Two-storey brick home at dusk in the rain, with eavestroughs and a downspout carrying water away from the foundation
Waterproofing · Drainage · Eavestroughs

Keep water where it belongs — outside.

Most wet basements start outside: at the eavestrough, the grading or the drains. We trace the water from the roofline to the sewer line, then fix the cause.

RooflineEavestroughs, downspouts and ice dams
GroundGrading, window wells and weeping tile
BelowFoundation, sump and backwater valve
The water path

Nine places water gets into a Canadian basement

Select a number on the cross-section to see how water gets in at that point and what usually fixes it.

Cross-section of a house in a rainstorm showing the roof, eavestrough, downspout, grading, window well, foundation wall with a crack, weeping tile, sump pit and backwater valve
01

Roofline & eaves

Usual fix
Ice dams explained
What we do

Three systems, one goal: a dry basement

Waterproofing, drainage and eavestroughs work as one system. Fixing one while another is failing just moves the leak.

Canadian seasons

Every season stresses a different part of the system

Spring thaw and summer storms load the drains; fall leaves and winter ice attack the roofline.

Mar – May

Spring thaw

  • Test the sump pump and alarm
  • Check window wells for melt water
  • Extend downspouts before the thaw
Jun – Aug

Summer storms

  • Confirm the backwater valve closes freely
  • Clear floor drains
  • Top up settled soil at the foundation
Sep – Nov

Fall leaves

  • Clean eavestroughs after leaf drop
  • Check guards and outlets
  • Book exterior work before freeze-up
Dec – Feb

Winter ice

  • Watch for icicles and ice dams
  • Keep downspout exits clear of ice
  • Keep snow piles away from the walls
Waterproofing contractor reviewing an itemized flood-protection quote with a homeowner at a kitchen table
Flood subsidies

Your city may help pay for flood protection

Many Canadian municipalities offer subsidies for backwater valves, sump pumps and disconnecting drains from the sewer. Toronto’s program, for example, was expanded in 2026 to up to $6,650 per eligible property.

  • Permits and inspections arranged where required
  • Itemized invoices for your application
  • Program rules checked before work starts
How subsidies work
Quick answers

Before you call anyone

Three things worth knowing about wet basements.

Does every wet basement need excavation?
No. Many leaks trace back to eavestroughs, downspouts, grading or a single crack. Exterior excavation is the right answer when the weeping tile has failed or water pressure affects whole walls.
Is water from the floor drain a waterproofing problem?
Usually not. Water rising from a floor drain during a storm is typically a sewer backup, which a backwater valve is designed to stop.
Can damp walls just be condensation?
Yes. Humid summer air condensing on cool concrete can look like a leak. A moisture test tells the difference before money is spent.

Not sure where the water is coming from?

A water assessment traces it from the roofline to the sewer line before anyone quotes a fix.

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