Waterproofing Your Home Mid-Construction

Written By Holly Richards-PurpuraPublished on 05/1/2020Updated on 08/21/2024

Basement waterproofing system illustration

Building a home from the ground up, while a stressful process, is also an exciting opportunity to tailor every detail to your liking. You have the chance to ensure that all of your materials are not only designed to support your house for years to come but also to incorporate advanced features, modern technologies, and personal touches that transform a house into your dream home.

During this pivotal time, it becomes crucial to take proactive steps, such as implementing waterproofing measures during the initial construction. By doing so, you give your house the strong foundation it needs to withstand the elements and seize the opportunity to add all kinds of enhancements, ensuring your home remains safe, comfortable, and leak-free for the future.

This forward-thinking approach allows you to enjoy the construction process, knowing that every decision you make contributes to the longevity and quality of your new home.

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The Best Mid-Construction Waterproofing Solutions

Ready to start hunting for mid-construction waterproofing solutions? You have many options available to you, including:

Foundation Membranes

If you want to use a more traditional solution to waterproof your home, consider talking to your contractors and construction company about a foundation membrane. These membranes are relatively easy to install. You can request them during construction or after you’ve moved into a new home. If you have them installed early on in the construction process, though, you’ll benefit from extra waterproofing protection as your home is coming together.

There are a few different foundation membranes you can choose from if you want to use this method of waterproofing your home. The most popular membrane options include:

Peel-and-stick – These membranes are some of the oldest in the business. The folks you have working on your home will be able to set these membranes into your joints and walls to create a hydrophobic barrier between the outdoors and your basement.
Liquid-applied membranes – Liquid-based membranes are a little newer to the world of waterproofing. They work similarly to temporary sealants but tend to last for longer, protecting your home after they’ve dried on your walls and joints.

Damp Proofing

For homeowners who like the idea of a liquid, hydrophobic barrier but who don’t want to commit to a foundation membrane, there’s always damp proofing. Dampproofing refers to keeping soil moisture (dampness) out of a structure, not to be confused with waterproofing which protects homes from liquid water, like flooding.

Damp proofing requires your contractors and construction workers to apply a tar-based protective barrier to your building materials at the mid-construction point. Dampproofing is typically cheaper than a foundation membrane, but it’s also going to need to be replaced or resprayed more frequently.

Insulation Boards

Some waterproofing solutions that can be implemented mid-construction can do more than just protect your home from rain and snow. They work by putting a solid barrier between the inside of your home and the outside world. This isn’t just good for keeping out rain and snow; it also helps keep the temperature inside your home just right. That means your pipes are less likely to freeze or leak.

These boards can be made from expanded polystyrene and are typically denser than your standard insulation. With that density doing them favors, they’ll be able to better keep water out of your home.

However, insulation boards aren’t a fix-it-and-forget-it solution. If your area gets a lot of rain, you might need to replace these boards after a while. If you don’t, they could start to collect mold, which is definitely not something you want.

BasementGutter™ Interior Drainage and Sump Pumps

For reliable waterproofing, consider BasementGutter™ Interior Drainage and sump pumps. These solutions, installed during construction, save you time and money. Perimeter drains, also known as French drains, work differently from sump pumps, but both are effective in keeping your home dry.

Always consult a professional before choosing a waterproofing method. An interior drainage system offers broad coverage by moving water away from your foundation, while sump pumps target specific areas to remove moisture and standing water.

For comprehensive protection, combine BasementGutter™ with a sump pump to collect and eject water from your home. Adding an energy-efficient dehumidifier will also help manage humidity, ensuring your air is clean and free from potential mold.

Combining Solutions With Construction

No matter which waterproofing solution you choose, your home is safer when installed by professionals. That’s where Ohio Basement Authority comes in. Our team of foundation and basement repair contractors are experts in ensuring your home is protected right from the start. We work closely with your construction company to make sure every measure is perfectly in place.

Interested in discovering the best tactics and solutions to waterproof your home? Ohio Basement Authority is here to help. We offer free inspections and same-day quotes to get you started. Don’t wait to protect your home – contact us today and ensure your peace of mind for years to come.

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Holly Richards-Purpura

Content Writer

Holly is a Content Writer for Groundworks who has written and edited web content for the foundation services industry for over 10 years. With a background in journalism, her passion for the written word runs deep. Holly lives in Columbus, OH, with her husband. Along with educating homeowners, she also has a big heart for the Big Apple.