Basement Waterproofing & Crawl Space Encapsulation Services in Duluth, MN

We Offer Interior Waterproofing & Exterior Waterproofing Options

If you have a basement or crawl space prone to flooding, you know the dread that comes with every rain storm. Will there be water? How much time will it take to clean up?

If you have a finished basement, how much will it cost to repair any damage? If these fears sound familiar, it might be time to look into basement waterproofing for your Duluth-area home.

At Alliance Inc., we offer a full array of waterproofing options so we can work with you to choose what is suitable for your house.

Is the best solution going to be exterior waterproofing to keep water away from your house, to begin with, or perhaps interior waterproofing, directing any water that enters your basement walls to a sump pump and out of your home without causing any damage or flooding?

If you have a crawl space, encapsulate and waterproof it to avoid the structural and other damage that water can wreak.

Whichever fits your home best, we will work with you to ensure the work is effective and efficient so you no longer have to feel dread with every heavy rain.

Exterior Waterproofing

Depending on the severity of the problem and what is causing the water problems, we can employ several different exterior waterproofing options.

Chances are, your home already has gutters, but if they aren’t in good condition, we can have gutters installed.

French Drains and Channel Drains

One of the main goals of exterior waterproofing is to direct water away from your house.

French and channel or trench drains are two options. Both use perforated or slotted pipes to carry the water away.

They differ in how the water gets to the slotted pipe.

With a French drain, a ditch is dug, and the pipe is inserted at a grade that directs the water away from the house. The pipe is then covered with gravel, which is sometimes covered with soil.

This type of drain is ideal for homes where the problem is water that has been absorbed into the soil and is gaining entry to the basement walls or other parts of the house.

If your issue is with surface water, a channel or trench drain is likely optimal. Unlike the French drain, gravel is not used to drain toward the pipe.

Instead, a metal grating is installed at the surface, targeting water as soon as it hits the ground rather than waiting for it to seep into the soil.

Catch basins also allow for the collection and dissipation of water in ways that won’t threaten the rest of the basement.

Waterproofing membranes

While those methods direct water away from your house, reducing the hydrostatic pressure, a different option is to build up the defenses of your basement walls against water from the outside. That is where waterproofing membranes come in.

After excavations are made to expose the basement walls, a drainage board is installed to prevent water from entering through them. The board also insulates the basement, which can be helpful if you use it as a living space.

Interior Basement Waterproofing

An interior drainage system is among the most popular waterproofing solutions because it is generally less expensive and, in some ways, less intrusive than exterior waterproofing solutions.

While it won’t prevent other issues caused by pooling or improperly draining water the way exterior drainage systems can, a properly installed drainage system will keep your basement dry.

Sump Pumps

Outside of a dehumidifier, a sump pump is probably the first product that comes to mind when considering basement waterproofing.

Sump pumps take water collected in a sump pit and pump it out of the house. They usually discharge in an area of your yard where the grade will direct it away from the house.

The cover of the sump pit is usually flush with your basement floor.

Interior Drainage Systems

The question then becomes, how does water get to the sump pit?

An interior drainage system is one of the most common and effective ways, especially if your basement has block walls.

First, we excavate around the basement perimeter, cutting through the basement floor. That provides space to lay drain tile next to the walls.

If you have block walls, we drill holes to drain water in the walls into the tile. The tile is laid so that any water drains into the sump pit.

The drain tile is then covered back up with concrete, leveling the area to the rest of the floor.

Waterproofing for New Construction

Sometimes, the best time to waterproof a new home or business is during construction.

Often done in concert with our insulated concrete form installation, Alliance can install a waterproofing system during construction.

This comes with several potential benefits.

First, waterproofing can be a significant selling point if a developer is building a home or business.

Second, waterproofing a home will inevitably be disruptive to some degree. Ditches must be dug outside, or portions of the concrete floor will be broken up inside.

If the home is still under construction, no such disruption occurs.

Crawl Space Encapsulation

But what about homes that have a crawl space instead of a basement?

They certainly can still have water problems. Damp or wet crawl spaces can lead to mold, mildew, and wood rot. If your floor joists start to rot, it will cause””spong”” floors, among other issues.

However, because crawl spaces are rarely used for anything other than storage, their waterproofing is done differently.

Encapsulating a crawl space involves sealing the whole area off so that no moisture can get in, whether through the walls or the floor.

As a key portion of this, we will install a vapor barrier that stops water from entering the crawl space. This prevents flooding and keeps the humidity from rising too high and causing issues on its own.

Looking for a Basement Waterproofing Expert Near You in Duluth? Contact Us for a Free Estimate

Does your Duluth-area home have water problems? Are you building a home in an area prone to flooded basements? If so, contact Alliance today for a free estimate. We will lay out your waterproofing options and explain which we believe would best suit your home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Basement Waterproofing in Duluth

What basement waterproofing options does Alliance offer?

We offer a full range of interior and exterior waterproofing solutions, as well as crawl space encapsulation. Depending on your home’s specific water problems, we’ll help you determine whether exterior drainage, interior drainage, a sump pump system, or a combination of approaches makes the most sense.

What’s the difference between exterior and interior basement waterproofing?

Exterior waterproofing is designed to keep water away from your home’s foundation in the first place, using methods like French drains, channel drains, catch basins, and waterproofing membranes applied to the outside of your basement walls. Interior waterproofing doesn’t stop water from reaching the walls, but it manages any water that does get in by directing it to a sump pump and out of your home before it can cause damage. Interior systems are generally less expensive and less disruptive to install.

What is a French drain, and do I need one?

A French drain is a trench dug around your home’s exterior that contains a graded, perforated pipe covered with gravel. It’s designed to collect water that has been absorbed into the soil and redirect it away from your foundation. If your basement water problems are caused by water seeping through the soil rather than surface runoff, a French drain may be a good fit. For surface water issues, a channel or trench drain is often a better option.

How does an interior drainage system work?

We excavate around the interior perimeter of your basement floor and install drain tile along the walls. If you have block walls, we drill holes to allow water inside the blocks to drain into the tile. The tile directs water into a sump pit, where a sump pump moves it out of your home. Once complete, the area is covered back up with concrete and leveled with the rest of your floor.

Can you waterproof a home that’s still under construction?

Yes, and it’s actually an ideal time to do it. Waterproofing during construction means no disruption to a finished home — no digging up landscaping or breaking through concrete floors. It can also be a valuable selling point if you’re a developer building spec homes in the Duluth area.

What is crawl space encapsulation, and do I need it?

Crawl space encapsulation involves sealing the entire crawl space — walls and floor — with a vapor barrier to prevent moisture from entering. Damp crawl spaces can lead to mold, mildew, and wood rot that affects your floor joists and causes soft or spongy floors over time. If your home has a crawl space and you’ve noticed musty odors, high humidity, or soft spots in your flooring, encapsulation is worth looking into.

How do I know which waterproofing solution is right for my home?

That’s exactly what our free estimate is for. Every home’s water situation is a little different, and the right solution depends on where the water is coming from, how severe the problem is, and the layout of your home. Contact Alliance today and we’ll assess your home and walk you through your options.