Foundation Waterproofing in Surrey
Licensed foundation waterproofing for homes, strata buildings, and commercial properties, done with a proper diagnosis first, not a rushed patch.
Request a Free QuoteCitified Planning & Construction Ltd provides foundation waterproofing in Surrey and across the Lower Mainland for homeowners, strata councils, property managers, and commercial clients. If you've already noticed a musty smell, a damp wall, or a crack that seems to be letting water through, you can read what homeowners should know about basement waterproofing for the warning signs and common causes. This page covers something different: what actually happens when you hire us, the methods and materials involved, and what to expect from start to finish.
Most foundation waterproofing jobs in Surrey come down to the same basic problem. Water finds the path of least resistance, and if that path leads toward your foundation instead of away from it, something in the system isn't working. Our job is to find exactly where that failure is and fix it properly, whether that means a membrane, better drainage, a repaired weeping tile system, or a combination of all three.
Noticed water where it shouldn't be? A free assessment tells you exactly what's going on before anything gets scheduled.
Book a Free AssessmentBelow-Grade Waterproofing Systems in Surrey
"Below grade" just means the part of your house that's under the ground. That's your foundation walls, your footings, and your basement or crawl space.
All of that sits against wet soil, and in Surrey the soil is mostly clay. Clay holds water instead of letting it drain, so after a long stretch of rain the water pushes right up against your foundation. A coat of paint or a surface sealer won't stop that.
A proper below-grade waterproofing system has three parts. There's a membrane on the wall to keep water out, a drainage layer to move the water away, and weeping tile at the bottom to carry it off.
You'll probably need one if your basement smells damp, you see water coming through a crack or along the floor edge, or you notice white, chalky staining on the concrete. You'll also want one if you're building an addition and digging down to a new foundation.
Not sure if your foundation needs waterproofing? A free assessment will tell you.
Book a Free AssessmentOur Foundation Waterproofing Services
Every project starts with an assessment, but the actual scope of work depends on what we find. Services we provide as part of foundation and basement waterproofing include:
- Exterior foundation waterproofing, including excavation, membrane application, and drainage board installation
- Interior waterproofing systems, including interior drainage and sump pump coordination where needed
- Foundation crack repair and crack injection for active leaks
- Weeping tile installation, repair, and replacement
- Below-grade waterproofing for basements, crawl spaces, and below-grade additions
- Waterproofing assessments for strata buildings, commercial properties, and multi-unit residential buildings
We handle the diagnosis and the repair as one project rather than passing you between a drainage specialist and a separate waterproofing contractor. That matters because the two problems are usually connected, a membrane installed over a foundation with failing drainage behind it is a short-term fix at best.
Foundation Waterproofing Membranes
Not every foundation needs the same fix, and the materials matter as much as the labour. Here's what's actually involved in a proper below-grade waterproofing system.
Liquid-applied vs sheet membrane
A liquid-applied waterproofing membrane cures into a seamless, rubber-like coating that conforms well to uneven or irregular foundation surfaces, which makes it a strong choice for older homes where the concrete isn't perfectly smooth. Sheet membrane, by contrast, is a pre-manufactured waterproof layer applied in consistent sheets, offering strong puncture resistance and predictable thickness, often the better choice on new construction or a foundation wall that's being fully excavated and exposed. We assess the wall condition before recommending either.
Pre-applied membrane
This one goes on before the concrete is poured, so the concrete bonds right to it. It's what we use on new builds and additions. You can't use it on a wall that's already standing.
Spray-applied membrane
This is sprayed straight onto the wall and dries into one seamless layer. It covers a big wall quickly, and it works on both new and existing foundations as long as the wall is clean first.
Peel-and-stick membrane
Think of a big, tough sticker. The sheet has an adhesive back, and we press it onto a clean, primed wall. It works best on smooth, straight walls that are fully dug out.
Drainage Boards for Foundation Walls in surrey
Once a membrane is applied, drainage boards, sometimes called dimple boards, are installed against it to protect the membrane from damage during backfilling and to channel groundwater down toward the weeping tile system instead of letting it sit against the foundation wall. Given Surrey's clay-heavy soil, skipping this step shortens the life of even a well-applied membrane considerably.
Weeping tile and drainage
A waterproofing membrane manages water at the wall. A weeping tile system manages water in the soil around the foundation before it ever reaches that wall. Both need to work together. If you're not sure whether your issue is a membrane problem or a drainage problem, it helps to understand how foundation drainage works in Surrey. That page covers the clay bowl effect and hydrostatic pressure in more depth, and explains what a properly functioning weeping tile system should look like.
