a system that manages water after it's already through.
Everything else we do
Interior Basement Waterproofing
Internal drainage systems that capture water at the wall and move it safely to a sump.
Learn more →24/7 Emergency Flood Response
Basement flooding right now? Our emergency crews answer around the clock, every day of the year.
Learn more →Sump Pump Installation & Repair
Primary pumps, battery backups and full replacements — the heart of a dry basement.
Learn more →Foundation Crack Repair
Injection and structural repair for cracked poured-concrete and block foundations.
Learn more →Weeping Tile & Drainage Systems
Window well, weeping tile and surface drainage that moves water away from your foundation.
Learn more →Need exterior foundation waterproofing?
Get a free, written, itemized quote — or call the 24/7 line if water is coming in right now.