Drainage Contractors in West Vancouver
When a West Vancouver basement is built into a hillside, the uphill foundation wall is effectively holding back soil and groundwater — and when the perimeter drain at the base of that wall fails, water pressure forces its way through. The properties here are large, steep, and often have older drainage infrastructure, so the work is often larger in scale: full perimeter drain replacements, intercept drain systems uphill of the house, and drainage integrated with extensive landscaping.
Basements built into a slope
When a basement is dug into a hillside, the uphill foundation wall is effectively a retaining wall for the soil and groundwater above it. Without a working perimeter drain and a drainage membrane on that wall, water pressure builds against the buried wall and enters at the joint or through the concrete. The fix is a properly functioning perimeter drain at the footing, a drainage membrane on the uphill wall, and an intercept system above the house to reduce the volume reaching the foundation.
Basement waterproofing, wet basement repairs & drain inspections in West Vancouver
Water in a basement is rarely just one problem. It can be a failed perimeter drain letting groundwater in at the footing, a crack in the foundation wall, or a waterproofing membrane that has broken down over decades. We start with a drain camera inspection to see what is happening inside the pipe, then determine whether the fix is a wet basement repair, basement waterproofing with an exterior membrane and drainage board, or damp proofing of the foundation wall to stop moisture wicking through the concrete. For older West Vancouver homes with original drainage, the answer is often a combination of drain repair and waterproofing — and we show you the camera footage before recommending anything.
How a drainage system protects your West Vancouver home
Most people never think about their drainage system until it stops working. Here is what a complete system looks like — and where water goes when everything is doing its job.
Rain on roof
Gutters collect it
Downspout
Carries it down
Membrane
Protects the wall
Drain rock
Filters the water
Perimeter drain
Collects groundwater
To sump/storm
Discharged safely
A working drainage system moves water off the roof, away from the foundation wall, and out to a safe discharge point — before it can build up against your foundation.
Before & after — West Vancouver drainage work
The kind of results we get on the jobs we do every week across West Vancouver.
Before
AfterA wet basement with water at the floor joint — the original perimeter drain had collapsed. We replaced the system and it's been dry through every storm since.
Before
AfterA soggy yard where the downspout dumped onto the lawn. We tied the downspout underground, ran a French drain along the foundation, and the yard dried out within a week.
Drainage services in West Vancouver
These are the services we are most often called for in West Vancouver. Each links to a page with more detail on what is involved.
Perimeter Drainage
Learn moreWet Basement Repairs
Learn moreBasement Waterproofing
Learn moreFoundation Drainage
Learn moreFrench Drains
Learn moreDrain Camera Inspection
Learn moreDrain Pipe Replacement
Learn moreSump Pumps
Learn moreWest Vancouver drainage services — detailed pages
For each of the services below, we have a dedicated West Vancouver page covering what the work involves, what the local conditions mean for that service, and answers to common questions from homeowners in West Vancouver.
Drain Tile Repair in West Vancouver
Read moreDrain Tile Replacement in West Vancouver
Read moreDrain Tile Cleaning in West Vancouver
Read moreDrain Inspection in West Vancouver
Read moreWet Basement Repair in West Vancouver
Read moreFoundation Waterproofing in West Vancouver
Read moreBasement Leak Repair in West Vancouver
Read moreWest Vancouver drainage FAQs
My West Vancouver home has a walk-out basement on a slope and it leaks on the uphill side. Why?
The uphill wall is holding back soil and groundwater. If the perimeter drain at the base of that wall has failed, or the wall was never properly waterproofed, water pressure forces water through. A camera inspection and a look at the wall tell us whether the fix is the drain, the waterproofing, or both.
Areas we serve around West Vancouver
Request Drainage Service
Tell us what is happening and where. We will call you back the same business day to discuss the problem and arrange an inspection if needed.