Basement Waterproofing in Philadelphia, PA: What It Costs and What to Expect
Water in the basement after a storm usually means it's been getting in for a while. The storm just made it obvious.
Most people call us right after something goes wrong. A big rain, a fast melt, a box of Christmas stuff that's now soaked. At that point you want to know two things. What's this going to cost, and what are these guys going to do down there?
Here's the straight answer on basement waterproofing in Philadelphia, PA, from Dependable Concrete LLC, a family-owned crew working in local basements since 1984.
Quick version: In most Philly rowhomes and twins, water comes in through old stone or brick walls, cracks, gaps around pipes and the joint where the wall meets the floor. The fix is usually done from inside: repair the wall, seal the openings, put on a solid cement coat and fix the floor where it needs it. Price depends on how much wall, what shape it's in and how easy it is to get to. We look first, then put it in writing.
Why Philadelphia Basements Take On Water
A lot of Philly houses were built 80 to 120 years ago on foundations nobody expected to stay bone dry. Usually it's a few things at once.
- Old stone and brick foundations. The joints break down into sand. Every gap is a way in for water.
- Rowhome party walls. Your wall is your neighbor's wall too. If their side leaks or their gutter dumps against the house, you can see it in your basement.
- Groundwater. In some parts of the city the water table sits close to the basement floor, especially after a long stretch of rain.
- Winter. Water gets in a crack, freezes, expands and opens it a little more every year. Then the snow melts and finds the easy way in.
- Pipes and wires through the wall. Every hole that never got sealed right lets in water and mice.
Signs You Need Waterproofing
- Puddles at the base of the wall after rain or snow
- Walls that feel cold and clammy, or dark patches that never dry
- White chalky powder on the walls
- That musty old-cellar smell
- Old coating flaking off, or walls dropping sand
- Cracks with water marks around them
One sign, keep an eye on it. Two or more, get it looked at before winter sets in.
What We Actually Do
No one product waterproofs a basement. The work depends on where the water's getting in, so we find that first. A typical Philly job goes something like this:
- Find the water. We look at every wall and the floor and ask what you've seen. After a rain? Only in spring? One corner?
- Repair the walls. Loose, crumbling material comes off. Voids get filled solid, cracks get sealed, and gaps around pipes and wires get packed tight.
- Cement coat the walls. A full coat of cement over the repaired wall, sponge finished smooth, gray and even. A lot of folks call this "getting the walls cemented."
- Fix the floor where it needs it. A cracked or broken basement floor can let water up from below. Sometimes we repair it. Sometimes part of it gets torn out and replaced with new concrete.
- Outside waterproofing. We do outside waterproofing too. When the water is best stopped from the outside, we'll tell you and we'll do that work.
- Clean up. We leave the basement swept and ready to use.
When a floor needs new concrete, it comes from us. We mix our own with our own silo and mixers, so we control the strength and can add fiber to help hold the slab together.
The short video below is one of our Philly basement jobs. Old stone walls and a dirt-and-sand floor at the start, then the same basement with cemented white walls and a gray floor.
Video transcript
No narration; instrumental music only. On screen: an old Philadelphia basement with bare stone and brick walls and a rough floor, then the finished basement with cemented white walls and a gray concrete floor. End card: Dependable Concrete LLC, doing concrete in Philadelphia since 1984. Your written estimate within 24 hours of our visit. 215-821-9779, dependableconcrete.com, Book a free estimate.
What Drives the Cost
People ask for a price over the phone all the time. We won't guess, because a guess doesn't help you. Here's what actually moves the number:
- Wall type. Stone, brick, block and poured concrete all need different prep.
- How much wall. One wet corner or the whole basement.
- Condition. A wall that needs a new coat is a smaller job than one with loose stone and big voids.
- The floor. Whether it's part of the water problem, and whether it needs repair or new concrete.
- Access and clutter. Tight rowhome stairs, finished walls that have to come down, heaters, tanks and shelving all add time.
Here's how we handle the price. We come out, look at everything with you and put it on paper. Your written estimate within 24 hours of our visit. The visit is free and nobody's going to push you.
Can You Waterproof a Basement in Winter?
Yes. The work's inside your house, so the cold doesn't stop us. Winter's a good time for it. The ground's wet, snow melt is coming, and every freeze makes small cracks bigger. Get it done now and you're not dealing with it in March.
Tips Until We Get There
A few things that help in the meantime:
- Run your downspouts away from the house, at least a few feet out.
- Clear leaves out of gutters and any drain by your back door or areaway.
- Get anything you care about off the floor and away from the wet wall.
- Run a dehumidifier if the air feels damp.
None of this fixes the wall. It buys you time.
Serving Basements All Over Philadelphia
Our shop is at 7715 Crittenden St in Chestnut Hill. We work in Mt. Airy, Germantown, Roxborough, Manayunk, East Falls, West Philadelphia, Center City, South Philly, Fairmount and Northeast Philly, plus Cheltenham, Glenside, Wyncote, Abington and Jenkintown. We know the old foundations around here because we've been in them for a long time.
Want more on the wall side? Read about foundation wall repair, parging basement walls or wet basements in winter, or go to our basement waterproofing page.
Book Your Free Estimate
Dependable Concrete LLC, family-owned and serving Philadelphia since 1984. Open 7 days a week, 7 AM to 7 PM. Call and we'll call you back.
Dependable Concrete LLC
7715 Crittenden St, Philadelphia PA 19118
215-821-9779
https://dependableconcrete.com
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Wet Basement? Let's Take a Look.
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Ready to get started? Estimates are free, and our crew is courteous and professional from the first visit to the final cleanup. Tell us what you need, and we'll come out, take a look and walk you through the work in plain language.
Your written estimate within 24 hours of our visit. After we look at the job, you get a written, priced quote within 24 hours of the visit.
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