We connect property owners in Richmond and nearby areas, including The Fan, Museum District, Church Hill, Shockoe Bottom, Ginter Park and Woodland Heights, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.
What it costs
Typical published ranges for Richmond. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.
Work
Typical range
Basement inspectionThrough Richmond Foundation Repair
Few Richmond homes have a basement. Only about 4 to 7 percent of homes in the city do, one Virginia study of home sales found. If yours is one of them, you know the trouble it can bring. A wet corner after a storm. A puddle where the wall meets the floor. A musty smell, boxes you cannot store on the floor, and a sump pump you hope keeps running.
The good news is that most wet basements can be dried out without digging up the whole yard. The free inspection finds where the water comes in and why.
The same crews also handle water in crawl spaces, which is the far more common problem in Richmond. See crawl space repair.
What homeowners tell us
"Water comes in at the bottom of the wall after a big storm."
"There is a puddle in the same corner every time."
"The basement smells musty, and I see white powder on the wall."
"Water seeps through a crack in the wall."
"My sump pump runs all the time, or it failed."
"Mortar on my old cellar walls is crumbling."
"The basement floor is always damp."
White, chalky powder on a wall is a sign water has been passing through it. When the water dries, it leaves the salts behind.
Why Richmond basements get wet
Rain spread over the whole year. Richmond gets about 43.6 inches of rain a year, based on 1991 to 2020 normals, and every month brings some. Some months bring a lot. Richmond got 10.66 inches of rain in July 2025, one of its wettest Julys on record, according to the National Weather Service. Ground that stays wet pushes water against basement walls.
Big storms. Tropical storms can dump huge amounts of rain at once. Tropical Storm Gaston dropped close to a foot of rain on parts of Richmond in 2004 and flooded Shockoe Bottom, even with the floodwall in place. The wall was built to keep out the James River, not rain falling on the city.
Old walls. About 29 percent of homes in the city were built before 1940, according to an analysis of Census data. Many older basements and cellars have brick or stone walls laid in soft lime mortar. Over the years, water washes that mortar out and finds the gaps.
Freeze and thaw. Henrico County lists its frost line at 18 inches and rates the local weathering risk as severe. Water in a wall crack freezes and opens it a bit more each winter.
Gutters and grading. The most common cause of all is simple. Water from the roof lands right next to the wall. A downspout that ends at the foundation can soak the ground there in a single storm.
How a local crew waterproofs a basement
Gutters, downspouts and grading. The first step is getting roof water away from the house. Longer downspouts, cleaner gutters and soil that slopes away from the wall fix many wet basements on their own, and they cost the least.
Crack sealing. A leaking crack in a poured wall can be filled with polyurethane foam that stops water. See foundation crack repair.
Interior drain and sump pump. The crew cuts a narrow channel in the floor along the inside of the walls and lays a drain pipe in gravel. Water that comes in at the wall flows into the drain and down to a sump pump, which sends it out of the house. This is the most common fix for water coming in at the bottom of the walls.
Exterior waterproofing. The crew digs along the outside of the wall, seals it with a waterproof coating, and adds a drain at the footing. It stops water before it reaches the wall, but it costs more and tears up the yard.
Repointing old walls. Old brick or stone cellars may need the worn mortar replaced with a softer mortar that suits old masonry.
A dehumidifier. Even a dry basement can feel damp in a Richmond summer. A dehumidifier keeps the air dry and the smell away.
Wall support. If a wall is bowing or has a long horizontal crack, it may need wall anchors or braces as well as waterproofing.
What moves your price
The prices on this page are typical published ranges from Fixr, not a quote.
The size of the basement and how many walls let water in move the price the most. Interior systems usually cost less than digging outside. Your written estimate should show what is included. See the full Richmond cost guide.
How it works
Call (804) 293-2238 or send the form. Tell us where the water shows up and when.
Free inspection. A local crew finds where the water comes in, checks the walls and floor, and looks at your gutters and grading.
Written estimate. You get a plan and a price in writing.
You decide. No pressure, and no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my basement leak only when it rains hard?
Most basement leaks come from rain that soaks the ground right next to the house. Short downspouts, clogged gutters and soil that slopes toward the wall are the usual causes. When the ground fills with water, it pushes through cracks and the joint where the wall meets the floor.
Is interior or exterior waterproofing better?
Exterior work stops water before it reaches the wall, but it means digging along the foundation, which costs more. Interior drains with a sump pump catch water once it gets in and carry it out. Most homes do well with an interior system plus better gutters and grading. The inspector will tell you which fits your house.
Will waterproof paint fix my wet basement?
Sealer paint can help with light dampness on a wall. It does not stop water that is pushing in under pressure, and it often peels. It is not a fix for a basement that floods or leaks at cracks.
Do I need a sump pump?
If water comes up through the floor or along the bottom of the walls, a drain and sump pump is usually the fix. If the water only comes through one crack, sealing the crack and fixing the gutter above it may be enough.
My old house has a small cellar. Can it be dried out?
Usually yes. Old brick and stone cellars let in some water by nature. The fix is often a mix of gutter and grading work, repointing the mortar, and a drain and sump pump where the floor gets wet.
Does homeowners insurance cover a wet basement?
Water that seeps in over time is usually not covered. Some policies cover sudden water from a burst pipe, and sump pump backup is often an add-on. Flooding from a river or storm needs flood insurance. Read your policy and ask your agent.
How long does basement waterproofing take?
Most interior drain and sump jobs take one to three days. Exterior digging takes longer. Your written estimate should list the schedule.