What Should Your Basement Waterproofing Budget Include?

The health of your basement can impact the overall value of your home. If you let your basement play host to moisture, mold, and other damage, you’ll have a much more difficult time reselling your home on the market.

Whether you’re looking to sell or just improve the quality of life in your home, you’ll need to take steps to protect your basement from damaging levels of moisture. The best way to do so is to invest in early waterproofing measures.

It can be intimidating to try and determine which measures you’re most interested in without a budget on hand. Budgeting to waterproofing your basement doesn’t have to be a challenge. Take a gander through some of the most effective waterproofing measures below and see for yourself which may serve your purposes – and your budget – best.

The Costs to Expect When Waterproofing Your Basement

You can waterproof both the inside and outside of your home. If you want to start indoors, you can talk to a basement waterproofing professional in the Grand Junction, CO, area about:

• Interior drain installation – Interior drains work to collect seeping water from the walls, floor, and wall-floor joint to keep it away from the rest of your basement. This water is then directed to a sump pump. To install an interior drain’s perimeter of pipes around your home, you should expect to pay between $3,000 and $4,000. Costs will vary based on the length of pipe you need and the water’s eventual destination.
• Sump pump installation – Sump pumps remove any water collected by the interior drainage system by pumping it out of your basement and away from your home’s foundation. The cost of installation will vary based on the brand you want to invest in but usually costs between $1,000 and $2,500.
• Vapor barrier – Vapor barriers are typically used for crawl space encapsulations, but they also have other practical uses such as in basements. When correctly placed on basement walls, they help improve the basement’s appearance as well as assist with waterproofing efforts. Any seeping water through the walls is directed behind this waterproof material and down to the interior drainage system. These barriers also are dense enough to keep gas out of your home, and they can cost between $5,000 and $15,000 to install.
• Dehumidifier – If moisture and humidity are plaguing your basement, it’s important to keep those in check, as excessive moisture can lead to mold growth and health issues. It’s best to choose an energy-efficient model that also has self-draining capabilities. These dehumidification units can cost around $2,000 or more to install.
• Additional necessary repairs – In the same vein, it’s possible for your home to fall victim to disrepair if you let moisture build up over time. This can impact the structural integrity of your foundation, and you’ll need to invest in repairs to your foundation. There are various types of foundation repairs you can take advantage of, and their costs will vary depending on the extent of damage and which solutions are applied. These kinds of repairs typically cost between $500 and $2,000 to repair.

The Cost of Waterproofing Your Home’s Exterior

It’s also a good idea to explore waterproofing options for the outside of your home. Some of the best for protecting your home include:

• Downspouts – Your downspouts collaborate with your gutters to redirect the flow of water away from the perimeter of your home. You can invest in above- or below-ground downspouts for an installation fee between $750 and $1,550.
• Exterior drains – Exterior drains work in the same way that interior drains do. These drains, however, work to keep the hydrostatic pressure levels outside of your home low. You can expect to pay between $4,000 and $6,000 for your installation.
• Window well drains – If your basement has windows, you’ll need to invest in a waterproofing measure that directs water out of your window wells. In doing so, you’ll keep the seal around your windows in better condition. Window well drains cost between $1,000 and $1,500 to install.
• Excavation – When you’re waterproofing the outside of your home, you’ll need the contracting team you work with to excavate it. Excavations tend to cost upward of $10,000, with that cost fluctuating based on the size of your basement and the depth at which it was poured.
• Additional necessary repairs – The more hydrostatic pressure gathers outside of your home, the more likely it is that your foundation and exterior features may suffer from damage alongside your basement. You’ll need to repair this damage before you can invest in the waterproofing measures that can protect your home in the future. The costs for exterior repairs will vary, but you’ll want to have $2,500 and $10,000 tucked away.

Calculating the Cost of Labor

You’ll also need to consider the cost of labor when elaborating on your basement waterproofing budget.

The above prices do not include the cost of bringing a team of contractors out to your property for installations and repairs. On average, you should expect to pay between $1,550 and $3,500 for labor.

Again, those costs may vary depending on the size of your home and any unique features that may make it more difficult to invest in an installation.

The waterproofing needs of your home are entirely individual. If you want to base your budget off a personalized quote, you can reach out to the experts at Foundation Repair of Western Colorado, serving the Grand Junction, CO, area for a home inspection.