Licensed & Insured Independent Pros
You'll be connected with insured, independent contractors, many of whom work with builders and general contractors.
From new-construction membranes to retrofits on older Richardson homes, one call connects you with a licensed, insured independent pro who keeps water out of the foundation itself.

Here's something most homeowners never hear: the black coating sprayed on most new foundations is damp-proofing, not waterproofing. Damp-proofing slows vapor. It doesn't bridge cracks, and it breaks down over time in wet soil. Once the soil around the house saturates, water pushes through shrinkage cracks, tie-rod holes, form joints and pipe penetrations.
Block foundations add another weak point. The mortar joints and hollow cores soak up moisture, which shows up as white efflorescence, peeling paint and a constant damp feel. Foundation waterproofing treats the wall itself as the barrier, using membranes, sealants and drainage layers designed to hold back water, not just vapor.
For new homes, it's far cheaper to do it right before backfill. For existing homes, contractors can excavate and retrofit, or combine targeted exterior work with interior drainage.

Not every foundation faces the same water. A house on sandy, well-drained soil with a low water table needs good protection and a working footing drain, but it isn't fighting constant pressure. A house on dense clay, a low lot or a site with a seasonal high water table has water sitting against the wall for weeks. That second house needs a heavier membrane, a drainage board with real flow capacity and a footing drain that can keep up.
For most homes, a spray-applied rubberized membrane is the go-to. They go on seamless, wrap around tie-rods and penetrations, and bridge hairline cracks. The key quality check is thickness: the crew should measure wet film thickness as they go, because a membrane applied too thin won't perform as rated.
Sheet membranes and bentonite systems show up more on commercial jobs and difficult sites. Sheets give a consistent factory thickness, which helps on large wall areas. Bentonite swells when it gets wet and seals small gaps on its own, though it needs to be confined by backfill to work properly.
No membrane works well without drainage. Drainage board and a footing drain take the pressure off, so the membrane only has to deal with water that's already moving away. Skipping drainage to save money is one of the most common reasons foundation waterproofing fails early.
Cost depends mostly on access and depth. On new construction, with the walls already exposed, you're paying for materials and application. On an existing home, excavation, hauling, shoring for deep trenches and restoring landscaping usually make up the larger share of the bill. A contractor should break those pieces out separately so you can see where the money goes, and so you can compare a full-perimeter job against sealing only the walls that actually leak.

Getting the materials and the prep right is what makes it last.
You'll be connected with insured, independent contractors, many of whom work with builders and general contractors.
Pricing is written by wall section or linear foot, with membrane type, drainage board and footing drain called out separately.
Local contractors can fit tight construction schedules and respond fast to active leaks.
Airless spray rigs for fluid-applied membranes, wet film thickness gauges, pressure-wash surface prep and low-pressure injection kits for penetrations.
Each layer does a specific job. Together they keep the wall dry.

Seamless elastomeric membranes applied at a measured thickness stay flexible and bridge hairline cracks as the concrete moves.
Self-adhering sheet membranes give a consistent factory thickness, and bentonite clay panels swell when wet to seal themselves. Both are common on commercial foundations and high water table sites.
A dimpled drainage board over the membrane protects it from rocks during backfill and gives water a free path down to the footing drain, relieving pressure on the wall.
Perforated pipe in a fabric-wrapped gravel bed along the footing collects water and carries it to a sump or to daylight. Without it, even the best membrane faces constant pressure.
Snap-tie holes and utility penetrations get injected or sealed with flexible materials that move with the wall.
Block walls are often parged with a cementitious coat before membrane application to fill mortar joints and create a smooth surface for proper adhesion.
Most foundation waterproofing failures trace back to a handful of shortcuts. The first is skipping surface prep. A membrane applied over dirt, loose parging or form release oil won't bond, and water gets behind it within a few seasons. The second is applying it too thin. Fluid membranes are rated at a specific thickness, and a crew in a hurry can easily put on half that.
The third is leaving out the drainage board, which lets sharp backfill puncture the membrane and leaves water pressing against the wall instead of draining down. The fourth is a footing drain with no outlet, or one that discharges into a spot that floods. The last is backfilling with the same clay that came out of the hole, which holds water against the wall. A contractor who explains how they avoid each of these is one who has seen what happens when they're ignored.
On an existing home, ask the contractor how they'll protect the membrane during backfill, where the footing drain will discharge and how the final grade will slope. Those three answers tell you more about the quality of the job than the brand name on the membrane bucket.
Here's the sequence from the first call to backfill.
Call +1-866-476-1348 and describe the foundation type, the moisture and your timeline.
A local independent contractor schedules a site visit, coordinating with your builder if the walls are still exposed.
Expect a wall inspection, a system recommendation suited to the site and an itemized written quote.
After application and drainage install, you'll get photos before backfill and a walkthrough of the warranty terms.
One call connects you with a local independent pro who seals foundations below grade.
Call +1-866-476-1348Our builder planned on damp-proofing only. We upgraded to a membrane and drainage board, and the basement has stayed dry since day one.
Jordan P., Richardson
Three snap-tie holes leaked every storm. They were injected in an afternoon and haven't leaked since.
Mei L., Richardson
They excavated our worst wall, parged the block, applied a membrane and replaced the footing drain. The wall is dry now.
Carl B., Richardson
Fast scheduling and they texted photos of the membrane before backfilling. Very professional.
Ana V., Richardson
Damp-proofing is a thin asphalt coating that slows vapor but can't handle water pressure or bridge cracks. Waterproofing uses thicker, flexible membranes designed to stop liquid water under hydrostatic pressure.
Yes, through excavation, wall prep, membrane, drainage board and a new footing drain. It's more involved than interior work but stops water at the source.
Properly installed and protected membranes are built to last for many years. Ask the contractor for the manufacturer's rated lifespan and the written warranty terms.
Yes, because the expensive part, excavation, is already done. Retrofitting later costs far more.
Usually, yes. Tie-rod holes and small penetrations are often sealed from inside with injection. If many points leak, a broader solution may be more cost-effective.
Requirements vary locally. Excavation, drainage tie-ins and structural repairs are the most likely to need one, so ask the contractor who handles it.
Calls from all over Richardson and nearby areas reach local independent contractors who seal foundations below grade. That covers new construction, additions and existing homes.
See the zip codes and nearby cities below, or call to confirm.
