Montgomery and the River Region
Basement waterproofing in Montgomery, Alabama
Water tends to come into a Montgomery basement the same way every time: along the bottom of a wall, a few hours after hard rain. Call to be put in touch with an independent local company that does basement waterproofing, and have them find where yours is getting in.
Start with what you can see
Four signs cover most calls. Each one points to a different job.
- A wet strip along the wall after rain
Ground water is being pushed up through the joint where the wall sits on the floor slab. It dries out, then returns with the next long storm.
- One spot that always leaks
A crack, a pipe sleeve or a window is letting water through at a single point. That is often a smaller job than a whole-basement system.
- Damp air and a musty smell under the house
Bare earth and open vents feed humid air into a crawl space all summer. The smell upstairs is that air rising through the floor.
- A pump that runs all the time, or not at all
The switch, the valve on the outlet pipe or the pump itself has had its day, or the pipe empties too near the house.
Why the water gets in
Most of the water that reaches a basement fell on your own roof and yard. A downspout that empties beside the wall, a flower bed that tilts toward the house, a driveway that drains the wrong way: each sends rain straight down the outside of the foundation.
The soil decides what happens next. Alabama's Extension service describes the Black Belt clays of central Alabama as soils that shrink and crack when dry and swell when wet. If your yard splits open in a dry August, you are standing on that kind of ground. It lets go of water slowly, so after a storm the water sits against the wall, and the summer cracks give the next rain a path down.
That is why a careful company walks around the outside of the house before it talks about anything inside.
Each job has its own page
Read the one that matches your house before anyone comes out. You will ask better questions.
- Interior basement waterproofingA drain under the edge of the floor and a barrier on the wall, for water that rises at the wall joint.Read the page →
- Exterior waterproofing and yard drainageGutters, grading, French drains and, when needed, digging down to coat the wall from outside.Read the page →
- Basement leak repairSealing the one crack, pipe opening or window well that lets water through.Read the page →
- Wet basementTelling condensation from seepage from ground water, and what each calls for.Read the page →
- Sump pump installationThe basin, the pump, the outlet pipe and the battery backup for when the power fails.Read the page →
- Crawl space encapsulationA sealed liner, closed vents and dried air under a house that smells damp.Read the page →
- Crawl space repairStanding water, fallen insulation and damp wood under the floor.Read the page →
- Waterproofing, in plain termsHow all of these fit together, and which usually comes first.Read the page →
What happens when you call
You say what you are seeing
Which wall or corner, how soon after rain, how often. Say whether the house has a basement, a crawl space or both.
A local company takes it from there
You speak with an independent waterproofing company that works around Montgomery. It is their business, and they set up the visit with you directly.
You decide
Ask for the cause, the proposed work, the price and the warranty terms on paper. You are not obliged to hire the company you speak to.
Worth reading before the visit
- Choosing a waterproofing companythe Alabama license lookup and what to get in writing
- What affects the pricewhy two houses on one street get different numbers
- Flood maps, 811 and the street drainwho to ask in Montgomery, and before any digging
- How this service workswhat a referral is and who does the work
- Questions people ask
Outside the city
This number also covers Prattville, Wetumpka, Millbrook, Pike Road, Hope Hull and Deatsville. Three of those towns have a page of their own, because the creek, the permit desk or the street department is a different one there: Prattville, Wetumpka and Millbrook. The towns covered page lists the rest.
Quick answers
Is this a waterproofing company?
No. Basement Waterproofing Montgomery is a referral service. When you call, you speak with an independent local waterproofing company, and that company inspects and does the work. The referral disclosure explains how the service is paid for.
My house sits on a crawl space, not a basement. Is this still the right call?
Yes. Damp ground, puddles and sagging insulation under a house are handled by the same kind of company. See crawl space encapsulation and crawl space repair.
There is water on the basement floor today. Who do I call?
If it is deep, near outlets or still rising, stay out of it and call a water damage company to pump and dry the room. A burst pipe needs a plumber first. Waterproofing comes afterward, so the next storm does not repeat it.
Will I get a price over the phone?
Unlikely, and be wary if you do. The price depends on how the water gets in, how much wall is involved and how hard it is to reach, and none of that can be seen from a phone. What affects the price goes through it.
Montgomery and nearby towns
Ready to have someone look at it?
Call and describe what you are seeing and when it happens. You will be put through to an independent local waterproofing company, and they arrange the visit with you.
Phone calls may be recorded. See the referral disclosure and the privacy policy.