My basement leaks during heavy rain. What is actually wrong?

Most commonly a crack in the foundation wall, a failed cold joint, water entering around a window well, or blocked and failed weeping tile letting hydrostatic pressure build against the wall. Water travels, so where it appears inside is rarely where it enters. That is why we inspect before quoting instead of selling a standard package.

Injection or excavation — which do I need?

Injection is the right answer for an isolated, non-structural crack in a poured wall: it is fast, done from inside, and there is no digging. Excavation is right when the wall needs an exterior membrane, when drainage has failed, when the wall is block or rubble, or when there are multiple entry points. We recommend the smaller fix whenever the smaller fix will genuinely hold.

Is a crack in my foundation serious?

Fine vertical hairline cracks from concrete shrinkage are extremely common and usually only a water problem. Horizontal cracks, stepped cracks through block joints, and any crack that is widening or offset can indicate structural movement and need looking at promptly. If you are unsure, send us a photo — we would rather tell you it is nothing than have you wait.

How long does foundation crack repair take?

A straightforward injection is usually a single visit of a few hours. Exterior excavation and waterproofing typically runs a few days depending on depth, access and how much of the wall is being exposed. You will have a timeline in writing before we start.

Do you fix the landscaping after excavating?

We backfill, compact and restore the site. Anything beyond that — new sod, replanting, replacing interlock we had to lift — is quoted up front so you know exactly what is and is not included before we dig.

Foundation Crack Repair & Waterproofing in Ottawa

A wet basement is a symptom. The useful question is where the water is getting in, and water travels — the damp patch on your basement floor is very often nowhere near the crack that let it through. That is why we inspect before we quote rather than selling a standard package.

Crack injection

For an isolated, non-structural crack in a poured concrete wall, injection is the right repair: ports are set along the crack and polyurethane or epoxy resin is injected under pressure to fill it through the full thickness of the wall. It is done from inside, there is no excavation, and it is usually finished in a single visit.

Exterior excavation and waterproofing

When the wall needs a proper exterior membrane, when drainage has failed, when the foundation is block or rubble rather than poured, or when there are several entry points, the permanent answer is to excavate. We expose the wall, repair it, apply waterproofing membrane, address the weeping tile and drainage, and backfill correctly. It is the bigger job, and we only recommend it when the smaller one will not hold.

What we look at during the inspection

The crack itself and whether it is shrinkage or movement. Window wells and below-grade openings. Where downspouts discharge. How the ground is graded around the house. Signs of previous repairs and whether they held. You get an explanation of what we found, not just a number.