Water Management Services
Basement Waterproofing in Ottawa — Diagnosed First, Fixed for the Right Reason.
Sometimes it's the foundation. Sometimes it's a downspout. We tell you which before we quote anything. Stacy Provost has been diagnosing wet basements for 40+ years.
The real issue
Why most "waterproofing" quotes solve the wrong problem.
A wet basement is not always a waterproofing problem.
We've inspected hundreds of Ottawa basements where another contractor had already quoted $20,000–$40,000 worth of interior or exterior waterproofing — and the actual problem turned out to be a downspout discharging two feet from the foundation, a grading slope that had reversed over the years, or a plumbing leak.
Waterproofing is the most over-sold service in this category because it's high-ticket and the problem is invisible: the homeowner can't tell whether the work that just got done was actually necessary. By the time you find out it didn't fix the leak, the contractor is on the next job.
We approach this the opposite way: diagnosis first, quote second. Sometimes the answer is one of the three waterproofing services below. Sometimes the answer is "fix your downspouts and call us back if the problem doesn't go away." Either way, we'll tell you the truth.
Real diagnosis
How we diagnose where water is actually coming from.
A real water diagnosis looks at:
- Where the water shows up (which wall, which corner, how high)
- When it shows up (during rain, after snowmelt, all the time, only in spring)
- Outside conditions at that wall (downspout placement, grading, gutters, landscaping that traps water)
- Inside conditions (plumbing nearby, condensation patterns)
- Foundation construction at the affected area
- Existing weeping tile age and condition if accessible
Most of the diagnosis happens above ground, walking the perimeter of your house. The basement just confirms what we already suspect.
Our three waterproofing services
Choose the right solution for your home.
Interior Waterproofing & Weeping Tile
Interior weeping tile, sump pit, perimeter drainage system, dimple membrane on the inside of the wall. Faster and cheaper than exterior work, and the right answer for many situations — though not all.
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Exterior Waterproofing & Excavation
Excavating down to the footing, applying a waterproof membrane to the exterior of the foundation, replacing the exterior weeping tile and drainage gravel. The most permanent fix and the most expensive. Right when interior won't actually solve the problem.
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Sump Pumps & Drainage
Sump pump installation and replacement, battery backup systems, exterior drainage and downspout extensions. Often the right starting point — and often the only thing actually needed.
Read more →Sometimes the answer isn't waterproofing.
We've had Ottawa homeowners get three quotes for $30,000+ exterior waterproofing jobs, then have us come look, then walk away with a $400 downspout extension that solved the problem entirely.
That's not a marketing hook — it's just what happens when nobody bothers to look at the outside of the house. We do.
Water doesn't care about your foundation unless you haven't looked at your gutters and grading first. — Stacy Provost
Real diagnoses
People we saved thousands of dollars.
“Three contractors wanted $35,000 for interior waterproofing. Stacy came, walked the property, and told me my downspouts were discharging right at the foundation corner. I extended them, and the problem went away. Cost me maybe $200 in supplies and my time.”
“We had a wet basement. The contractor who looked at it before wanted to rip out the floor and install interior weeping tile. Stacy diagnosed it as a grading issue—the slope had shifted. Regraded and added a sump. Problem solved, cost was a fraction of what the other guy wanted.”
“I got a quote for $40,000 exterior waterproofing. Stacy took one look and said half my gutters were clogged, and one downspout was broken. He had me clean the gutters, fixed the downspout, and said to call if I still had water. I haven't had water since.”
Diagnose before you decide.
Not sure if you actually have a waterproofing problem? Start with our guide to the signs of foundation problems. If you're seeing cracks specifically, our types of foundation cracks guide is more useful. Either way, the inspection is free and same-day.