Basement Leak Repair in West Los Angeles
Absolute Maintenance & Consulting provides basement leak repair for homes and buildings in West Los Angeles, Culver City and nearby communities. We find where rainwater or groundwater is getting through your below-grade walls or floor, repair it, then dry and restore the space. It’s one part of our water intrusion services.
Call (310) 678-4345 or schedule an inspection.
Licensed California contractor, CSLB #998184 · IICRC-certified firm · 4.8 stars, 180+ reviews across Google, Yelp, and BBB
Quick links: What it covers Signs How it works Repair or waterproof Cost FAQs
Need basement leak repair? We find where the water gets in and stop it.
What Basement Leak Repair Covers
Basement leak repair covers basements, hillside lower floors and below-grade rooms in homes, apartment buildings and commercial property, wherever outside water pushes through a wall or floor set against soil.
Foundation Wall Cracks
Cracks in a concrete or block wall let water through once the soil behind them is saturated.
The Wall-to-Floor Joint
The joint where the wall meets the floor is a common entry point, because the two are poured separately and never fully bond.
Walls With No Outside Waterproofing
A below-grade wall with no working waterproofing on the outside lets water soak through the concrete itself, often in several places at once.
Grading, Downspouts and Hillsides
Soil that slopes toward the building and downspouts that empty beside the wall send water straight to the foundation. On hillsides, water moving downhill through the soil presses against the uphill wall of a lower floor.
Water From Higher Up
Sometimes water enters through an above-grade exterior wall and runs down into the lower level. Our wall leak repair service fixes it where it gets in.
Signs You Need Basement Leak Repair
You need basement leak repair when water or dampness appears on below-grade walls or floors after rain. Watch for:
- Water on the floor after storms
- Damp or dark patches on the walls
- White, chalky deposits on the concrete, called efflorescence
- Peeling paint, swollen drywall or wet carpet on the lower level
- A musty smell that won’t go away
A sudden musty smell is often the first warning. Our guide on why a basement or crawl space suddenly smells like a leak explains the common causes.
Seeing these signs? Book basement leak repair before mold sets in.
How Basement Leak Repair Works
Basement leak repair runs in four steps: map the moisture, find the entry point from outside, repair it, then dry and restore the space.
1. Inspection and Moisture Mapping
We map moisture across the walls and floor with an infrared camera and moisture meters. Any standing water comes out before that, so we can see where it’s coming in.
2. Finding the Entry Point
We check the outside for cracks, open joints, grading and downspouts, then water-test outside sections one at a time when the source isn’t clear. If you don’t know where the water comes from at all, our water leak detection service traces it with non-invasive testing first.
3. Repairing the Leak
We seal the cracks and joints that let water in and deal with the grading or downspouts that send water toward the wall.
4. Drying and Restoring
We remove materials that can’t be saved, like soaked carpet pad or drywall, dry the rest to normal moisture levels under the IICRC S500 standard, then rebuild.
Basement Leak Repair or Basement Waterproofing?
Repair is enough when one crack or joint is leaking, and basement waterproofing is the lasting answer when water comes through in several places or the wall has no working waterproofing outside. Repair stops the leak you have now. Waterproofing keeps water from finding the next crack. After the inspection, we’ll tell you which one your basement needs.
Basement leak repair or waterproofing? We'll tell you which one you need.
How Much Does Basement Leak Repair Cost?
Basement leak repair costs $2,275 to $2,600 for a small project up to 3,000 sq. ft., after an inspection that runs $375 to $775. Larger buildings move into the medium and large project ranges:
| Inspection or test | Price | Credited toward the work? |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Inspection (about 15 to 20 minutes, infrared camera) | $375 to $575 | Yes, when we do the work |
| Detailed Inspection (up to about 1 hour, one unit up to 3,000 sq. ft.) | $575 to $775 | Yes, when we do the work |
| Water intrusion testing | $1,275 to $1,850+ | No |
| Complex water testing | $1,950 to $2,600+ | No |
- Small project (up to 3,000 sq. ft.): $2,275 to $2,600
- Medium project (3,000 to 10,000 sq. ft.): $3,000 to $10,000
- Large project (10,000 to 50,000 sq. ft.): $10,000 to $50,000
The price moves with the number of cracks and joints, how much of the wall sits below grade and can be reached from outside, whether water testing is needed, and how much flooring and drywall has to come out. Inspection prices don’t include water testing. Your written estimate after the inspection sets the final price.
Does Insurance Cover Basement Leak Repair?
Insurance covers basement leak repair only when your policy covers the cause, and many policies exclude groundwater seepage, slow leaks and wear. We photograph the entry point and the damage and log moisture readings for your adjuster.
Call (310) 678-4345 to book a basement leak inspection, or request one online.
Why Choose Absolute for Basement Leak Repair?
We Start Outside the Wall
Basement water comes from outside the wall, so that’s where we start. Our founder, Cameron Figgins, has more than 30 years of hands-on experience and specializes in identifying complex water intrusion issues in Southern California homes.
Licensed and Certified
Absolute Maintenance & Consulting is a licensed California contractor (CSLB #998184), an IICRC-certified firm (#70018676) and a MICRO Certified Firm. One company handles the leak, the drying and the rebuild.
Your inspection fee counts toward the work when you hire us.
Basement Leak Repair FAQs
Why does my basement only leak during heavy rain?
Heavy or long storms saturate the soil around your foundation. Once the soil can’t hold more water, it presses against the wall and pushes through any crack or weak joint. Light rain may never get that far.
Can I fix a basement leak myself?
You can help with the basics: keep gutters clear, point downspouts away from the building and make sure soil slopes away from the wall. Interior sealer paint rarely stops water pushing through from outside, though, and it can hide a crack that’s getting worse.
Can basement leaks cause mold?
Yes. Basements are cool and closed up, so they dry slowly, and damp concrete, carpet and drywall give mold what it needs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
Can I send photos of the basement leak?
Yes. Email photos to info@leakmoldrepair.com with your name, property address and a brief description of the problem. Include the wet wall or floor inside and the ground, downspouts and wall outside the same spot.
Still have questions? Our experts are here to help.
Schedule a Basement Leak Inspection
Call (310) 678-4345 or book an inspection online. We’ll find where the water is getting in and tell you what it takes to keep it out.
We find where the water gets in, repair it and document the work.