We excavate only where necessary and restore landscaping as part of the scope.
Exterior work only pays off if the membrane, footing drain, and grading are all addressed together — fixing one without the others often leaves the underlying pressure problem unresolved. We scope the full picture before recommending excavation.
Exterior work involves excavation near the foundation, and every crew member is trained and insured for that specific scope.
Weather-dependent scheduling means we plan exterior jobs around Charleston, IL's rainy season windows when possible.
Landscaping restoration is included in the scope, not billed as a separate surprise line item.
Membrane seams are overlapped and sealed to manufacturer spec so the barrier performs as designed for decades, not just years.
We scope every Exterior Waterproofing job in person before quoting it, since two properties with the same symptom rarely need the same fix.
We excavate to the footing, apply a dimpled waterproof membrane directly to the foundation wall, and backfill with proper drainage material.
We slope footing drains correctly during installation, since a flat or reverse-sloped drain simply won't move water.
Soil that slopes toward the foundation instead of away from it is one of the most common Charleston, IL water intrusion causes, and it's often the cheapest fix on this list.
Window wells collecting water get excavated, fitted with a gravel bed, and tied into the exterior drain system so they stop acting as a funnel toward the foundation.
Downspouts discharging within a few feet of the foundation send roof water directly toward the problem — we extend them well clear of the wall.
We ask about grading, downspout placement, and where interior water is showing up to narrow down the likely exterior cause.
A technician walks the exterior perimeter, checks grading slope, and identifies where excavation would be needed for a membrane or footing drain fix.
You'll see linear footage, membrane type, and footing drain scope broken out with pricing before any digging starts.
Excavation, membrane installation, and backfill for a typical residential wall section usually take a few days depending on access and weather.
"Interior fixes hadn't worked for us — turned out the real problem was grading pushing water straight at the foundation. Exterior correction solved it."
— Charleston Homeowner
"They found our downspouts were dumping water two feet from the foundation. Extended them and regraded, and that alone made a noticeable difference."
— Charleston Customer
"Window well kept flooding every storm. They excavated, added drainage, and resealed the window frame while they were at it."
— Charleston Homeowner
"Fast turnaround given how much digging was involved."
— Charleston Customer
Interior systems manage water after it enters; exterior systems stop water from reaching the wall in the first place, which is more invasive but often more permanent.
We discuss landscaping impact during the estimate so there are no surprises.
Excavation typically goes down to the footing, which varies by home but is often four to eight feet depending on foundation depth.
Generally yes, since it involves excavation, but it addresses the source of water intrusion rather than managing symptoms after entry.
We'll recommend starting there if the inspection suggests surface water is the primary cause.
A typical residential wall section with membrane and footing drain work takes a few days depending on access and weather conditions.
We handle exterior excavation and membrane work throughout Charleston and the surrounding Charleston, IL service area, including the zip codes listed below.
Zip codes we serve in Charleston, IL: 61920
Call now for a free inspection and a flat-rate quote before anything gets worse.
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