Service
Exterior Basement Waterproofing in Scranton, PA
We waterproof basements from the outside in Scranton, PA by excavating down to the footing and sealing the foundation wall before water ever reaches it. Exterior waterproofing is the heavier of the two approaches, and it's the right one when water is pushing through the wall from outside rather than collecting at the floor inside. Call 123-456-7890 for a free estimate.
Exterior work stops water at the source. Where interior drainage manages water that has already reached the basement, exterior waterproofing keeps it out of the wall in the first place, with a membrane on the outside face and a drain at the footing to carry groundwater away. On a Scranton home with chronically wet walls or a finished basement worth protecting, sealing from the outside is often the more permanent answer.
How Exterior Waterproofing Works
Exterior waterproofing works by rebuilding the foundation's outer defenses from the footing up. First, we excavate the soil along the affected wall down to the base of the foundation, which is the most labor-intensive part of the job. Second, we clean the wall and let it dry, then repair any cracks in the masonry. Third, we apply a waterproof membrane across the exterior face so water can't soak into the wall. Finally, we install or replace the footing drain in gravel at the base, backfill, and restore the grade so the ground slopes away from the house.
The footing drain is the part that carries water off. It's a perforated pipe set in gravel at the bottom of the excavation that collects groundwater and routes it away from the foundation, either to daylight on a sloped lot or to a sump. Without a working footing drain, a membrane alone leaves water sitting against the base of the wall.
Why Some Scranton Homes Need Exterior Work
Scranton's older housing stock is the main reason exterior waterproofing comes up. More than half of the city's homes were built before 1940, and their original foundations, often stone or early block, were never sealed to modern standards. When the channery soil of the Lackawanna Valley stays saturated through a wet spring, water works straight through those porous walls. Freeze-thaw cycles make it worse, widening cracks and mortar joints a little more each winter until the wall leaks steadily.
Exterior waterproofing suits a few specific situations: a wall that leaks across its whole face rather than at one seam, a foundation with failing exterior coating, or a finished basement where interior work would mean tearing out walls. It's a bigger investment than interior drainage, so we only recommend it when the water is genuinely coming from outside the wall.
Grading and Downspouts
Grading and downspouts are the cheapest water control a Scranton homeowner has, and they belong in any exterior conversation. A lot that slopes toward the house, or a downspout that dumps rain right at the foundation, keeps the soil against the wall saturated no matter what else is done. When we regrade the ground to slope away from the foundation and extend downspouts well clear of it, we cut the water load the waterproofing has to handle. On some homes, better grading and downspout extensions solve a mild problem on their own. On most, they make the membrane and footing drain last longer.
What Exterior Waterproofing Costs in Scranton
Exterior waterproofing costs more than interior drainage because of the excavation. The depth and length of wall we have to dig out is the main driver, and access matters too, since a tight lot or landscaping and hardscaping over the dig add labor. The condition of the wall underneath, once exposed, can change the scope. Online figures are averages, not quotes, so an on-site look is the only way to price a specific home. See what affects the price
Why Scranton Homeowners Choose Us
- Local to Scranton. We know the valley's older foundations and when a wall genuinely needs exterior work versus interior drainage.
- Free, no-obligation quote. We inspect and give you a written price before any digging.
- Scheduled appointments — not an open-ended window. We come when we say we will.
- The right-sized fix. We recommend exterior work only when the water is coming from outside the wall, not as a default upsell.
Work is performed by independent professionals, and Scranton requires a building permit for foundation and structural work of this kind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is exterior waterproofing better than interior drainage?
Exterior waterproofing and interior drainage solve different problems, so neither is simply better. Exterior work stops water from entering the wall by sealing the outside face and draining at the footing, which suits walls that leak across their whole surface. Interior drainage manages water that has already reached the floor, which is less disruptive and costs less. The right choice depends on where the water is coming from, which an inspection determines.
How long does exterior basement waterproofing take?
Exterior basement waterproofing usually takes several days to more than a week, since excavation is the slow part. We dig down to the footing along the affected wall, seal the wall, install the footing drain, backfill, and restore the grade. Weather matters more than with interior work, because the wall needs to be dry before the membrane goes on. A single-wall job finishes faster than a full-perimeter excavation.
Can exterior waterproofing be done in winter?
Exterior waterproofing is harder in a Scranton winter because frozen ground slows excavation and the wall must be dry for the membrane to bond. We can sometimes do exterior work in a mild stretch, but interior drainage is usually the better cold-weather option since it works below the slab regardless of the weather outside. For a wall that genuinely needs exterior sealing, we often schedule it for the thaw.
Will fixing my grading and downspouts fix my wet basement?
Fixing grading and downspouts can solve a mild basement moisture problem and always helps a serious one. Ground that slopes toward the house and downspouts that release rain at the foundation keep the soil saturated against the wall. Regrading to slope away and extending downspouts well clear of the house cuts that water load. On a wall that's already failing, grading alone won't be enough, but it makes any waterproofing last longer.
Do you need to dig up my whole yard?
Exterior waterproofing only requires excavation along the walls that are leaking, not the entire yard. On many Scranton homes that means one or two walls, not the full perimeter. We dig a trench down to the footing along the affected section, do the work, then backfill and restore the grade. Landscaping, patios, or a driveway over the dig line add to the job, which is one reason we assess access during the free inspection.
Get a Free Estimate
For exterior basement waterproofing in Scranton, call 123-456-7890 for a free estimate. Contact us or see the full service area.