Waterproofing in Westchester County

Water behaves differently north of the city. In the boroughs we are usually working on a cellar squeezed between party walls, where the only realistic fix is on the inside. In Westchester most homes have a yard, and that changes everything.

With space around the building we can treat the cause instead of the symptom. We regrade the ground, extend downspouts, seal the foundation from outside, and give a sump pump a real place to discharge. Interior systems still have their place, but here they are a choice rather than the only option.

Where the Water Comes From Up Here

Nine times out of ten a wet Westchester basement is not a basement problem. It is a water problem outside the house that shows up inside.

• Ground sloping toward the house. Soil settles over the years until rain runs back at the foundation instead of away from it.
• Downspouts dumping at the wall. A roof sheds hundreds of gallons in one storm, and it all goes down the wall.
• Old stone and rubble foundations. Common in pre war homes. These walls were never sealed and the mortar washes out over decades.
• Crawl spaces with bare earth. Moisture rises from the soil all year, which is what makes the whole house smell damp.