Wondering which system suits your wall? Book a free assessment and we'll tell you.
Book a Free AssessmentDampproofing vs Waterproofing
People mix these two up all the time, but they're not the same thing.
Dampproofing is a thin coating, usually tar-based, that slows moisture as it passes through the concrete. It can't hold back water that's pushing against the wall.
Waterproofing is a full membrane that blocks water completely, even when the soil around your house is soaked.
If your basement stays dry all year, dampproofing may be enough. If you get water after rain, or you have cracks that leak, you need waterproofing. Not sure what your home has? We'll look at the wall when we come out for the assessment.
Our Foundation Waterproofing Process
Inspection
We look at the walls, cracks, grading and drainage to find out where the water is really coming from.
Excavation
For outside work, we dig down along the foundation wall, all the way to the footing.
Cleaning
We clean the wall, scrape off anything loose and patch any cracks or holes so the membrane sticks properly.
Membrane
We apply the membrane that suits your wall, covering the whole surface.
Drainage Board
We add a drainage board over the membrane. It protects the membrane and guides water down to the weeping tile.
Backfill
We fill the trench back in and slope the soil so water runs away from your house.
Work done from the inside follows a different process and doesn't need digging. We'll tell you which one fits your home after the assessment.
Ready to get the job scoped properly? Request a free quote.
Request a Free QuoteWhat Affects the Cost
There's no flat price for foundation waterproofing, because every house is different. Here's what moves the number:
- How deep the foundation is. Deeper walls mean more digging and more material.
- How easy it is to get to the wall. Tight side yards, fences, decks and gardens all slow the work down.
- What shape the wall is in. Cracks and damaged concrete have to be repaired before the membrane goes on.
- The type of system. The membrane we pick, and whether the work is inside or outside, changes the scope.
- Your drainage. If the weeping tile is broken or blocked, that's extra work.
We give a firm quote after we've seen the property. A guess over the phone usually turns into a different number later, and that's no good for anyone.
Waterproofing for Strata, Multi-Unit, and Commercial Buildings
Foundation and basement water issues in strata buildings, multiplexes, and commercial properties come with considerations a single family home doesn't have, shared common areas, resident notice requirements, parking access, and coordination through a strata council or property manager rather than a single homeowner. We handle these projects the same way we handle any strata and commercial renovation, with a schedule communicated well in advance and work planned around building access rather than around our own convenience.
This is also where waterproofing tends to connect to other work already underway, a parkade membrane replacement, a below-grade addition, or foundation repair tied into a larger building envelope project. Where that's the case, our team can carry the waterproofing work through as part of the broader renovation rather than treating it as an isolated trade.
Areas We Serve
We provide foundation waterproofing across Surrey and the surrounding region, with crews based locally for fast site visits and reliable scheduling.
Not sure we cover your street? Get in touch and we'll let you know.
Get in TouchWhy Choose Citified for Foundation Waterproofing
We've been working in Surrey and the Lower Mainland since 2017, and we're licensed and insured. As a Surrey general contractor, the same team that looks at your foundation does the repair, so there's no handing you off to someone else. If the job uncovers damaged walls, we can take care of drywall mudding and taping and the rest of the renovation finishing in the same project.
Foundation Waterproofing FAQs
It's a waterproof layer that goes on your foundation wall to stop water from getting through the concrete. Some are sheets that stick to the wall, and some are liquids that dry into a rubbery coating. Which one is right depends on the shape your wall is in.
It's waterproofing for the part of your house that's underground, like the foundation walls and footings. Because that area is always touching wet soil, the system usually has a membrane, a drainage layer and weeping tile working together. The membrane alone isn't enough.
In most cases, yes. A drainage board goes over the membrane and does two jobs. It protects the membrane when the soil goes back in, and it guides water down to the weeping tile instead of letting it sit against the wall. Leave it out, and the membrane won't last as long.
Sometimes. Inside work uses drains and a sump to deal with water after it gets in, but it doesn't stop water at the wall. Outside work stops the water before it reaches the wall. Which one makes sense depends on what's causing the leak and whether we can get to the foundation. We'll go over your options after the assessment.
It depends on the job. Inside work is usually quicker. Outside work takes longer because we have to dig, clean, apply the membrane, install the drainage board and backfill. The length of your foundation wall also matters.
Yes. We offer a free assessment and quote with no obligation, for homes across Surrey and the Lower Mainland.
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