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Basement Waterproofing

Basement leaks can lead to significant damage. Learn about Indiana Foundation Service's trusted basement waterproofing solutions.

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Water can accumulate in your basement for many reasons; no matter how it gets there, standing water in your basement causes a slew of problems. Uncontrolled moisture leads to elevated humidity, high energy bills, and increased mold and mildew formation. It can also lead to damage to your home’s structure which can cause warped floors, sticking doors and windows, and cracks in your walls.

It’s important to find the root of the problem and address it at the source so that you can prevent unwanted water in your home. By waterproofing basement areas with water, you can rest assured that you’re protected from the damaging effects of moisture and that your family stays safe.

At Indiana Foundation Service, we have three decades of experience with basement waterproofing in Indiana, offering tailored solutions for your home.


Leaky Basement Causes

Water can leak inside your basement because of a variety of factors. Here are some common causes of your wet basement.

As the construction of your home began, a large hole in the ground had to be made to accommodate the house and its foundation. After the foundation was built, there still was a gap around the house between the structure and the rest of the earth. Some of the previously excavated soil is replaced or “backfilled” around the walls. This soil is looser and fluffier than the rest of the hard-packed, untouched soil. This allows water to collect in the soil immediately surrounding the house, creating a “clay bowl,” and exerting pressure on the walls that leads to cracks and leaking water.

This constant force exerted on the walls by saturated soil is known as hydrostatic pressure. When this force becomes too much for the walls to handle, they will begin to show signs of failure in the form of cracks and inward movement. Water can easily find its way through any cracks and openings, and your home’s structural stability is at risk.

A footing drain was installed outside the foundation walls of your home during its construction in order to help keep water away. But this drain can easily clog and allow water to collect by the walls. Preventing this is difficult, and so is cleaning and flushing the drains.

Clogged or above-ground exterior drainage pipes could allow water to puddle next to the home and leak through cracks or gaps in the foundation walls. It’s a good idea to place these lines in the ground and direct them far away from your house to prevent draining water from leaking inside. But you also need to make sure these lines are doing their job. If they crack, collapse, or clog, you could end up with water in your basement.

Sump pumps are needed to keep water out of the basement. Many sump pump systems are installed with metal basins placed in the floor and have lids that rest on top of the basin and openings for the discharge pipes. Some may not have lids at all. These are ineffective systems that only cause more problems. Metal basins can easily rust and corrode, and partial or nonexistent lids allow water to evaporate back into or flood the basement. This leads to unpleasant odors and moisture issues that defeat the purpose of the sump pump in the first place. Debris and other items also can easily fall into the system and damage the pump if the sump pit is not completely covered.

Mother Nature can be unpredictable and brutal, and Indiana experiences its share of wild weather. Heavy rainstorms can dump a lot of water on the ground with nowhere to go, and wintertime snowmelt results in runoff water. This water can then find its way inside through saturated soil and wall cracks. 

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Jackie S. We didn't need her service. But, she helped us order a new crawl space cover.

Jackie S. We didn't need her service. But, she helped us order a new crawl space cover.

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I had Cammeron Miles inspect my crawl space foundation and he did a wonderful job representing Indiana Foundation Services. I would…

I had Cammeron Miles inspect my crawl space foundation and he did a wonderful job representing Indiana Foundation Services. I would recommend him to anyone who wants/needs an honest and professional evaluation on their foundation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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We had work done for a drain install in our foundation and a sub-pump. I have been burned several times with recent work to my house and…

We had work done for a drain install in our foundation and a sub-pump. I have been burned several times with recent work to my house and was skeptical when we hired this company. I can say that all my worry was for nothing. Charlie came out to give us an estimate, and although we were short on time we made it work and he ended up staying for a long time (even through making dinner for our kid) to ensure we understood. It never once felt invasive and he did not try to pressure us into buying the product. Our cats loved him as well which was an added bonus and made us feel better. When he left, we talked about how nice and kind he was and he did not seem like a sales person. He also answered our extra questions a couple weeks later as we were waiting on the install to happen. We again were hesitant with yet another crew that needed to come in our home and demo a bunch of things. There was no need for the worry. Shawn and Devan were fantastic. They were polite, super kind, patient with all of our questions, and their clean up was one of the best we have ever witnessed. Given the invasive nature of jack hammering foundation inside of a home, we expected a bunch of clean up after. However outside of the stuff we already know they could not put back (drywall, flooring, etc) it was perfect. We went though and swept up the rooms they had worked in an there wasn't even a dust pan full of debris they missed. They laid out plastic and used that to walk on and lay the cement chunks on ensuring none of my ceramic tile flooring was ruined. AMAZING! They cleaned up the front lawn after digging a trench and jack hammering up part of the side walk. The cement work they did was great. They were extra careful when digging and installing pipes in the flower beds. Which we appreciated. They left the area outside cleaner than when they arrived even coiling up my garden hose and assisted us in moving some extra dirt left from them digging to another location on the property. Shawn took the time to take us out back and explain what they could do to help the drainage issues in the back of the home. He was confidant in his explanations and understood exactly what needed to happen to improve this situation and ensure water was not an issue to the home in the future. There was again no pressure to have Indiana Foundation Service do this work. This was all above and beyond what they were required to do. They were polite and kind when we were talking to them and was able to laugh and joke with us as they worked. WHEN we have more work done with our drainage in the back of our home we will be calling this company again and requesting SHAWN AND DEVAN to do the work. What an asset they are to the Indian Foundation company. Indiana Foundation Service will have my loyalty in the future for all other needed repairs.

