Basements in all 50 states
A dry basement. A wall that holds.
Wet floors, leaking cracks, bowing walls and damp crawl spaces, anywhere in the United States. One free call and an independent local contractor inspects the basement, finds where the water comes from, and gives you a written quote before any work.
- Cause found first
- Written quote before work
- Repairs matched to the cause
- Transferable warranties offered
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Call (833) 460-4463By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent waterproofing contractor, who may call or text you back about your request at the number you call from. Calls may be recorded for quality and routing. Consent is not a condition of any purchase; you can opt out at any time, and message and data rates may apply. Privacy policy.
Call to get help
(833) 460-4463By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent waterproofing contractor, who may call or text you back about your request at the number you call from. Calls may be recorded for quality and routing. Consent is not a condition of any purchase; you can opt out at any time, and message and data rates may apply. Privacy policy.
Basement services
Which basement and foundation problems can we help with?
Each page covers the signs, what the contractor does, how long it takes and what drives the price.
Start with what you see
What's happening in your basement?
- Water along the floor-wall seam after rainUsually: Groundwater pressure and failed footer drains
- Sump pump running nonstop or not at allUsually: Worn pump, stuck switch or high groundwater
- Horizontal crack or wall leaning inUsually: Soil pressure on a block wall
- Water trickling from a wall crackUsually: Shrinkage crack in a poured wall
- Sand and crumbling mortar at the base of stone wallsUsually: Eroded mortar in an old foundation
- White powder on basement wallsUsually: Water moving through masonry (efflorescence)
- Musty smell but no standing waterUsually: High humidity or hidden seepage
- Water around basement windowsUsually: Clogged or missing window well drains
Nationwide
Why do basements leak, region by region?
The water is the same; the reason it gets in is not. Soil, frost depth, rainfall and water table change what fails first, so a contractor should start from what is typical where you live.
Old fieldstone and block foundations, deep frost
Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
Maine to Maryland and Washington, DC, including New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Many basements here predate modern footing drains and damp-proofing. Rubble-stone walls lose mortar over decades, and frost reaching several feet down pushes soil against the wall each winter.
Watch for: Sand-like mortar on the floor below a stone wall, and seepage during snowmelt rather than just heavy rain.
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Washington, DC
Glacial clay soils, freeze-thaw and spring thaw
Midwest & Great Lakes
Ohio to the Dakotas, including Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri and Nebraska
Clay-rich glacial soil drains slowly and holds water against foundation walls. Combined with many freeze-thaw cycles, that sustained pressure is a classic cause of horizontal cracks and inward-bowing block walls.
Watch for: A horizontal crack along a mortar joint about halfway up a block wall, or water at the floor-wall joint after the thaw.
Bowing Basement Wall RepairHeavy rain, humidity and high water tables
Southeast & Gulf Coast
Virginia to Florida and west to Louisiana, including Kentucky and Tennessee
Full basements are less common near the coast because groundwater sits close to the surface, so crawl spaces carry most of the risk. Warm, humid air entering a vented crawl space condenses on cooler surfaces and feeds mold and wood rot.
Watch for: Musty smells upstairs, sagging floors, or standing water in the crawl space after storms.
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Expansive clay that swells and shrinks
Texas & the Southern Plains
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas
Expansive clays swell when wet and shrink in drought, so foundations move with the seasons. Basements are uncommon in much of Texas, but slab and crawl-space homes see cracking, and existing basements in Kansas and Oklahoma take seepage through those cracks.
Watch for: Stair-step cracks, doors that start sticking after a wet spell, and gaps opening between soil and foundation in drought.
Leaking Wall Crack RepairSnowmelt, bentonite clay and flash storms
Mountain West & Southwest
Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico
Spring snowmelt saturates soil around foundations for weeks, and some Front Range and Utah soils contain swelling bentonite clay. In desert areas, short intense monsoon storms overwhelm grading and gutters that rarely get tested.
