Below Grade Walls

Damproofing vs. Waterproofing

In most areas of Manitoba, the soil does not drain very well. It is often impossible to avoid building on clay soils which expand when wet and shrink when dry. This can cause even the most carefully built basement to eventually leak.

Consider having the foundation walls of your new home waterproofed rather than just damproofed. This is especially important if you intend to eventually finish your basement as living space and want to avoid moisture and mold problems.

Most new homes in Manitoba use a poured concrete basement or crawlspace foundation. These walls are usually protected by spraying a thin layer of a black tar-like coating on the exterior prior to backfilling. This reduces the dampness that can diffuse through the concrete from wet soil that surrounds a basement or crawlspace. However, it does little to offer long-term protection from water seepage through cracks and other imperfections.

There are many different methods and products to waterproof a foundation wall. Most consist of a peel and stick or spray-on rubberized membrane or a special drainage layer that is carefully applied to the exterior of the foundation wall. Although more expensive than damproofing, about $800 to $1,500 extra for an average basement, waterproofing will significantly improve the odds that your new home will have a warm, dry basement for many years to come.