Basement Waterproofing in Gibsonburg, Ohio

Gibsonburg has some of the oldest housing in the region. Homes sold in the village in 2024 had a median build year of 1900. Basements that old were often built with fieldstone or early block, and they were never designed to stay dry.

The area around Gibsonburg is known for its former limestone quarries, which now hold about 400 acres of surface water. Most of Sandusky County's soils are poorly drained clay loams from the former Black Swamp, which holds water against foundations after rain.

Gibsonburg at a glance

Stone and early block foundations

Fieldstone and early block walls have many more joints than a modern poured wall, and the mortar in them softens over time. Water can come through almost anywhere, which is why interior drainage that catches water at the base of the wall usually works better than trying to seal the wall itself.

If you're in a very old home, ask the contractor to check the condition of the mortar and whether any section of wall is bulging before quoting waterproofing.

• Look at the joint where the wall meets the floor after a heavy rain. Damp lines there usually mean water pressure from outside, not a plumbing leak.
• Check block walls for white, chalky deposits (efflorescence). They are left behind by water moving through the masonry.
• Walk the outside of the house during a storm. Downspouts that dump next to the foundation are one of the cheapest problems to fix.
• If you have a sump pump, pour a bucket of water into the pit and make sure it starts, empties the pit and shuts off.

Also serving nearby villages

We also take requests from Woodville, which sits on the Portage River in a flood-prone area, as well as Helena and Lindsey.