Basement Waterproofing Etobicoke
Basement waterproofing Etobicoke homeowners need is often tied to the Humber and Mimico Creek valleys, older drain systems and a wide mix of house types.
All of our trades are licensed and insured
Mon to Fri: 8:00am to 6:00pm · Sat and Sun: Closed
Etobicoke's mix of streets and soils
Etobicoke covers a lot of ground: the lakeshore communities of Mimico, New Toronto and Long Branch, the established streets of Islington and The Kingsway, the Humber Valley, and inland areas such as Rexdale. Mimico Creek and the Humber River run through it, and many streets descend toward a valley, so water moves downhill on the surface and underground.
Along the lakeshore, small lots and older bungalows and two-storey homes sit close together, which can leave only a narrow gap for any excavation. Further inland, post-war bungalows, split-levels and larger detached homes on bigger lots are common, with many basements that were finished decades ago and may now be damp behind the paneling. Older streets also have older sewer connections, which matters when heavy rain pushes the system to its limit.
Sewer connections and the subsidy
Etobicoke is part of Toronto, so the City's Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program applies here. For work completed on or after November 12, 2025, it pays 80 per cent of the invoice up to maximums of $500 for a home plumbing assessment, $1,600 per backwater valve (up to two), $2,250 for a sump pump and alarm, $300 for battery backup and $400 for severing and capping the foundation drain, with the City stating up to $6,650 per property. Eligibility depends on being the registered owner of a single-family home, duplex, triplex or fourplex, on downspouts being disconnected, and on the contractor holding a valid City of Toronto business licence. Funding is first-come, first-served.
A backwater valve is a plumbing device that stops sewage from flowing back into the house, and the City's page says a building permit is needed for it and that the valve must be inspected before it is enclosed. We keep the plumbing device work distinct from the waterproofing scope so each is documented properly.
Waterproofing options for Etobicoke houses
Exterior waterproofing
For detached homes where the wall can be reached: repair, membrane, drainage board and new weeping tile.
Learn moreInterior drainage and sump
For narrow lakeshore lots and semis where digging along the wall is impractical.
Learn moreWaterproofing with underpinning
When the floor is being lowered, the open excavation is the best time to install drainage.
Learn moreQuestions we ask about an Etobicoke basement
- Does water arrive after storms, in spring or all year?
- Is the problem along one wall, in a corner or across the floor?
- Has the sewer line ever backed up into a floor drain?
- Are downspouts connected to the City sewer or to the ground?
- Is the basement finished, and what is behind the finishes?
Frequently asked questions
Which Etobicoke homes benefit from interior drainage?
Often narrow-lot lakeshore homes and semis, where there is no room to excavate along the wall.
Can waterproofing be combined with a renovation?
Yes. Doing it before finishes go in is far easier than fixing it behind them later.
Is waterproofing exempt from a building permit in Toronto?
The City lists waterproofing repairs to a basement as exempt, but plumbing and structural changes are not. Confirm your scope with Toronto Building.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you. In a hurry? Calling is fastest.
Wet basement in Etobicoke?
Call us and tell us what you are seeing. We will explain what to check.
Call now (416) 398-8017