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Lexington Foundation Repair

Serving Lexington and nearby areas

Water in Basement in Lexington, KY

Water in a Lexington basement after rain means it has found a way in, and a free inspection finds the entry point and gives you a written price to stop it.

Call now: (859) 681-6936 or book your free inspection online

Book a free foundation inspection

Tell us what you are seeing. A local specialist calls you back the same business day.

Local to Lexington

We connect property owners in Lexington and nearby areas, including Gratz Park, Ashland Park, Chevy Chase, Hamburg, Nicholasville and Georgetown, with one independent local foundation repair specialist.

  • Wet springs

    Lexington averages about 14 inches of rain from March to May, its wettest season. That is when most basement leaks show up.

  • Record years happen

    In 2018 Lexington got 66.97 inches of rain, a record, against a normal of about 45 inches. Basements that stayed dry for years leaked that year.

  • Water in karst

    The Kentucky Geological Survey lists wet basements, flooding and soil movement among the problems water causes in Fayette County's karst landscape.

What it costs

Typical published ranges for Lexington. The contractor's written estimate is the price, and the inspection is free.

WorkTypical range
Inspection and written estimate Free
Seal one crack with injection $250 to $1,000
Grading the yard away from the house $500 to $3,000
Gutters and downspouts $3 to $30per linear ft
Sump pump installed $600 to $2,500
Interior perimeter drain $40 to $120per linear ft
Waterproofing, whole basement $3 to $10per sq ft

See typical foundation repair prices in Lexington

Where the water shows up

Water in a basement leaves clues about how it got in. Where you see it matters.

The floor joint

Water seeping in along the line where the wall meets the floor. This is the most common leak.

A wall crack

A crack that drips or stays wet after rain.

Around a pipe

Water coming in where a pipe or wire passes through the wall.

Under a window

A basement window well that fills up and leaks over the sill.

Up through the floor

Water coming up through cracks in the floor slab.

Damp walls

Walls that stay dark or bubble paint, with no clear crack.

White crust

Chalky white salt on block or stone, left behind as water dries.

Musty air

A damp smell even when you see no water.

Why basements leak in Lexington

It rains a lot. Lexington gets about 14 inches of rain from March to May. Some years are much worse. In 2018 the city set a record with 66.97 inches of rain, against a normal of about 45.

The soil is clay. Maury soil, common in the Inner Bluegrass, has a subsoil of silty clay loam to clay. Water that soaks down next to a basement wall moves slowly through clay. It sits against the wall and pushes in through any gap it finds.

Water runs toward the house. A downspout that dumps at the wall puts a whole roof's worth of rain in one spot. A yard or patio that slopes toward the house does the same. The Kentucky Geological Survey notes that water from drains, sprinklers and leaking lines can also soak the soil under a foundation.

Karst moves water in odd ways. Lexington sits on limestone with channels in it. The Kentucky Geological Survey lists wet basements among the problems water causes here.

Old walls. Stone and block walls in older homes have many mortar joints. Each one is a possible path for water as the mortar wears.

When it is minor and when it is urgent

Fix it this season. Damp spots, white crust, or a small seep at one spot only after big storms.

Book an inspection soon. Puddles after most heavy rains. A crack that leaks. Water at the floor joint. A sump pump that runs for days after rain.

Call right away. Water coming in fast or rising. Water near the furnace, water heater or wires. A wall that leaks and also bows in. A sinkhole or dip in the yard near the leak.

How water in a basement gets stopped

The inspector finds where the water enters and where it comes from outside. Most plans start with the cheapest fix that works.

Outside first. Clean gutters, longer downspouts and grading that slopes away from the house. This alone can dry out some basements.

Crack injection. A leaking crack in poured concrete is filled from inside with a material that seals it through the full wall.

Interior drain and sump pump. A channel is cut along the edge of the floor. Water that reaches the wall drains into it, flows to a pit, and is pumped outside.

Exterior waterproofing. The soil is dug away, the wall is coated and a drain is laid at the footing. This costs more and is used when inside methods will not do.

Wall bracing. If the wall is also bowing, the water fix is paired with straps or anchors.

What it costs

The table shows typical ranges from national cost guides. A downspout and grading fix costs far less than a full drain system. Your written estimate lists each part and why.

What to do before the inspection

  1. Take photos during or right after a rain, showing where the water is.
  2. Move boxes and rugs off the wet area and away from the walls.
  3. Point every downspout away from the house.
  4. Check the sump pump, if you have one, by pouring a bucket of water in the pit.
  5. Keep space heaters, cords and power strips off a wet floor.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my basement only leak after heavy rain?

After a big rain, the soil next to the wall fills with water. That water pushes in through any crack, joint or gap. In lighter rain, the soil soaks it up before it reaches the wall.

Will sealing the walls from inside stop the leak?

Paint-on sealers can stop dampness and light seepage. They do not hold back water under pressure. Leaks at the floor joint or through cracks usually need a drain or crack repair.

Does homeowners insurance cover water in the basement?

It depends on the policy and the cause. Many policies leave out slow seepage and groundwater. A burst pipe is often treated differently. Call your agent and ask before you file.

Do I need a sump pump?

Not every basement does. If water comes up at the floor joint or through the floor in wet seasons, a drain and sump pump are often the fix. If it only comes in at one crack, sealing that crack may be enough.

Is a little water every spring okay to ignore?

It is a warning. Water in the same spot each spring often means a crack or joint that will get worse. It also keeps the clay soil swollen, which pushes on the wall.

Why is there white powder on the wall?

That is mineral salt left behind when water passes through the wall and dries. It means water is getting through, even if you have never seen a puddle.

Call (859) 681-6936 or send the short form to book a free basement inspection.

Other services

Common foundation repair problems in Lexington

Areas we serve around Lexington

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