Watch for: Water at window wells and along the downhill wall after snowmelt or a monsoon storm.
Yard Drainage, Grading & DownspoutsLong rainy seasons and hillside drainage
Pacific Coast & Northwest
Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska and Hawaii
In the Pacific Northwest, months of steady rain keep soil saturated, so hydrostatic pressure persists rather than spiking. Hillside lots in California and Oregon concentrate runoff against the uphill foundation wall.
Watch for: Persistent dampness all winter, efflorescence on the uphill wall, and a sump pump that cycles for weeks.
Sump Pump Installation & RepairLocal spotlight: Northeast Ohio
Why do Mahoning Valley basements leak?
Clay soil, old foundations and hard winters shape what fails and what fixes it.
Heavy clay soil
Mahoning Valley clay holds water against the wall after every storm. That pressure pushes water through the floor-wall joint and into block cores.
Old stone and block
Thousands of homes built between 1900 and 1960 sit on sandstone or hollow block. Mortar washes out, and block walls bow under freeze-thaw.
Freeze-thaw winters
Lake-effect snow and dozens of freeze-thaw cycles each winter open cracks, lift steps and push soil against the wall.
Spring thaw
March snowmelt and April rain are when most basements here take on water. It is also when sump pumps work hardest.
Before the thaw: clear downspouts, test the sump pump, look for new cracks.
Spring thaw checklistWet basement?
What needs a call now, and what can wait
Most basement problems are gradual, but a few get worse quickly, especially during spring thaw and heavy storms.
Call right away
- Water rising on the basement floor
- A sump pump that has stopped or runs constantly
- A basement wall that is visibly bowing or has a new horizontal crack
- Water near the furnace, water heater or electrical panel
- A sudden new crack that is letting water in
Usually fine to schedule
- A musty smell or high humidity
- White powder (efflorescence) on walls
- A hairline vertical crack that stays dry
- Damp spots only after very heavy rain
- Planning to finish the basement
First step: Move belongings off the floor, keep the sump discharge clear, and avoid standing water near electrical equipment. Check coverage near you
Call (833) 460-4463By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent waterproofing contractor, who may call or text you back about your request at the number you call from. Calls may be recorded for quality and routing. Consent is not a condition of any purchase; you can opt out at any time, and message and data rates may apply. Privacy policy.
What the work looks like
What does the work look like, before and after?
Drag the slider. These are example stock photos, not specific Holdfast jobs.
Problem: An unfinished block-wall basement with seepage at the floor-wall joint after every heavy rain.
Work: Interior perimeter drain, sealed sump with battery backup, and a dehumidifier to control humidity.
Problem: A wide crack running through a foundation wall.
Work: Wall assessed, crack sealed and the wall reinforced after drainage was improved.
Local pages
Which 25 Mahoning Valley communities have in-depth guides?
Calls are connected nationwide. These Ohio towns, across Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties, have detailed local guides.
Youngstown & suburbs
Warren area
Trumbull River Valley
Columbiana County
Basement guides
What should you read before the inspection?
Why Basements Leak at the Floor-Wall Joint
Water appears at the floor-wall joint because groundwater builds pressure under and around the foundation and finds the seam between the footing, wall and floor slab.
Learn more
Horizontal Crack in a Basement Wall: What It Means
A horizontal crack in a block basement wall usually means soil pressure is pushing the wall inward.
Learn more
Old Sandstone and Stone Foundations in the Mahoning Valley
Many Mahoning Valley homes built before about 1940 have sandstone, fieldstone or brick foundations laid in soft lime mortar.
Learn moreFAQ
What do homeowners ask before calling?
Water after every storm?
Book an inspection and get a written quote.
By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent waterproofing contractor, who may call or text you back about your request at the number you call from. Calls may be recorded for quality and routing. Consent is not a condition of any purchase; you can opt out at any time, and message and data rates may apply. Privacy policy.