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Very impressive with the quality of their services. Whitney was awesome and ensured to explain everything in great details.

Very impressive with the quality of their services. Whitney was awesome and ensured to explain everything in great details.

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The crew that came out to work on my basement ( Christian R. Chad B. Dylan A. And Tim M.) did a great job. They finished the job quickly…

The crew that came out to work on my basement ( Christian R. Chad B. Dylan A. And Tim M.) did a great job. They finished the job quickly and it turned out better than I had imagined. It has rained and stormed twice now since the put up the water barrier and drainage system in my basement and I haven’t had any water come through into my basement.

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Last week, I was "hosting" three young men from Indiana Foundation at a "basement repair party" at my home. I have to say that these three …

Last week, I was "hosting" three young men from Indiana Foundation at a "basement repair party" at my home. I have to say that these three young men were absolutely amazing. Never have I ever been in the company of such men who were so happy to do their jobs. Dakota, Desmon, and Johntae never slowed down on their job, and they never seemed not to enjoy the company of each other. I live alone and since they left, I have been troubled by the silence. It's not the lack of noise of the drilling; it's the lack of laughter that I miss. Never once did I hear any of them loose his temper or say anything that did not cause laughter from each other. They did their job very well. They all three deserve applause for a job well done! They are amazing!!!

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James, Saul & Devarion showed up very timely. James explained his thoughts on what they needed to do and updated me every step of their…

James, Saul & Devarion showed up very timely. James explained his thoughts on what they needed to do and updated me every step of their work. He asked me to come out and see what they were doing. He constantly asked if i had any questions or wanted something different done! They were very courteous: always please and thank you and maam! They made very little mess and cleaned up very well after themselves! Best experience i have had with Indiana Foundation!!! Would definitely recommend.

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Joe was great! Super detailed and thorough in his inspection of our home. We are grateful for the time he spent here and then talking to…

Joe was great! Super detailed and thorough in his inspection of our home. We are grateful for the time he spent here and then talking to us after with his findings. Thank you so much Joe

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Joey and Richard (on his way to Cincinnati) teamed up to tighten up my wall anchors. They were off the charts with their explanations and…

Joey and Richard (on his way to Cincinnati) teamed up to tighten up my wall anchors. They were off the charts with their explanations and information and even covered their shoes to keep our new carpet….clean. Thanks so much!

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Thank Jeff for the great job you did raising our porch, it had dropped about 3 or 3 and a half inches, looks great now. Also want to thank…

Thank Jeff for the great job you did raising our porch, it had dropped about 3 or 3 and a half inches, looks great now. Also want to thank the crew that worked on our foundation where the basement wall had cracked and is bowing out. Those guys worked in the cold weather with snow on the ground to get the job done. I can not remember all the names but we want thank them for a great job, feel better knowing that is taken care of. Also thank the folks in the office that keep us informed. Thank everyone that was working to get this done. Ben and Jane Neeley

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On 9/27 we had our 4th annual inspection of our crawl space and foundation done by your associate Ricky Christie. He was on time,…

On 9/27 we had our 4th annual inspection of our crawl space and foundation done by your associate Ricky Christie. He was on time, professional and complete. His thorough and painstaking inspection/presentation – which he documented completely – resulted in our signing up for substantial additional remedial work. He took his time, he did it right…I could wax on, but you get the idea. Thanks for sending out a great person.

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Top-notch service and craftsmanship from start to finish. We couldn't be happier with the work that was done and wouldn't want anyone…

Top-notch service and craftsmanship from start to finish. We couldn't be happier with the work that was done and wouldn't want anyone other than Damian T. & Philip E. working on our home. On top of working really hard, they kept us informed on progress, share pictures, ensured we were satisfied, and cleaned up after a dirty job!

