Basement Waterproofing Services in Baltimore, MD
Most basement problems in Baltimore, MD fit one of five categories, described here in plain language. Whichever matches yours, your request reaches a single independent local contractor, and any price you see comes from that company, in writing. This free referral and advertising service does none of the work.
Basement Work, by Type
Full basement waterproofing covers whole-basement systems. Inside, that usually means a drain along the footing that carries water to a sump; outside, a membrane applied once the soil is dug away. On narrow rowhouse lots with shared walls, digging outside is often impractical, so the inside route is common.
Basement leak repair chases one entry point, such as a joint at a party wall, the seam where wall meets floor or a soft spot in old brick. It also sorts ordinary seepage from a sewer backup.
Foundation crack repair covers poured concrete, block, and older stone and brick walls, explains injection and repointing, and flags which cracks are worth having looked at soon. Underpinning a City party wall carries its own permit rules.
Sump pump installation walks through pit, pump, check valve, battery backup and alarm, and why the discharge line must end outdoors: in Baltimore City, groundwater may not go into the sanitary sewer. Any tie-in to a drain or sewer is work for a Maryland-licensed plumber with a permit.
Basement drainage keeps water away before it reaches the wall: gutters, downspouts shared between rowhouses, grading on tight lots, window-well drains and drain tile, with background on laterals and backwater valves.
Picking the Right Service
There's no need to name the cause yourself. Pick the description closest to what you see, and the contractor works out the details in person.
- Damp along several walls after every soaking rain. Start with full waterproofing and drainage.
- One wet spot that keeps returning. Leak repair is the likely first read.
- A crack that seeps or a wall that bows. See crack repair, and note whether the wall is poured, block, stone or brick.
- A pump that never stops or has quit. The sump pump page covers what a new one involves.
- Puddles by the foundation after storms. The drainage page on gutters, downspouts and grading may cover it.
- Water coming up a floor drain. That is likely a sewer backup. In Baltimore City, report it to 311; in Baltimore County, DPWT's Emergency Sewer Service is 410-887-7415.
Ready to Start?
The short form is the place to begin. After that, one independent contractor gets in touch to talk about a visit and a written estimate. Contractors may pay this site a flat advertising fee; you never pay, and you're given nothing for asking.