Do You Have a Wet Basement?
A wet basement is usually found in one of two areas — the floor or the walls. Each requires a different diagnosis and solution, and getting it wrong means water comes back. At Maximum Contracting we've been solving wet basement problems in Kitchener-Waterloo and across Southwestern Ontario for over 30 years.
1) Water Coming Up Through the Floor
This is typically caused by hydrostatic pressure — ground water under your foundation is under pressure and finds the path of least resistance: up through floor cracks or the joint where the floor meets the wall. This usually means your home has no sump pump, or the existing weeping tile around your foundation is collapsed or plugged.
What is Hydrostatic Pressure?
When spring rain or winter thaw water saturates the soil around your foundation, it creates downward and lateral pressure. That pressure forces water upward through the floor to equalize. You'll notice wet patches spreading from the walls toward the centre of your basement floor.
Our Floor Solution: Interior French Drain (Weeping Tile)
We break the concrete floor along the perimeter, install 4" perforated o-pipe beneath the slab, cover it with clean gravel, and route everything to a sump pit and pump that carries water away from your home. The floor is re-cemented over top — clean, permanent, and with a lifetime system warranty.
2) Crack in the Foundation Wall
Wall cracks typically appear around windows, at corners, or as vertical shrinkage cracks in poured concrete. Even a hairline crack can allow significant water intrusion over time. We use a 3-step injection process that outperforms what most competitors offer.
Our 3-Step Wall Crack Injection Process
Polyurethane Injection
Expanding polyurethane foam is injected at low pressure — we do NOT drill at 45° angles (which forces dust into the crack and reduces adhesion). The foam expands to fill every void.
Epoxy Crack Seal
A two-part epoxy is applied over the crack surface — the same material used in swimming pool repairs. It bonds to concrete with exceptional strength.
Flexible Caulk (Optional)
A 2–3" swath of 50%-flex caulk is applied — it cures as hard as a gymnasium floor but flexes with foundation movement. Ideal if your foundation has seasonal movement.
Exterior Membrane Systems
For block wall foundations or cases where ultimate waterproofing is needed, we excavate along the exterior of the leaking wall down to the footing, clean and repair the wall, and install a full waterproof membrane. This is more expensive and time-consuming but provides maximum protection. We typically recommend the interior French drain as a first solution — it addresses both wall seepage and floor water simultaneously.
Note: Cracks larger than ¼", widening cracks, or cracks suggesting structural movement should be evaluated by a professional before repair. We offer free assessments — call 519-588-1970.