How to Waterproof Your Basement in Ottawa?

No-one likes the surprise of entering their basement and finding water on the floor. Everyone wants to keep their basement dry, but sometimes changes happen as time goes by and your home ages. Keeping your basement dry depends on the integrity of your foundation and measures taken to keep water out of your home. This blog will address basement waterproofing options that could save your home and save you from unwelcome surprises.

Table Of Contents
  1. What is Basement Waterproofing?
  2. Signs That You May Need Basement Waterproofing Now
  3. The Best Methods to Waterproof Your Basement in Ottawa
  4. What Does Exterior and Interior Waterproofing Cost in Ottawa?
  5. Extra Ways to Keep Your Basement Dry Year Round
  6. Why Should You Get a Pro to Install Waterproofing or a Sump Pump?
  7. Conclusion
What is Basement Waterproofing

What is Basement Waterproofing?

Basement waterproofing is a series of steps to stop water from entering your home through the foundation. The waterproofing can take place on the floor and/or walls inside the basement, as well as attached to the outside of the foundation. Waterproofing your basement is vital because it can protect your home’s foundation, create a dry usable space, stop nuisances like mould growth, and, in the long term, increase your home’s value.

Signs That You May Need Basement Waterproofing Now

There can be a number of signs that you need basement waterproofing. In the spring’s sudden warmth in Ottawa, winter snow suddenly melts. Summers can be very humid. Regularly check for these signs that you need basement waterproofing several times through the year.

Recognizable Signs:

  • Water pooling on the floor or oozing down the walls.
  • Water stains or damp spots that feel moist when you touch them.
  • A strong musty or dirt-like odour.
  • Cracks in the floor or walls that can allow easy entry for water.
  • Baseboards that are stained and/or warped.

Subtle Signs:

  • Mold growth suggests a source of moisture
  • Paint peeling or bubbling suggests that water is building behind the surface
  • White, chalky material on the walls; visible remains of water evaporation

Related Article: Watch Out for These Signs of a Plumbing Leak

The Best Methods to Waterproof Your Basement in Ottawa

Interior Waterproofing

Here are some DIY steps from basic to more advanced you can take if you are feeling handy around the house.

  1. Ironically, start outside by ensuring that gutters are clear, downspouts direct water away from the foundation, and water doesn’t pool but drains away from the home.
  2. Clear all items from the walls of the foundation, in sections if need be, and check the walls and floor for cracks and fissures. Outline them with chalk to make them visible.
  3. Repair the cracks:
    • Structural cracks need injected epoxy to restore structural stability.
    • Cracks about 5mm (1/4in) need to be filled with polyurethane foam.
    • For hairline cracks, elastomeric paints fill and bridge cracks. 
    • For horizontal cracks, contact a pro. You may have a structural problem.
  4. Use a masonry-specific or liquid rubber paint sealant to create a flexible, waterproof barrier:
    • Prepare the surface by sealing cracks, cleaning the walls, and start with a high-end primer.
    • Follow directions to apply the paint properly.
    • Cold conditions in Ottawa may lengthen curing times or may adversely affect how the paint works.
Interior Waterproofing specialists summit drain
Install a sump pit and sump pump

Advanced Professional Steps

While these two following steps can be done by some homeowners with plumbing know-how, it would be far less risky to have professionals complete the work.

  1. Install weeping tiles
    • Interior weeping tiles, essentially a perforated pipe, are installed in the floor around the inner edge of the basement. Water is collected in that pipe and sent to a sump pit for a sump pump to be expelled from the home.
  2. Install a sump pump and sump pit.
    • This involves digging a deep hole in the foundation floor and installing a pit liner and sump pump. Also, a discharge pipe is installed and exits through a hole drilled through your home’s wall. Ideally, the discharged water should be directed to a storm drain.

If these two steps seem overwhelming, they are not simple tasks to DIY properly. You would be best served to have professionals install the weeping tiles and sump pump. While inspections of sump pumps in Ottawa are not mandatory, having a professional inspect your sump pump once a year is recommended to make sure it will work when needed.

Exterior Waterproofing of Your Home

While best done at time of construction, exterior waterproofing is available for existing homes. Your yard should slope enough (1/4in/ft or 1cm/30cm) to drain water away from your home. Draining water away from your home helps to relieve the hydrostatic pressure that can cause foundation problems. Eliminate standing water near your home with extended gutter downspouts and by keeping gutters clean.

The most effective exterior waterproofing process involves excavating beside the foundation and installing a waterproof membrane to the outside foundation wall. Weeping tiles around the outside perimeter of your foundation can assist with moving ground water away as well. The excavated soil is backfilled into the open space with the soil’s water separated from your home by the membrane.

exterior waterproofing

What Does Exterior and Interior Waterproofing Cost in Ottawa?

Based on information gathered in November, 2025, average costs for basement waterproofing are below:

Type of Waterproofing

Average Price per Foot

Total Average

Exterior (construction)

$50 – $300 per linear ft.

$8,000 – $25,000

Exterior (existing home)

$90 – $320 per linear ft.

$10,000 – $35,000

Interior (Weepingtile)

$40 – $150 per linear ft.

$4,000 – $17,000

Sump Pump

n/a

$1,500 – $2,500+

Prices can vary for several reasons. For exterior waterproofing, excavation depth around the foundation, repairing damage found, and installing the membrane chosen can alter costs. Depending on the size of the project, labour is another factor that increases costs.

Interior waterproofing varies in price due to the number of fissures to be filled, the size of the space, and combining waterproofing methods, such as installing a waterproof membrane, weeping tiles, and a sump pump. Check with a respected drain specialist to discuss the options for you.

