Questions and answers
Plain answers to what Caledon homeowners ask about wet basements, grouped by topic.
Causes
Why did my basement start leaking after years of being dry?
Usually because something outside changed slowly: the weeping tile silted up, the ground settled so it now slopes toward the house, a downspout extension went missing, trees matured and their roots found the drain, or a new driveway or patio sends water to the wall.
What is the white powder on my basement wall?
Efflorescence: mineral salts left behind when water passes through concrete, block or stone and evaporates. It is harmless in itself, but it proves water is moving through that wall.
Is a damp, musty smell a waterproofing problem?
Not always. In summer, warm humid air condenses on cool basement walls and pipes. Tape a square of plastic to the wall for two days: moisture on the room side is condensation; moisture behind the plastic is coming through the wall.
Does waterproofing paint work?
It holds back dampness for a while on a wall with very light seepage. It does not stop water under pressure: the water lifts the paint off in blisters and sheets, and on a stone or block wall it traps moisture in the masonry.
Wells, septic and the ground
Can you dig near my septic bed?
Not through it. The tank, the pipes and the leaching bed are located before any trench is planned, and an exterior excavation is routed to avoid them. Where the bed sits against the wall, that wall is treated from inside.
Can a sump pump discharge near a well?
No. The discharge is run away from the well head and away from the septic bed, onto ground that slopes away from both. The route is agreed before the pump is installed.
Why does my neighbour’s basement stay dry while mine leaks?
The ground in Caledon changes within a few hundred metres: a clay pocket under one house and gravel under the next, or a spring line that crosses one lot. Grading and downspouts differ from house to house as well. The assessment looks at your lot, not the street.
Is Caledon Village on municipal water and sewers?
Municipal water, yes: the Region of Peel runs groundwater wells that serve Caledon Village and Alton. Sewers vary by street and by property; many houses in the villages and almost all rural lots are on private septic systems. We confirm which applies to your house at the assessment.
Methods and cost
What decides the price of a waterproofing job?
The length of wall treated, the depth to the footing, whether a machine can reach the wall, and what has to be removed and reinstated: decks, paving, planting, a finished interior wall. On rural lots, the route around the well line and the septic bed also sets the length of the trench.
Is interior waterproofing a band-aid?
No. It is a permanent drainage system, and for some walls it is the only practical one. What it does not do is keep the wall itself dry, which matters for deteriorating block or stone foundations.
Can I waterproof only one wall?
Yes. Both interior and exterior systems are installed along the walls that leak. The quote states exactly which lengths of wall are included.
Do I need a permit?
A backwater valve needs a Town of Caledon building permit, and the Region of Peel rebate requires it. Work that changes the septic system needs a permit from the Town’s building department. Membranes, drains and crack injection on an existing house do not normally need one; we tell you if your job does.
Winter, storms and finishing
Why does my basement leak during a winter thaw?
The top layer of soil thaws and fills with meltwater while the ground below is still frozen, so the water cannot drain down and runs sideways to the foundation. Ice in downspouts makes it worse by sending roof water straight down the wall.
What is the difference between a flood from rain and a sewer backup?
Rain and groundwater come through walls, cracks, the floor-wall joint or the slab, and the water is fairly clean. A sewer backup comes out of drains and fixtures, and the water is grey and smells. They need different repairs, and only houses on Peel sewers can have the second one.
Do I have to move out during the work?
No. Interior work is confined to the basement and exterior work to the yard. Water and power stay on except for short, announced interruptions.
When can I finish the basement after waterproofing?
New concrete over an interior drain needs a few weeks to dry before flooring goes on top. It is sensible to go through one wet season, a spring thaw or a run of summer storms, before closing the walls in.
Still unsure?
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