Dryshield Basement Waterproofing - The #1 Name in Waterproofing Solutions
Answer two quick questions and get your likely cause — plus the exact repair method — in under 60 seconds. Free, no obligation.
Interactive basement · 13 leak points
Turn the model and tap the spot that looks like yours. You'll see what causes it, how it's fixed, what it typically costs, and the page that covers the repair in detail.
Each marker is a place water gets in. Pick the one that matches what you see, or choose from the list. The dig along the left side shows the outside of the wall: the crack, water sitting on the footing, and the clogged weeping tile.
Not sure? Book a free inspection: 1-800-277-5411
| Leak point | What you see | Usual repair | Also see |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertical wall crackOn the wall | A crack running up the wall from the floor, wet or stained below it. It is often widest at the top. | Polyurethane Crack Injection | Foundation Crack Repair |
| Tie rod holesOn the wall | Small round spots in a regular grid across a poured wall, some with rust streaks or drips below them. | Crack Injection | Basement Crack Repair |
| Crack at a window cornerOn the wall | A crack angling down from the corner of a basement window toward the floor. | Foundation Crack Repair | Epoxy Crack Injection |
| Horizontal crack in a block wallOn the wall | A crack running sideways along a mortar line, sometimes with the wall bowing inward. | Exterior Basement Waterproofing | Foundation Crack Repair |
| Seepage through block and mortarOn the wall | Damp, darker block low on the wall, white chalky powder (efflorescence), and a musty smell. | Foundation Waterproofing | Exterior Basement Waterproofing |
| Pipe and utility penetrationsOn the wall | Water around the water main, gas line or a cable where it comes through the wall, often dripping onto the floor. | Crack Injection | Leaky Basement Repair |
| Window wellOn the wall | Water coming in over the sill or around the frame of a below-grade window during heavy rain. | Leaky Basement Repair | Perimeter Water Solutions |
| Floor-wall jointOn the floor | Water along the bottom of the wall that spreads across the floor after heavy rain or snowmelt. | Interior Basement Waterproofing | Weeping Tile Installation & Replacement |
| Floor slab crackOn the floor | Water seeping up through a crack in the floor, or damp lines across the slab. | Wet Basement Repair | Concrete Crack Repair |
| Floor drain backupOn the floor | Dirty water coming up out of the floor drain, usually during a big storm. | Perimeter Water Solutions | Wet Basement Repair |
| Sump pit overflowOn the floor | Water rising out of the sump pit, or a pump that runs constantly or not at all. | Sump Pump Installation | Interior Basement Waterproofing |
| Clogged weeping tileOutside the foundation | From inside you will not see it. It shows up as water at the floor-wall joint and wet walls around the house. The dig along the side wall shows what failed tile looks like. | Weeping Tile Installation & Replacement | French Drain Installation |
| Grading and downspoutsOutside the foundation | Puddles against the house after rain, and leaks that get worse in storms. | Perimeter Water Solutions | Exterior Basement Waterproofing |
Illustration for education. Every basement is different, and a free on-site inspection confirms the cause and the right repair. Prices are typical ranges; your exact price is set in a written quote.
Pick what matches what you’re seeing.
This helps pinpoint the cause.
Enter your details below to instantly unlock your local structural diagnosis and estimated repair methods.
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A Dryshield specialist will also reach out to confirm your assessment and book a free inspection.
Use this as a reference whether or not you run the tool above. Each symptom points to a specific cause and a specific repair.
Lateral pressure from saturated soil forces water through a structural or shrinkage crack in poured concrete. Recommended fix: Dryshield hydrophobic polyurethane or epoxy injection — sealed from inside, no excavation, usually 1–2 hours per crack. This is Dryshield’s core specialty and the differentiator most cottage-country competitors don’t offer. Read the full foundation crack repair guide →
Your sub-floor drainage system is likely collapsed or clogged with clay, so groundwater backs up and rises through the cove joint. Recommended fix: Dryshield interior drainage & sump pump, or external waterproofing. How to stop basement floor seepage →
The exterior well drain is backed up with debris or clay, so the well fills during rain. Recommended fix: window well waterproofing & drainage, or a custom cover. Interior vs exterior waterproofing →
Moisture is wicking through porous concrete, leaving chalky salt deposits and humidity. Recommended fix: wall waterproofing or possible encapsulation & dehumidification. Removing efflorescence from basement walls →
| Symptom | Likely cause | Recommended Dryshield fix |
|---|---|---|
| Water through a wall crack | Hydrostatic pressure fracture | Hydrophobic polyurethane / epoxy injection |
| Pooling at floor-wall joint | Collapsed / clogged weeping tile | Interior drainage + sump pump, or external waterproofing |
| Leak at window well | Blocked well drain | Window well waterproofing & drainage / custom cover |
| Musty smell / white powder | Capillary action & efflorescence | Wall waterproofing or encapsulation + dehumidification |
You tell it where the water shows up and when it happens. It matches your symptoms to the most likely cause and the recommended Dryshield repair method. It takes about 60 seconds and is free.
It points you to the most likely cause from your symptoms, but it’s a starting point — not a replacement for an on-site inspection. Dryshield confirms the exact cause and scope during a free inspection.
Move belongings off the floor, keep your sump pump powered, and avoid patching the crack with hardware-store sealants (they trap water and make repairs harder). Then book an inspection — Dryshield responds across the GTA and cottage country.
Active leaks and horizontal or structural cracks shouldn’t wait — they worsen with every freeze-thaw cycle. Dry hairline cracks can be monitored. A free inspection settles it either way.
Yes — the GTA plus Durham/Oshawa, Grey County, Muskoka, Collingwood, Haliburton, Minden, Barrie, Orillia and Orangeville. Crack injection for freeze-thaw cottage foundations is a Dryshield specialty.
Dryshield Basement Waterproofing serves homeowners across Ontario — in the city and out in cottage country, where freeze-thaw foundation cracks are most common. Service areas include the Greater Toronto Area (Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Oakville, Burlington), Durham Region (Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering), Grey County (Owen Sound, Markdale, Meaford, Thornbury, Hanover), Muskoka (Bracebridge, Gravenhurst, Huntsville), Collingwood and the Blue Mountains, Haliburton and Minden, and Simcoe & Dufferin (Barrie, Orillia, Alliston, Orangeville). Crack injection for freeze-thaw cottage foundations is a Dryshield specialty most competitors in these regions don’t offer.
Typical ranges are below. Exact pricing depends on linear footage, access, and the method your foundation needs — get an instant estimate with our cost calculator →
| Repair | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Polyurethane / epoxy crack injection | $750–$1,000 per crack | Single leaking wall cracks |
| Interior drainage + sump pump | $70–$200 per linear foot | Floor-wall seepage, weeping-tile failure |
| Exterior waterproofing | $100–$300 per linear foot | Full-wall or chronic leaks |
| Sump pump (supply + install) | $1,000–$2,500 | High water table / battery backup |
Local conditions make basement leaks especially common across the GTA and cottage country:
The white, chalky deposit left on concrete when moisture wicks through and evaporates, leaving mineral salts behind. A sign that water is moving through the wall.
The outward push of water-saturated soil against your foundation. When it builds up, it forces groundwater through cracks and joints.
The perforated drainage pipe around your footing that carries groundwater away. When it clogs with clay or collapses, water backs up at the floor-wall joint.
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