What people keep running into with waterproofing
Complaints tagged waterproofing, each raised by more than one person. One-off posts are not included.
40 recurring problems · 668 people · 16 forums we read
Raised more than once
Most people first.
- 6Why does my standing well water leave a film or gunk?Minerals like iron, calcium, or manganese in well water oxidize and precipitate out when exposed to air, forming a powdery film or sediment overnight. This common reaction makes the water look murky and creates buildup on basins, but it is typically a harmless aesthetic issue rather than a sign of contamination.
- 6Is underlayment required under slate, tile, or thatch roofs?Slate, tile, and thatch materials are not completely waterproof on their own and allow moisture to pass through joints and gaps. Underlayment serves as the actual primary waterproof barrier beneath these outer coverings, while the outer material functions mainly as UV protection.
- 6Do I need a moisture barrier under basement LVP flooring?Installing luxury vinyl plank flooring directly on concrete without a vapor barrier traps moisture underneath, requiring you to lift the material and decide whether to run the barrier up the walls and seal the perimeter. Without this protection, moisture will continue to damage the floor and trim.
- 5How to permanently seal an animal burrow near a foundationAnimals like chipmunks and rats dig burrows near foundations that channel water inward and provide entry points under the house. Quick fixes like steel wool and concrete fail because pests simply tunnel underneath them. A permanent seal requires addressing both the void and the exterior access route to stop water infiltration and re-entry.
- 5How to stop roof runoff from missing the gutter and hitting the deckWater streaming off the corner of a gabled roof often misses the gutter entirely and trickles down onto a lower deck or patio. Over time, this runoff causes leakage and water damage around the building corners.
- 5Can you use silicone to seal gaps around a shower drain?Applying bath silicone can temporarily seal gaps around a shower drain to mitigate water damage while delaying a full bathroom renovation. However, depending on the situation, the issue might require caulk, Flex Seal, or replacing a missing fixture or part.
- 5How to tell if a gutter installation job is badContractors sometimes leave large gaps in downspout adapters and poor connections that fail to direct water away from the foundation. This leaves homeowners uncertain whether they should withhold final payment or demand fixes to prevent basement water intrusion.
- 5How to dry out a soggy crawlspaceMitigating moisture and pulling it out of wood joists requires figuring out exactly where to start. It is hard to know whether to begin by clearing debris, running a dehumidifier, or installing an inside perimeter french drain to handle residual standing water. Until the right sequence is found, the space stays humid and can leave clothes smelling musty.
- 4How to shingle around roof bends and height differences?Shingling around perpendicular roof joints and awkward bends is complicated by a two- to four-inch height difference between old and new roof sections. This leaves builders guessing whether bending or stapling shingles around sharp angles is correct and struggling to create a clean, properly sealed transition.
- 4How to regrade a yard after basement waterproofingUse compacted native soil or a clay-loam mix to build a slope that drops at least six inches over the first ten feet away from the foundation. Filling low spots and eliminating negative slopes prevents surface water from pooling near the foundation and dampening the block walls after heavy rain.
- 4How to get old silicone caulk off and make new caulk stickOld silicone caulk often breaks off in tiny pieces because it is difficult to loosen, and new caulk frequently fails to adhere to shower walls, separating as soon as it dries. These difficulties prevent a proper seal, leading to persistent leaks or repeated peeling failures.
- 4How to backfill an exterior foundation drain without trapping waterBackfilling an exterior foundation drain incorrectly can trap water directly against your house, leading to basement leaks after heavy rainstorms. Without proper technique and the right materials around the pipe, trapped water will find its way through the walls, ruining your waterproofing efforts.
- 3How to cover an open porch or deck to keep rain outRainwater pools on open porches and ruins outdoor furniture, but full drainage systems are often too expensive. Installing affordable materials like corrugated plastic panels or waterproof tarps underneath the beams provides a simple way to keep the area dry without major construction.
- 2How to add a drip cap to existing windows without removing sidingRetrofitting a drip cap onto existing windows usually requires lifting the siding to slip the flashing in properly, which makes many homeowners consider just relying on thick caulking instead. However, relying solely on caulk forces you to constantly check and re-seal the joints every year to prevent water leaks. Drawing on the quotes provided, the main dilemma is whether to force the drip cap under the siding or skip it entirely and rely only on caulk.
- 2Do I need a waterproof membrane under tile or a toilet flange?Waterproof membranes prevent trapped moisture and water accumulation beneath cement board, tile, and toilet flanges. Without proper waterproofing, underlying layers can become wet, loose, or crack and shift over time.
- 2Contractor ghosted me with a leaking steel shed floorThe contractor failed to install the damp proof membrane correctly up the walls, leaving the steel shed floor damp and prone to leaks during storms. With the contractor now refusing to return calls, the homeowner is left trying to figure out whether part of the concrete floor needs to be pulled up to fix the issue.
- 2Water flooding storage unit through patio and foundation gapRainwater from the yard floods onto the patio, a problem sometimes worsened by backyard turf acting like a tarp to pool the water. This runoff then drains directly into the gap between the patio and the home's foundation. The water travels down this gap and ultimately floods the attached storage unit.
- 2How to fix the roof after removing a chimneyFixing the roof requires framing the leftover hole and removing old, rusted sheet metal that allows water to leak into the surrounding drywall. Finding the right solution is often difficult because contractors give conflicting opinions on the best way to patch the area.
- 2How to fix a large hole in metal sidingPatching gaps in metal siding prevents water from seeping in and rotting the underlying wood. However, beginners to home repair often leave these holes exposed—from small punctures near gutters to two-foot cutouts from electrical upgrades—because they do not know what materials to use for the patch.
- 2How to waterproof a flat roof under a low windowStandard membranes like TPO often cannot fit the tight gap beneath an existing windowsill, and customers usually refuse to remove or resize the window to make room. Furthermore, when building a deck over these flat roofs, crews often screw the decking directly through the waterproofing membrane, creating holes that leak into the room below.
Comes up alongside
Topics that keep appearing on the same problems — not topics with similar names.