Basement waterproofing in Elmira, NY
Help for the city on the Chemung River, from the Near Westside to the Southside and the Eastside.
Elmira is the Chemung County seat and had 26,523 residents at the 2020 census. The settlement began as the village of Newtown in 1792, took the name Elmira in 1808 and was incorporated as a city in 1864. The city sits almost entirely on the Chemung River floodplain, with neighborhoods spreading north of the river toward the Town of Elmira and south of it onto the Southside.
What makes city basements different?
Mostly age and the valley floor. The Near Westside Historic District, bounded roughly by the river, College Avenue, and 2nd and Hoffman streets, packs about 480 principal buildings into 77 acres, and much of the rest of the city has similar older housing. Expect fieldstone, brick or block foundations that several owners have patched, low ceilings, old coal rooms and floor drains nobody has scoped in decades. Because so much of the city is low and close to the river, groundwater pushing up at the floor joint after long wet spells is a common complaint.
What jobs do city homeowners ask about most?
- Interior drain tile where houses are too close together to dig outside
- Repointing and sealing old stone and brick walls
- Replacing tired sump pumps and adding battery backups
- Extending downspouts and correcting grading on small lots
Who issues permits in the city?
The City of Elmira's code enforcement office. The city says a building permit is required for work that must conform to the Uniform Code, including structural, plumbing and electrical changes, and that getting the permit is typically the contractor's job. It also suggests asking contractors for insurance certificates and collecting at least three estimates.
Common questions
Does waterproofing in Elmira need a permit?
Work that changes structure, plumbing or electrical generally does. Ask the company which parts of your job need a city permit and confirm they'll apply for it.
Can an old fieldstone basement on the Near Westside be made dry?
Usually much drier, with drain tile, repointing, a wall membrane and a dehumidifier. Whether it can be completely dry depends on the walls and the lot.
Services in Elmira
- Interior drain tileA perimeter drain under the edge of the basement floor that catches seepage and carries it to a sump pit.
- Sump pumpsNew pumps, replacements, battery backups, high-water alarms and discharge lines that move water away from the house.
- Foundation crack repairInjection for leaking cracks in poured walls and joint repair for block, brick and fieldstone foundations.
- Exterior waterproofingExcavating to the footing, sealing the outside of the wall and adding a footing drain so water never reaches the basement.
- Basement dehumidifiersProperly sized, self-draining dehumidifiers and moisture fixes for basements that are damp, musty or growing mildew.
Nearby areas
Water at the base of the wall, a crack that drips, or a sump you don't trust?
Call and a Chemung County waterproofing company will come trace where the water is getting in.