Exterior Basement Waterproofing in Barrie, ON stop it outside the wall.
Exterior basement waterproofing in Barrie runs $95 to $350 per linear foot. We dig to the footing, seal the wall with two membranes and lay new weeping tile.
Exterior basement waterproofing for Barrie homes
Barrie Quality Waterproofing does exterior basement waterproofing in Barrie when the wall itself is the problem: water through the face of the wall, block or stone foundations, or weeping tile that gave up years ago. We dig to the footing, pressure-wash and repair the wall, and put on two layers of waterproof membrane. New weeping tile then goes in, bedded in clear stone. We do exterior foundation waterproofing in Barrie and the Ontario towns around it, including Innisfil, Orillia, Midhurst, Angus, Alliston, Bradford, Wasaga Beach, Collingwood, Midland and Oro-Medonte.
Straight answer: digging costs more than an inside drain, and we only recommend it when it's worth it. What it buys you is a wall that water never reaches. On hollow block, crumbling stone or a wall with a dozen cracks, nothing else does that. If an interior drain would solve your leak for half the money, we'll price both and say so.
Types of Exterior Waterproofing We Do
Every outside job is the same basic dig. What changes is the wall, the membrane, and what we find down at the footing.
Full Perimeter Exterior Waterproofing
All four walls dug, sealed and drained. It makes sense on older homes where the weeping tile has failed all the way around, or before a full basement finish when you want the strongest protection going. Plan on about a week for an average house. We've done whole perimeters in five days when the ground was kind.
Single Wall Excavation
Most Barrie leaks come from one or two walls, usually the one under a downspout or the one facing uphill. We dig only that section, which keeps the price and the mess down. A 30-foot wall is usually two or three days, and the rest of the yard stays put.
Block Foundation Waterproofing
Hollow cinder block holds water in its cores, so sealing it from inside often isn't enough. From outside we parge the block smooth, put the membrane over it and give the water a drain at the footing so the cores stay empty. We've opened block walls with water sitting two rows up.
Stone Foundation Waterproofing
Century homes in Allandale, downtown Barrie and Orillia often sit on field stone. We repoint loose mortar, build a smooth base coat, then membrane over it. Stone takes twice the prep of poured concrete. Honestly, it's some of the most satisfying work we do.
Foundation Membrane Replacement
Some homes had outside work done decades ago, and the old tar coat has cracked. We strip back to sound concrete and replace it with modern rubberized membrane plus a dimpled drainage board that lets water run down to the drain. We've seen 1970s tar coats you could peel off by hand.
Exterior Crack Repair
When a crack can't be reached from inside because it's behind a finished wall or a cold room, we dig on that one spot, seal the crack from outside and membrane over it. A short dig, often one day.
Pricing
How much does exterior basement waterproofing cost in Barrie?
Barrie contractors published prices of $95 to $350 per linear foot for exterior basement waterproofing in 2026. One 30-foot wall that we dig, seal and drain often comes in between $4,000 and $10,000. A full perimeter on an average house can run $20,000 to $40,000, depending on depth and what's in the way.
Ranges come from Barrie contractors' published 2026 prices (Dryshield $95 to $245 per foot, MT Drains $150 to $350 per foot) and our own scaling for wall length. Decks, driveways, depth and landscaping change the price. HST extra.
Contact Us| Job | Published Barrie range | Time on site |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior waterproofing, per linear foot | $95 to $350 | Varies |
| One wall, about 30 ft | $4,000 to $10,000 | 2 to 3 days |
| Full perimeter, average house | $20,000 to $40,000 | 5 to 7 days |
| Exterior crack dig, one spot | $1,500 to $3,500 | 1 day |
When exterior waterproofing makes sense
Exterior waterproofing is the right call when the wall itself is failing. These are the signs we look for on the free inspection:
- Water comes through the face of the wall, not just at the floor seam.
- Hollow block or stone walls with damp patches from floor to sill.
- Lots of cracks on one wall, or cracks you can't get at from inside.
- A camera shows the weeping tile crushed or packed with roots.
- You're about to finish the basement and want water kept off the wall for good.
What a membrane does that damp-proofing doesn't
Most Barrie houses built in the 1980s and 1990s were sprayed with damp-proofing, a thin black coat that slows dampness but won't hold back water under pressure. A waterproof membrane is thicker and stretches over small cracks. We put two layers on, then a dimpled drainage board, so any water that reaches the wall runs straight down to the new weeping tile. Think of it as the shell on a goalie pad.
Digging in Barrie soil
Many Barrie lots have heavy, slow-draining soil, so we backfill with material that drains and get the grading right, so the first two metres fall away from the house. Before we dig, Ontario One Call marks the gas, hydro and cable lines for free. Dig it once, dig it right.
How it works
Exterior waterproofing, step by step
Most outside jobs take three to seven days, and you can stay in the house the whole time.
Locates and dig
Utility lines marked, then we dig down to the footing.
Clean and repair
Pressure-wash the wall, patch cracks and tie rod holes.
Seal and drain
Two membranes, drainage board, new weeping tile in clear stone.
Backfill and warranty
Backfill, grade away from the house, hand you the warranty.
Service areas
Exterior waterproofing near Barrie
InnisfilAlcona, Lefroy, Stroud, Cookstown and the Lake Simcoe shore.
BradfordBradford, Bond Head and homes near the Holland Marsh.
AllistonAlliston, Beeton and Tottenham in New Tecumseth.
AngusAngus, Thornton and Essa Township, near CFB Borden.
MidhurstMidhurst, Minesing, Anten Mills and Springwater Township.
Oro-MedonteShanty Bay, Hawkestone, Horseshoe Valley and the lines.
OrilliaBetween Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, 30 minutes up Highway 11.
MidlandMidland and Penetanguishene on southern Georgian Bay.
Wasaga BeachYear-round and seasonal homes along Nottawasaga Bay.
CollingwoodDowntown, the waterfront and homes below Blue Mountain.
Questions
Exterior waterproofing FAQ
Is exterior waterproofing worth the cost?
Exterior waterproofing is worth it when the wall itself leaks, on block or stone foundations, or before you finish a basement. It stops water before it touches the wall, which no interior system can do. For one crack or seepage at the floor seam, we'd point you to a cheaper inside repair first.
How deep do you dig for exterior waterproofing?
All the way to the footing, which on a Barrie house with a full basement is usually 1.8 to 2.4 metres (6 to 8 feet) down. Stopping halfway leaves the old weeping tile and the bottom of the wall untouched, and that's usually where the trouble is.
Will you damage my landscaping?
We have to move whatever sits along the wall we're digging: gardens, walkways, sometimes deck stairs. We set plants and pavers aside where we can, backfill, grade and rake the area smooth. Replanting and new sod are usually left to you, and we'll say so on the quote.
Can exterior waterproofing be done in winter?
Yes, as long as the ground isn't frozen deep. Late fall and early spring are busy times for us. In the dead of winter, frozen ground makes digging slower and pricier, so we schedule most outside work from April to early December. If water's pouring in during February, we'll find a way.
Do I need a permit for exterior waterproofing in Barrie?
Exterior waterproofing on a house usually doesn't need a building permit in Barrie. Disconnecting a foundation drain from the sewer under the Disconnect to Protect program does, and when a job includes that, our crew pulls the permit and books the inspection.