Basement guides
Where water gets into a basement and what fixes it, what to check before you finish one, and how egress windows and window wells work.
Water and waterproofing
-
Start here
Water in the basement: where it gets in and what to do first
Why water gets into your basement, how to find the entry point, what hydrostatic pressure really means and the outside fixes to try before any system.
Read the guide: Water in the basement: where it gets in and what to do first -
Basement waterproofing: interior vs. exterior
What interior drainage and exterior waterproofing each solve, what they don’t, what they cost in 2026 and how to read a quote before you sign.
Read the guide: Basement waterproofing: interior vs. exterior -
Flooded basement: what to do and how to prevent it
What to do in the first hours after a basement floods, how to dry it safely, why basements flood and how to prevent the next one, insurance included.
Read the guide: Flooded basement: what to do and how to prevent it
Finishing a basement
-
Basement finishing: what to fix before you start
Basement finishing starts with water: what to check before you frame, whether basement walls need a vapor barrier, floors, permits and egress.
Read the guide: Basement finishing: what to fix before you start
Egress windows and window wells
-
Egress windows: what they are and what the code requires
An egress window is an emergency exit from a basement or bedroom. Virginia’s minimum opening size, sill height and window well rules, and common mistakes.
Read the guide: Egress windows: what they are and what the code requires -
Egress window wells: size, ladders, drainage and covers
Egress window well rules from Virginia’s code, why window wells fill with water, how they should drain, and how to pick a cover that won’t block the exit.
Read the guide: Egress window wells: size, ladders, drainage and covers
