Basement and below ground waterproofing, North Shore
Water in the basement or garage after rain?
A wet floor every time it rains, a musty smell under the house, or a wall that never dries. We find where the water is getting in, and fix it with drainage and waterproofing together so it stays out.
- Cause found before the fix is priced
- Drainage and membrane, together
- Plumbers and waterproofers, one team
Sound familiar?
- "Every time it rains, there's water on the garage floor." Water from the driveway or the ground behind the wall has nowhere else to go.
- "The basement smells musty and the boxes keep going mouldy." Damp is coming through a wall or the slab, even if you never see a puddle.
- "The retaining wall is damp, with white powder on it." That is salt left behind as water pushes through. The wall is holding water, not draining it.
- "We had it sealed, and it's back." A coating on the inside rarely holds back water pushing from the outside. The water needs somewhere to go.
What happens if you leave it
Below ground water does not dry up on its own. It ruins what is stored there, brings mould into the house, and over time damages render, plaster and the steel inside concrete.
On the North Shore it is usually sandstone and groundwater, and a wall that was never going to stay dry without proper drainage behind it.
How it goes
Found, priced, fixed, tested
- Book a site visit. We look at where the water shows up and what is behind it.
- We find the fail point. Which can mean opening a section of wall or digging a test hole. Guessing at below ground water is expensive.
- You get the report and the price. What we found, what will fix it and what it costs, agreed before we start.
- We fix it and prove it. Below ground work can turn up surprises, so we keep you updated as we go. Then we flood test before it is closed up.
Why sealing it is not enough. A straight answer
A membrane alone will not keep water out of a wall that has water pushing against it. It has to work with drainage that carries the water away: ag lines behind the wall, drainage cell and, where the site needs it, a pit and pump.
We will tell you straight what your wall needs. If drainage alone will fix it, that is what we price. If it needs both, we show you why.
Retaining walls
A retaining wall holds back wet ground. When the water behind it has nowhere to go, it comes through: damp patches, white powder on the face, or paint flaking off.
The fix is the same idea as a basement wall. Find where the water is coming from, then pair waterproofing with drainage behind the wall so the water is carried away rather than held against it.
Before you book
What people ask us
What will it cost?
Once we have found the cause, you get the price before any work starts, and you decide. Upfront pricing, agreed before we start.
Will it actually stay dry?
That is why we find the cause first and fix the drainage as well as the wall. And we flood test before anything is closed up.
Is it a plumber or a builder?
Both, which is why it gets fumbled. Drainage, ag lines, pits and pumps are plumbing. Membranes are waterproofing. We are licenced for both, so it does not fall between two trades.
Will you dig up the garden?
Only where the drainage has to go. We keep what comes up, put it back and reinstate the paving or concrete.
Waterproofing on the North Shore since 2007
Licenced plumbers and waterproofers, contractor licence 227192C. Drainage and membrane done by one team.
From our Google reviews
Outstanding! Excellent quality, professional and value for money. Kai and Tyrone did an outstanding job concreting in a 5m drain at the base of a retaining wall. Throughout the job they were extremely polite, communicated clearly what they were doing, and left the working area in excellent condition each day.
Aphrodite Klymerhymer, Google reviewAppreciated the plumber calling whilst on site to provide a full assessment of what needed to be done. Job was done quickly after my initial contact.
Lisa M., Google reviewThe final price was exactly what he quoted. We will definitely use them again, highly recommended.
Glenn Crouch, Google reviewWater getting in below ground? Book a site visit.
We find where it is getting in and give you the price before we start.
Common questions about below ground waterproofing
How do I know I have a below ground water problem?
Water on a basement or garage floor, a damp smell that never clears, mould on a below ground wall, salty white deposits on brick or render, or paint lifting near the floor. On a sloping block it often shows up only after heavy rain.
How do you find where it is getting in?
A proper investigation, which can mean opening up a section of wall or ceiling, or excavating outside to see the structure. Guessing at below ground water is expensive, because the wrong fix costs as much as the right one.
What is rising damp and is that what I have?
Rising damp is groundwater drawn up through the brickwork itself, and it leaves a tide mark with salt deposits. It is a different problem to water coming through a wall or under a slab, and it needs a different fix. Part of the investigation is telling the two apart.
Is this a plumbing job or a building job?
Both, which is exactly why it gets fumbled. Drainage, ag lines, pits and pumps are plumbing. Membranes and structural work are building. We hold the waterproofing licence as well as the plumbing one, so it does not fall between two trades.
Can you come before there is a problem?
Yes, and it is the best money you will spend. We are happy to attend during construction on a new build, an extension or a basement dig, so the detailing is right before it is buried. We have seen more than one new house flooded by waterproofing nobody checked.
Does the work come with a warranty?
There are two warranties on most jobs and they are not the same length. The workmanship is ours and we stand behind it: if something is not right after we have left, ring us and we come back and put it right at our cost. The product warranty comes from whoever made the material, and that varies a great deal depending on what goes in. Because the two differ job to job, we set both out in your quote rather than advertise one number that would be wrong half the time.
Are you licenced?
Yes. Licenced waterproofers and licenced plumbers, NSW licence 227192C.
Word gets around
Neighbours telling neighbours. Give us a call and spread the word.
Damp basement or below ground wall?
Book a site visit. We will look at where the water is showing up and what is behind it, then give you the price before we start.
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 7am to 5pm.
A photo of the wet wall or floor helps us see it before we arrive.