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This company is top notch! Josh was very through and professional. He was honest and told us that the fix they could do would not solve…

This company is top notch! Josh was very through and professional. He was honest and told us that the fix they could do would not solve our problem. He had several suggestions and was willing to answer any questions we had. I highly recommend this company.

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Ethan is a gem! Polite, communicated wonderfully about each step and kept everyone on task! Thank you!!

Ethan is a gem! Polite, communicated wonderfully about each step and kept everyone on task! Thank you!!

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Mark Gladish and Mike provided top notch service today. They explained everything precisely and easy to understand.

Mark Gladish and Mike provided top notch service today. They explained everything precisely and easy to understand.

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Cameron came to give us a quote on a full basement repair of an 1800's home. Though the repairs needing done were substantial, as we…

Cameron came to give us a quote on a full basement repair of an 1800's home. Though the repairs needing done were substantial, as we suspected, we opted to go another route and have the house lifted and a new basement installed. Cameron was a solid guy, very professional, knowledgeable and was attentive to what we were looking for.

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My experience with Jacob Rose has been amazing! He came out and looked at our foundation issues and was so thorough in his inspection. He…

My experience with Jacob Rose has been amazing! He came out and looked at our foundation issues and was so thorough in his inspection. He was also amazing at explaining things in a way that was easy to understand. Would highly recommend him to anyone i can!!

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Joe called prior to his visit to let me know when he would arrive. He introduced himself and told me what exactly he was going to do.He was …

Joe called prior to his visit to let me know when he would arrive. He introduced himself and told me what exactly he was going to do.He was polite and professional and friendly, and went about his business. When finished, he explained what he had found, we exchanged pleasantries, and he went on to his next appointment.I appreciate the professionalism combined with the ability to talk comfortably with me, the client.

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The crew that showed up on9/19/24 was awesome! James Jewell, Andrew L., Saul M. and James H. was great. polite, friendly and hard working….

The crew that showed up on9/19/24 was awesome! James Jewell, Andrew L., Saul M. and James H. was great. polite, friendly and hard working. They knew what was what and got the job done and clean up was good. I would recommend them to all that need foundation work. Oh yeah Joe Faulkenberg great also.

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The crew that i had come out to my home was more that excellent. They were on time and responsive to my needs. Christian R. Was the job…

The crew that i had come out to my home was more that excellent. They were on time and responsive to my needs. Christian R. Was the job site manager and did his best to make sure everything was how i wanted it. The crew that was with him Chad B., Dillon A, and Travis R. Were extremely respectful with me and my family. They took the extra steps to make sure things were what I wanted. They all worked well together and was extremely impressed with how they kept the jobsite clean and my house clean as well. Would highly recomend this company and crew to anyone needing their services. If i do have any issues in the future i only have to make one call. Would also recomend this crew to any jobsite. Extremely knowledgeable and honest. Honesty is the key to any contractor coming into your home. Again thanks to the crew. It was a pleasure.

Is Basement Waterproofing the Right Solution for Me?

As a homeowner, it’s important to guard your home against any damage it faces from the outside elements. Waterproofing basement areas affected by water intrusion is essential to prevent problems including mold, foundation cracks, uneven floors, and sticking windows and doors that endanger your family’s health and safety.

Indiana Foundation Service has more than 30 years of experience in diagnosing basement water problems and installing trusted solutions to address basement waterproofing in Indiana. Our multi-step process ensures your home is sealed and protected from water for good. Internal basement waterproofing solutions such as interior drainage and a superior sump pump system effectively drain water away from your foundation.

Basement Waterproofing FAQs

The ideal humidity levels for basements are between 40 and 50%. It’s important to keep the levels below 60% to avoid moisture-related issues. If you need assistance maintaining your basement’s humidity levels and ensuring its protection, contact Indiana Foundation Service. Our team of professionals offers reliable basement waterproofing solutions. 

While a damp and musty basement is common, it is not normal or healthy for your home and family. The presence of water and humidity causes other issues like mold growth, damaged belongings, structural instability, and more. That’s why waterproofing your basement is essential. The most effective methods include an interior drainage system, sump pump, wall vapor barrier, and dehumidifier. Working in tandem, these solutions keep water from infiltrating your home and prevent humidity from wreaking havoc.

Absolutely! If the source of the odor is mold, inhaling mold spores can worsen allergies or cause illness. It’s important not to disregard persistent musty odors. We encourage you to contact Indiana Foundation Service for a free inspection and basement waterproofing estimate. We address musty basement smells at their source and provide solutions that protect your home. 

Regular maintenance includes checking and cleaning your gutters, inspecting your sump pump to ensure it’s functioning properly, and monitoring any cracks in the walls for changes. You can take advantage of Indiana Foundation Service’s annual maintenance programs to ensure your basement waterproofing systems are in top shape.

