Waterproofing in Ivydell, TN
Hollow and ridge water around Ivydell homes
Ivydell is a small, rural community in Campbell County, set among hollows and ridges. Houses here tend to sit either down in the bottom of a hollow or partway up a slope, and both positions bring water to the crawl space. Down low, runoff from both sides collects around the house. On the slope, water comes down off the ridge and hits the uphill wall. Many Ivydell homes are older and close to the ground, with crawl spaces that weren't built with drainage in mind.
- Free estimate
- No travel charge
- Licensed & insured
- Workmanship warranty
Campbell County
Waterproofing around Ivydell
The ground under Ivydell is the Cumberland Plateau's thin soil over sandstone and shale. Water soaks into the soil and stops when it hits shale, then slides sideways until something gets in its way. When that's your foundation, you'll see the block go dark partway up the wall, or water weeping out in a line. Surface runoff is often in the mix too. We look at everything on the lot before suggesting a fix, starting with gutters and downspouts, which are the cheapest to correct.
For homes on a slope, an interior French drain can carry water out to daylight downhill, with no pump to worry about. On the uphill side, a swale or exterior drain catches runoff and seepage before it reaches the wall. In the bottom of a hollow, a sump basin at the low point and a pump with a check valve may be the only way out. We'll tell you honestly what your crawl space needs. The estimate is free and in person.
The ground here: plateau sandstone & perched water
Plateau ground drains in layers. Rain moves through the topsoil, hits a shale seam, and then travels sideways, often straight into a crawl space cut into the slope below it. Homeowners here tell us the water appears out of nowhere partway up a wall, which is exactly what a perched water table does. The fix starts with intercepting that water uphill of the house, and collecting what still gets through.
Perched water tables
Water riding on top of a shale layer arrives sideways, partway up a wall, well above the crawl space floor.
Ridge and hollow runoff
Steep plateau drainage concentrates a lot of water into narrow paths very quickly.
Thin soil over rock
Shallow bedrock leaves the water nowhere to go once it reaches the house.
What's included
What waterproofing in Ivydell can cover
Every waterproofing estimate in Ivydell starts outside, at the gutters, downspouts and grading, then goes under the house to find where the water actually comes in. These are the pieces we put together from there.
Interior French Drains
The fix when water is already getting in and you need somewhere for it to go.
Exterior French Drains
Intercepting water in the yard, before it ever reaches the house.
Sump Pump Installation
The low point that water collects in, and the pump that gets it out.
Sump Pump Repair & Replacement
For the pump that runs constantly, or the one that does not run at all.
Water Diverters
Sending water somewhere else, usually for a fraction of what a drain costs.
Grading & Downspouts
Making the ground fall away from the house, so rain runs off toward the yard.
How it works
From the first call to a dry crawl space in Ivydell
- 01
You call, we schedule
A real person at our Powell office answers, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. You get a callback the same day you ring.
- 02
Free on-site estimate
An estimator walks the Ivydell property, inside and out: crawl space, grading, gutters, the lot itself. Expect an hour, and expect to be shown what he is looking at.
- 03
A written price, explained
Scope, method and cost in writing before anyone starts. No pressure to sign on the spot, and no quotes over the phone.
- 04
Our crew does the work
We clean up behind us, and we stay in constant communication with you until the job is done.
Ivydell questions
What Ivydell homeowners ask about waterproofing
Our Ivydell house sits in the bottom of a hollow and water comes from every direction. What can you do?
Swales can turn runoff around the house, and an interior drain catches what gets in. In the lowest spot, a sump pump is often needed. We'll walk the lot with you and explain each piece.
I'm in Ivydell and the uphill wall of our crawl space stays wet after rain. Why only that side?
Runoff and seepage from the ridge hit that side first. A swale or exterior drain above the house, or an interior drain along that wall, usually fixes it.
Do you come out to Ivydell? It's pretty far off the main roads.
Yes. Ivydell is in our Campbell County service area and there's no travel charge. The estimate is free and takes about an hour.
Water seeps out of the block wall under our Ivydell home in a line. What is that?
That's perched water, which runs along a shale layer and comes out where it meets your wall. A drain at the base of the wall catches it before it spreads.
Our older Ivydell home is built very low to the ground. Can you still work in the crawl space?
Usually, yes, though tight crawl spaces take longer. If an interior drain isn't practical, outside work like grading, swales and an exterior drain may do the job. We'll tell you at the estimate.
Would putting gutters on our Ivydell house help the crawl space?
Often quite a bit. Without gutters, roof water drops right along the foundation. Gutters with downspouts carried away from the house are cheap compared to drain work.
Can the drain under my Ivydell home just empty down the hill?
If there's ground lower than the crawl space floor, yes. That's a gravity outlet to daylight, the simplest kind of drain. We'll pick an outlet spot that won't wash out the slope.
Our Ivydell sump pump runs and runs and won't shut off. What's wrong?
A stuck float switch is the usual cause. It could also be a failed check valve letting water fall back into the basin. We'll check both and give you an honest answer.
Should I worry about mold in the crawl space at our Ivydell place?
Wet crawl spaces can grow mold. We don't do mold remediation, but stopping the water is the first step. Once it's dry, a mold specialist can deal with what's there.
I need a written price for waterproofing our Ivydell crawl space. Can you give me one?
Yes. After the free on-site estimate, you get a written price before any work. We don't quote over the phone.
Get your Ivydell estimate on the calendar
The estimate is free, there is no travel charge to Ivydell, and you get a written price before any work starts.