Basement waterproofing for Altoona and Blair County

How it works

1. Call or send a request

   Tell us your town and where the water or dampness shows up.

2. We connect you

   Your call goes to an independent waterproofing company that serves Altoona and Blair County.

3. They call you back

   They inspect the basement and give you a written quote directly.

Who uses this site?

Homeowners, landlords and buyers in Altoona, Hollidaysburg, Duncansville, Logan Township, Tyrone and the townships in between. Altoona was laid out by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849, and a lot of the city's 20,000-plus housing units sit on stone, brick or block foundations that have been taking on groundwater for generations. Newer houses in the townships have poured walls, but poured walls crack and floor joints leak too. If you've ever set boxes up on blocks "just in case," this is for you.

Why do so many Altoona basements take on water?

Mostly because of where the city sits. The U.S. Geological Survey describes the valley from opposite Hollidaysburg through Altoona as Logan Valley, the eastern foothill zone of the Allegheny Front. Water runs off the ridges toward the valley floor, and much of the bedrock in the area is shale, which doesn't let water soak away quickly. A few other things make it worse:

• Hillside lots. Many streets climb steep grades, so the uphill side of a house can have soil and runoff pressing on the wall while the downhill side stays dry.
• Old foundations. Mortar in century-old stone and brick walls wears out, and many of these basements were never meant to be dry living space.
• Gutters and downspouts. A clogged gutter or a downspout dumping at the corner of the house can send roof water straight down the outside of the wall.
• Steady precipitation. Altoona averages roughly 36 to 37 inches of precipitation a year under the 1991 to 2020 normals, spread across rain and snowmelt seasons.

Signs your basement needs attention

• Water seeping where the wall meets the floor after rain or snowmelt
• Damp lines, rust stains or white powder (efflorescence) on block or stone
• A crack that darkens, drips or grows wider
• A sump pump that cycles constantly, hums without pumping, or is very old
• Musty smell, mold on stored items, or condensation on pipes
• Peeling paint or bubbling "waterproof" coatings on the walls

Which fix is the right one?

That depends on how the water gets in. Water at the floor edge usually points to interior drainage tied to a sump pump. A single leaking crack in a poured wall can often be handled with crack injection. Where the outside of the wall is the problem, or you're finishing the basement and want the water stopped before it reaches the wall, exterior waterproofing is the bigger but more complete option. And if the basement is damp but not wet, a dehumidifier plus outside drainage fixes may be enough. A good company will explain which problem it's solving and why.

What should I check before calling anyone?

Walk around the outside of the house after the next hard rain. Look for overflowing gutters, downspouts that empty right against the foundation, soil or a patio that slopes toward the house, and window wells holding water. Those are cheap to fix and sometimes solve the problem by themselves. If the basement still leaks after the outside water is sent away from the house, it's time for an inspection.

Buying an older home in Blair County?

Look for fresh paint on the lower basement walls, new drywall in a finished basement, a dehumidifier running in July, and water lines on stored items. Ask the sellers whether water has ever come in and what was done. A waterproofing inspection before your inspection contingency runs out tells you what you're getting into.

Are you a waterproofing company?

No. Altoona Basement Waterproofing is a referral service. We connect you with an independent waterproofing company that serves your address, and that company inspects, quotes, does and warranties the work. Before hiring, read our hiring tips and the Blair County basement water guide.

Areas we cover

• Altoona
• Hollidaysburg and Duncansville
• Logan Township
• Tyrone

Planning ahead? Read our Blair County basement water guide.