Window wells, downspouts and grading in Waterloo, Iowa
Plenty of wet basements start outside, with roof water dumped at a corner or a window well that fills like a bucket in a storm.
A roof sheds a lot of water in one thunderstorm, and gutters funnel it into a few downspouts. When those empty right beside the house, the water soaks into the loose backfill around the foundation and heads straight for the wall. Add a yard that has settled toward the house, or a window well with no drain, and a basement can leak with nothing wrong with the wall at all.
How do I know the problem is outside?
- The leak is at one corner, under or near a downspout
- Water collects in a window well and seeps in around the frame
- Gutters overflow in heavy rain
- Soil, mulch or a patio now slopes toward the house
- The leak starts during the storm rather than a day or two later
What does the work include?
- Window wells. A well can be cleaned out, given a stone base and a drain down to the footing tile, replaced with a larger well, or fitted with a cover to keep rain and snow out.
- Downspout lines. Solid pipe carries roof water well away from the foundation to a spot that drains, often ending in a pop-up emitter.
- Regrading. Soil is added and shaped so the ground falls away from the house. The U.S. EPA recommends sloping the ground away from the foundation so water doesn't collect near it.
- Settled backfill. On newer homes, backfill often sinks in the first several years and needs to be built back up.
Anything to know before starting?
Burying a downspout line is still digging, so Iowa law requires contacting Iowa One Call through 811 at least two business days ahead. Make sure the water won't end up on a neighbor's lot or across a sidewalk where it can freeze. In Waterloo, roof and yard water shouldn't go into the sanitary sewer any more than sump water should.
If a window well serves a basement bedroom, it's an emergency exit. Any cover has to open easily from inside, and the well can't be filled in or blocked. Ask the company about that before choosing a cover.
What affects the price?
- How many window wells and downspouts, and how far the lines run
- How much soil is needed and whether equipment can reach
- Well size, drain work and covers
- Patios, walks or landscaping in the way
We don't quote prices, and nobody should quote you over the phone. A waterproofing company sets its price after walking the basement, looking at the walls, the floor joint and the sump pit, and checking the gutters, downspouts and grading outside. Until then, any number is a guess.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Can fixing a downspout really stop a basement leak?
Often, yes, when the leak is at one corner and shows up during the storm. It's the cheapest thing to try before paying for drainage inside or out.
Should my window wells have covers?
A cover keeps rain, snow and leaves out of the well. If the window is a bedroom's emergency exit, choose a cover that can be pushed open easily from inside.
Related services
More background: Waterloo, Iowa basement water guide.
Damp carpet along the wall, or a sump pump that cycles all night?
Call and a waterproofing company that works in Waterloo and Cedar Falls will come take a look.