Ways to Keep Your Basement Dry

Extra Ways to Keep Your Basement Dry Year Round

Beyond the discussion above of how water is to repelled or expelled from your home, there are tips to keeping your basement dry as a bone.

  • Use a dehumidifier. They don’t stop water issues, but they remove moisture in the air that keeps the basement feeling cool.
  • If you have window wells, install a cover to keep water and debris from building.
  • Improve ventilation directly to the outside to force moist and stale air out.
  • Insulate your interior cold-water pipes to prevent ‘pipe-sweat’ or water droplet condensation.
  • Don’t wait for surprises and get down to the basement regularly searching for any signs of moisture.
  • Keep stored materials off the ground, and use waterproof plastic or rubber bins instead of cardboard boxes which tend to attract mold.
  • Attend to any leaks, cracks, or moisture problems immediately. A patched crack in time saves nine.

Why Should You Get a Pro to Install Waterproofing or a Sump Pump?

Your home is an investment. While you could most likely take care of minor basement waterproofing tasks, protect your investment with professionals who have the knowledge and experience to save you in the long run. They should be called in if you:

  • find more water or moisture in the basement than you can account for
  • have flooding issues that occur after certain events like heavy rains
  • want to install a sump pit, sump pump, and associated drain lines
  • want to install exterior waterproofing (exterior membranes, drain pipes, etc.)
  • want to dig into your basement floor to install interior weeping tiles

There is a specific term to keep in mind: rework. This is when professionals are called in to take care of problems that arise from original work done by amateurs. In the long term, you will save money, time, and potential embarrassment by hiring professionals as a first step and not as a last one.

Related Article: Best Maintenance Tips for Your Sump Pump

summit drain and plumbing

Key Takeaways

  • Regularly check basement for signs of moisture
  • Basement waterproofing is for home’s interior and exterior
  • Costs vary due to several factors for basement waterproofing
  • Basement waterproofing is best left to pros

Conclusion

It is good practice to understand basement waterproofing methods, but let the professionals at Summit Drain install waterproofing quickly and efficiently to keep your basement dry. Our drainage experts have more than 15 years of trusted experience in Ottawa and are available 24/7 for quick emergency callouts.

Contact us today and let us give you peace of mind and a dry basement.

Related Article: Interior vs Exterior Basement Waterproofing

FAQ

A main sewer line blockage can cause water to backup in random places. For instance, you run your washing machine and notice your sink overflowing – this can be a clear sign that you have a clogged drain line.

If you have ruled out a potential sewer drain clog, you can rinse your sewer drain by flushing it with water. When you flush your lines, try adding a bit of drain cleaner to the water. A great place to flush your sewer line is the toilet – a larger amount of water and drain cleaner can enter your system quickly and easily. Unfortunately, if you do this when you have a clog, it can cause backup and potential flooding – if this is the case, clear the clog first.

You should generally know if your sewer line is blocked with slow drainage. The purpose of the sewer line is to take all the water drainage away from your house via sinks, bathtubs or toilets – if you find that there is slower drainage in one drain then you can essentially clear that yourself using a drain snake or a plunger.

There is confusion regarding when you are responsible for sewer line repair. While some may believe that the homeowner is only responsible for repairing the part of the line that’s on their property, this is not the case. Sewer lines consist of multiple sections, the upper lateral, lower lateral and the main line. The city is only responsible for repairing the main sewer line.

If issues with the main sewer line cause damage to your lower lateral, which is most likely where the damage would generally first start – the city would repair this damage when they work on the main sewer line. Unfortunately, if there is backup and flooding on your property from the main sewer line, then the city would not be responsible. It is best to follow up with the city to see if they will repair any damage in these cases.

Unpleasant smells coming from your drains is indicative of sewer line issues and damage. You should always take these types of smells seriously as it could be toxic fumes slowly releasing from the sewer below into your home.

There are a number of ways to clear a slow drain using products found around the home:

Bent Wire – If you do not have a drain snake, you can try using a stiff wire – like one from a clothes hanger, leaving the hook to enter pipes and pull out any clogs. Try to make sure you don’t push debris further into the pipe.

Homemade Flush – Mixing baking soda and vinegar can dissolve any materials that are potentially clogging your drain pipes. This is a good and much safer alternative to store-bought chemical cleaners.

Toilet Plunger – Like plunging a toilet, you can try using this on your drains. Using a plunger on your drains can help get things moving by using suction. This should be enough to fix any mild blockages.

Aged drain pipes are at risk for corrosion which can lead to breaks. Summit Drain has both the technology and expertise to fix this if necessary.

Yes. Drain pipes are durable, but not meant to last forever. If you live in an older home in Ottawa, most likely the pipes are made from copper and can collapse in this day and age.

When it comes to a collapsed drain, call Summit Drain. We use trenchless technology to replace sewer pipes made from original materials without ruining your property.

Rock salt
Rock salt helps by removing moisture from the roots, which in turn kills them. Two lbs should do the trick, pour 1 down the toilet. Flush until gone. And repeat with the next. Then leave for 12 hours and don’t run any water.


Foaming root killers
Another effective way to treat roots in pipes is with foaming root killers. Pour powder into toilet and flush. It will foam upon contact with water. Not only does it help dissolve current roots, but also helps to protect against future ones.


Copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is another good option. Available at most hardware stores, pour roughly half a cup into toilet and flush until gone. Leave the home and take all pets and family members along. This is a toxic substance and banned in some places.


Should I replace old pipes?
There does come a time where it makes sense to replace your pipes. Over time they crack and corrode. It is recommended to begin routine inspections once your home reaches 50 years in age. For plumbing Services in and around the Ottawa area, nobody does it like Summit Drain.

Summit Drain & Plumbing © 2026
We accept the following forms of payments:Payment Methods