If you live in a coastal town, you need foundation waterproofing. Houses near the coast are at a constant risk of water intrusion that can lead to serious damage, especially when it’s corrosive saltwater that’s coming in.
That doesn’t mean you need to run to Home Depot right this second to buy a sealant. Every home is different, and some are lower-risk than others.
In this guide, we help you self-assess your risk level, from low to call us for foundation waterproofing right now.
What Impacts the Risk Level for Moisture Intrusion in Coastal Homes?
Three main factors that impact the risk level for foundation moisture issues and flooding:
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Location
Not every coastal home is at equal risk of water intrusion and flooding. Your exact location has a big impact. Consider your:
- Distance to the coastline. Homes within a few blocks of open water are at the highest risk of storm surge and groundwater intrusion.
- Property elevation. If your home is built at an elevation that matches or is lower than the highest point water has ever reached in your neighborhood during floods or storms, you are at a higher risk.
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Foundation Type
Your foundation type impacts your moisture risk, especially in a coastal home.
- Basements - High groundwater can push moisture through tiny cracks in a concrete basement.
- Crawl spaces - If your crawl space has not been fully encapsulated, it’s at high risk of moisture intrusion.
- Slab-on-grade - Slabs are in direct contact with soil and at high risk for water pooling around them or pushing in through hairline cracks.
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Soil Type & Condition
On the coast, soil movement, erosion, and saturation happen quickly. This can impact the risk of water coming into your home’s foundation.
Look for:
- Sandy soil - Prone to erosion and washout around the foundation.
- Clay-heavy soil - Swells when wet, shrinks when dry, creating pressure cycles that stress the foundation.
- Visible erosion - Channels forming around the home, receding embankments, or exposed footings indicate active soil movement, which means water intrusion is likely.
- Water pooling in yard or slow drainage - Water pooling near your foundation after it rains, even for just a few hours, suggests the soil can’t drain quickly enough to prevent intrusion during a heavy storm.
What’s Your Foundation Waterproofing Triage Score?
Look at your home’s location, foundation type, and soil condition. Then, use our triage score to rate your risk of foundation moisture problems.
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Low Risk
You probably don’t need major foundation waterproofing if:
- Home sits on higher ground away from the water
- Yard drains well
- No visible cracks in foundation or basement walls
- No signs of moisture in the basement or crawl space (musty smells, mold, mildew, etc.)
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Medium Risk
You’re at medium risk and should start thinking about hiring a foundation waterproofing company if you notice:
- Small cracks forming on foundation walls or ceilings
- Puddling near the foundation after storms
- Occasionally high humidity in the basement or crawl space
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High Risk
If you’ve noticed these signs, reach out to Total Home Performance as soon as possible for a foundation inspection:
- Chronic humidity in the basement or crawl space
- Visible mold
- Cracks in your foundation that are widening
- Warped floors
- Soil erosion around the foundation
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Critical Risk
If you’ve noticed these signs, you’re likely already dealing with foundation moisture problems. Now, you need to repair the damage and then implement foundation waterproofing to stop it from happening again.
- Standing water in the basement or crawl space
- Walls bowing, bulging, or cracking horizontally
- Sump pump running constantly
- Foundation settlement
- Rotting or warping wood
- Water entering during normal (not extreme) rain
Concerned? Schedule a Foundation Inspection on the Eastern Shore Today
When it comes to water damage, our motto is: better safe than sorry! If you’re at all concerned about moisture coming into your home through the foundation, reach out to Total Home Performance today.
Our team will assess your foundation, tell you your risk level, and help you decide whether it makes sense to invest in foundation waterproofing for your home. We’re the local foundation waterproofing experts that Maryland and Delaware homeowners have trusted for over 16 years.