Why is Basement Waterproofing Needed?

Most homes have some sort of water management system. Although the age and effectiveness may vary, it’s important to maintain regular inspections to ensure they’re in good working condition. Here are some common reasons why waterproofing your basement is an important step in protecting your most valuable asset, your home.

Many homeowners have had to face mold and mildew in their homes at some point. Unfortunately known as a common occurrence that stems from moisture in your home, mold can also wreak havoc on the health of your loved ones. Certain strains of mold are toxic and can cause severe respiratory issues and allergies. When you waterproof basement areas affected by moisture with solutions including a vapor barrier or dehumidifier, you’re able to tackle moisture levels in your home and prevent mold.

bowed basement wall

Eradicates the Effects of Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is the force oversaturated soil exerts on your foundation walls. This can lead to cracks along your basement walls that allow water to easily seep in. If the soil surrounding your home becomes overly wet, you may experience pooling water around your cove joints or on your basement floors. To prevent this, consider repairing foundation damage, checking the grade of your yard, and inspecting your gutters for clogs or damage. Additionally, lining your basement walls with a durable vapor barrier can seal out the effects of hydrostatic pressure, and interior drains and a sump pump help direct excess water away from your home.

Adds Value to Your Home

A finished, waterproof basement can add appeal to potential buyers when you decide to sell your house. This is mainly because of the added livable space, which can be used for many purposes. It also is attractive to buyers who don’t want to worry about having to install waterproofing systems once they move in or do any invasive construction. Our warrantied solutions ease the minds of future owners so that they can have the same protection for their new home.

Common Basement Waterproofing Tips & Mistakes

Over the years, we’ve heard it all and seen it all when it comes to homeowners deciding to waterproof their basements. It’s important to us to make sure all our potential and current customers are educated and knowledgeable about what’s going on in their homes. Here are some of our tips and mistakes to avoid when waterproofing basement areas.

Helpful Basement Waterproofing Tips

  • Did you know that waterproofing your basement can also save you money on your energy bills? Installing waterproofing measures in and around your home protects your HVAC system from having to work harder. When moisture gets into your home, it leads to increased humidity levels, which makes it difficult for your heating and cooling appliances to run efficiently. Waterproofing basement areas controls moisture, creates a comfortable living environment, and reduces the money you spend on energy costs.
  • In most cases, gutters aren’t commonly known by homeowners to protect the interior of their homes, only the exterior. Gutters play an important role in protecting your basement. Their main purpose is to catch rainwater from your roof and direct it away through downspouts. Gutters with proper downspouts and downspout extensions are a great way to keep water away from the edge of the home’s foundation and away from the basement. It is important to note that gutters should be regularly inspected for damage or clogs to ensure they work properly. Installing gutter guards can also prevent clogs from forming as a result of tree debris.
  • Although installing a sump pump is a step in the right direction, a battery-powered backup can make all the difference during a power outage. Since your main sump pump runs off your home’s electricity, if the power goes out, so does your protection from standing water. When you choose to install a backup sump pump, you’re protecting your basement from water and any damage that could arise.

Basement Waterproofing Mistakes to Avoid

  • When your home was first constructed, the soil that was backfilled around your foundation is usually compacted, but still won’t be as dense as when it was dug up. Indiana’s clay soil makes it easy for oversaturation to occur due to its poor drainage. This can lead to hydrostatic pressure wreaking havoc in your basement. To keep this from happening and allow that soaked-up moisture to enter your foundation, it’s important to check the grade of your yard to ensure any water runoff flows away from your home and not towards it.
  • Some home repairs can be completed on your own, but basement waterproofing is not meant to be a DIY project. Many necessary steps need to be taken to ensure your home is properly waterproofed. If something is left out or not inspected thoroughly, your water problems will likely persist, causing more damage. It’s important to have a professional inspect the interior and exterior of your home so that your basement is adequately protected.
  • If you don’t maintain your gutter systems, chances are you’re still going to be experiencing moisture-related problems in your home. It’s vital to regularly check your gutters and downspouts for signs of damage including cracks or holes, separated joints, and clogs. By cleaning out your gutters and repairing any damage, you can feel confident in knowing your basement waterproofing measures are efficiently working.

Providing Expert Basement Waterproofing in Indiana

Pennsylvania trusts Indiana Foundation Service for reliable basement waterproofing, crawl space, foundation, and concrete repair services. Contact us for a free inspection!  

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Indianapolis, IN

624 North Front Street
Whiteland, IN 46184

Kokomo, IN

2731 Albright Rd
Kokomo, 46902

Lafayette, IN

8 N 3rd St
Lafayette, IN 47901