Exterior foundation waterproofing
Exterior foundation waterproofing in Louisville, KY
When the outside of the wall is the problem, we excavate to the footing, waterproof the wall directly, install drain tile and backfill properly. The most involved option, used when it is the right one.
Signs you need it
When interior work is not enough
A deteriorating block or stone wall
Older Louisville foundations in the Highlands, Crescent Hill and Old Louisville can be past the point where interior drainage alone is wise.
Water entering high on the wall
Interior systems catch water at the floor. Water coming through at grade level needs stopping outside.
A finished basement you cannot open up
Sometimes the outside is the less disruptive route.
A wall that stays wet even with interior drainage
The membrane and drain tile outside keep the wall itself dry.
What we do
Membrane, drain tile, backfill: the wall stays dry from the outside
Exterior waterproofing means digging down to the footing along the affected wall, cleaning and repairing the wall surface, applying a waterproof membrane or coating, protecting it with a drainage board, laying perforated drain tile in gravel at the footing, and backfilling with proper compaction and grading. Roof water is routed away at the same time with buried downspout lines. It is more work than an interior system and costs more, and there are houses where it is clearly the right answer.
We recommend based on the house. If interior drainage will do the job for less, we will tell you. If the wall needs to be waterproofed from outside, we will tell you that too. A crack in a poured wall is sometimes sealed from outside in the same dig.
- Excavation to the footing by hand or machine, protecting what is above
- Wall repaired, membrane applied, drainage board installed
- Footing drain tile to a sump or daylight
- Backfilled, compacted, graded away from the house
How the job goes
Two to five days depending on the length of wall
Plan
Which walls, what depth, where the drain exits, what is in the way (walks, decks, utilities).
Excavate
Down to the footing, with the trench shored and the house protected.
Waterproof
Wall cleaned and repaired, membrane and drainage board applied, drain tile set.
Backfill and grade
Compacted in lifts, graded away from the house, landscaping put back.
On the job
From the crew's own photos
Real Watertight jobs. Nothing staged, nothing stock.
What it costs
Price your exterior foundation waterproofing in a minute
A few questions give a planning range from the same calculator as the cost guide. See every line, or book a free inspection with your numbers attached.
Why Watertight
We do both interior and exterior, so we have no reason to push either
Companies that only do one kind of waterproofing recommend the one they do. We install interior and exterior systems and recommend what the house needs. Both carry the lifetime transferable warranty.
- Honest recommendation between interior and exterior
- Our own crew on the excavation and the membrane
- Yard and landscaping restored
3 months agoZach’s crew of “good old country boys,” as he described them, waterproofed our basement December 1st and 3rd because we had a big-for-Kentucky snow, and the guys couldn’t make it to Shelbyville on the 2nd. From the website, we could tell they mainly…
a month agoThese guys worked hard to do a great job and they cleaned and hauled away all the debris and trash. My basement is definitely beautiful. Thank you Watertight Waterproofing.
a month agoBig fan of WaterTight Waterproofing. I've had them work on a couple waterproofing jobs and I've been happy with the price and work I've received. Particular shoutout to Devin and Sean. I've been impressed with their professionalism and attention to…
Questions
Exterior foundation waterproofing: what people ask
Still have a question? Call the office, Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
How much does exterior foundation waterproofing cost?
It depends on the length of wall, the depth, the access and what is in the way. It is the most involved waterproofing option, which is why we only recommend it when it is the right one. Every job is priced in writing after a free inspection, and the cost guide has typical Louisville ranges and a calculator for planning.
Is exterior better than interior waterproofing?
Neither is better in general. Exterior keeps the wall itself dry and is right for deteriorating walls and water entering high. Interior manages the water at the floor, costs less and does not disturb the yard. The house decides.
Will you have to dig up my whole yard?
Only along the affected walls, and only as wide as the trench needs. Walks, decks and landscaping are protected or put back.
Can you do it in winter?
Excavation depends on the ground and the weather. We schedule around it and tell you honestly when a job should wait.
Projects
Real jobs, before and after
Each pair is one Watertight job, photographed before and after. Nothing staged, nothing stock.
A basement corner, mid-job and finished
A corner caught mid-job with a saw and a hammer on the floor, finished in white liner over a dark floor.
Read the story
A bare block basement, lined and finished
Stained block walls and a patched floor, finished with white-lined walls and the sump tucked in the corner.
Read the story
A cluttered crawl space, cleared and lined
A flexible duct lying on old sheeting and debris, then lifted clear over a clean liner across the floor.
Read the storyWhere we do this work
Exterior foundation waterproofing across Louisville and Kentuckiana
Every area has its own page on the houses and ground in that part of town.
Free estimate
Foundation waterproofing: get a written price
Tell us what you are seeing. A technician calls back during business hours and books a time to look. No cost, no obligation.
- Photos and a plain explanation of the cause
- Written scope and price
- Our own crew, not a subcontractor
- We beat any reputable company's price on the same scope
