Home waterproofing is one of those expenses that provides insurance against property damage. So, how much will it cost you to get your home up to standard? It really depends on what type of waterproofing you're looking at, but here are some things to know.
What Kind of Sealant Will You Be Using?
Sealant can be put on the external walls of your foundation and inside your home on drywall or plaster. If your home is already built, you're probably just looking at internal waterproofing coating, which is not quite as effective, but it's almost impossible to reach the outer walls without a partial teardown of the home.
Silicone sealant is a popular choice for adding a waterproof layer to your internal walls. It's often applied in the basement and other levels that are partially below ground level. The silicone treatment can be purchased at your hardware store and applied on your own if you are looking to do a budget job. However, the quality of these jobs will vary, and especially if you are hoping to maintain a nice aesthetic on the walls, you probably want to have a professional do the work for you.
How's Your Landscape?
Another cost that will factor in is how much work needs to be done to change your landscape. Plant formations that cause water to pool in your yard, and slopes that face your home will both promote water damage to the property. So a landscaping professional might do a survey of the land to see how many hours of labor would go into a better design.
Trees right next to your foundation will suck water through their roots and trap it near your foundation. Consider tree removal to curb this problem. Trees very close to your home also make your home more vulnerable to power outages from fallen limbs and roof damage from decaying leaves.
What Condition Is Your Roof In?
Hopefully, you have already been paying attention to the quality of your roofing job. If not, factor in the costs of getting your roof repaired. Those costs will vary wildly based on the materials needed and the condition of the roof, so ask your roofing contractor for details.
Consider Other Areas of Waterproofing
Waterproofing is as important within the house as without. A major source of water damage—bathtub leaks—could easily be addressed with more attention to plumbing and upkeep of the seal around the bathtub. Bathtub refinishing may be the right choice if your bathtub has a lot of cracks in it that are allowing water to escape onto your flooring or, worse, drip down to the level below.
