Hear from Our Customers
You stop worrying every time rain’s in the forecast. Your basement doesn’t smell like a cave anymore, and you’re not running a dehumidifier 24/7 just to keep up.
The foundation cracks that kept you up at night are sealed. Water that used to pool in the corner after every storm has somewhere else to go. Your sump pump actually works when you need it.
You can store things down there without wondering if they’ll get ruined. If you ever sell, you’ve got documentation and a transferable warranty that buyers actually care about. And your heating bill drops because you’re not trying to warm a damp, drafty basement all winter.
This is what proper basement waterproofing in Kennett, PA looks like. Not a temporary patch. A system that handles Pennsylvania’s clay soil, spring downpours, and snowmelt without you having to think about it.
Del Val is a family-run basement waterproofing company serving Chester County and the greater Philadelphia area for over 15 years. We’re not the biggest operation, and that’s intentional.
You get the experience of a company that’s seen every type of basement problem Kennett throws at us—old stone foundations, clay soil drainage issues, homes built before modern waterproofing standards existed. But you also get a team that picks up the phone, shows up on time, and doesn’t disappear after the check clears.
We offer a lifetime transferable warranty on our work because we install systems that last. Our customers in Kennett stay dry through March snowmelt and summer thunderstorms, and their basements don’t flood when the power goes out. That’s the standard.
First, we come out and do a free inspection. We’re looking at where water’s getting in, how your property drains, what’s happening with your foundation walls, and whether your current sump pump setup is even functional. You get a detailed report, not a sales pitch.
If you move forward, we design a system specific to your house. That might mean interior waterproofing with a sub-floor pressure relief system and sump pump installation. Or it could mean exterior waterproofing with excavation, waterproof membrane, and new drainage. Sometimes it’s foundation crack repair and a better discharge line. We don’t sell you more than you need.
Installation is straightforward. You can stay in your house—we’re not tearing the place apart. Most jobs take a few days depending on scope. We clean up after ourselves, test everything, and walk you through how the system works.
Then you get your lifetime transferable warranty in writing. If something’s not right, we come back. But when the work’s done correctly the first time with quality materials, you shouldn’t need us again.
Ready to get started?
Every basement waterproofing solution in Kennett, PA starts with an honest assessment of your property. We’re dealing with Pennsylvania’s clay-heavy soil that holds water like a sponge and older homes where foundations have settled and cracked over decades. Your system needs to account for that.
Interior waterproofing typically includes a sub-floor pressure relief system—a proven alternative to outdated French drains that structural engineers actually recommend. We install a sump pump system that can handle high water volume, with battery backup so it works during storms when power goes out. Discharge lines are buried and routed away from your foundation so water doesn’t just circle back.
Exterior waterproofing means excavation down to the footer, waterproof membrane application on foundation walls, new drainage tile, and proper backfill. It’s more invasive but it stops water before it ever reaches your basement. For homes in Kennett with chronic water problems, it’s often the right call.
We also handle foundation crack repair using modern materials like carbon fiber and polyurethane injection, crawl space encapsulation, and fixing drainage issues that cause water to pool against your house. Everything comes with that lifetime transferable warranty, and you get documentation for your records.
Most basement waterproofing projects in Kennett run between $3,000 and $10,000 depending on what your house needs. A straightforward interior system with sump pump installation and drainage typically lands on the lower end. Full exterior waterproofing with excavation and membrane application costs more but lasts 20 to 30 years.
The price depends on your foundation’s condition, how much water you’re dealing with, and whether we’re fixing existing damage or just preventing future problems. Homes built before the 1980s often need more work because original waterproofing standards weren’t what they are now.
We give you a free estimate after inspecting your property, and we break down exactly what you’re paying for. No hidden fees, no upselling systems you don’t need. You’re making a decision based on what actually solves your problem, not what makes us the most money.
No. You can stay in your house while we work. Interior basement waterproofing is non-invasive—we’re working in your basement, not tearing apart your living space.
Most jobs take a few days to a week depending on the scope. There’s noise and activity during work hours, but it’s not like a full renovation where you’re displaced. We clean up at the end of each day and keep dust and debris contained as much as possible.
Exterior waterproofing involves excavation around your foundation, so you’ll see equipment in your yard and we’ll need access to the perimeter of your house. But you’re not losing access to rooms or dealing with contractors in your living areas. We work efficiently, finish the job, restore your landscaping, and get out of your way.
When it’s done right with quality materials, a properly installed exterior waterproofing system lasts 20 to 30 years or more. Interior systems with sump pumps and drainage can last decades if maintained—which mostly just means testing your sump pump occasionally and keeping discharge lines clear.
The lifetime transferable warranty we offer isn’t just marketing. We stand behind the work because we’ve seen our systems hold up through Pennsylvania’s worst weather. Homes we waterproofed 15 years ago are still dry.
What fails are cheap installations, improper drainage design, or systems that don’t account for local soil conditions. Kennett’s clay soil creates hydrostatic pressure that a basic French drain can’t handle long-term. That’s why we use sub-floor pressure relief systems recommended by structural engineers. They’re built to last, and they do.
Pennsylvania’s clay-rich soil is the main culprit. Clay doesn’t drain—it holds water. When you get heavy spring rain or snowmelt, that water saturates the ground around your foundation and has nowhere to go except through cracks, mortar joints, or up through the floor.
Kennett gets hit with unpredictable weather. Torrential downpours in spring, humid summers, freeze-thaw cycles in winter that crack foundations. Older homes in the area were built before modern waterproofing standards, so many don’t have proper exterior drainage or waterproof membranes on foundation walls.
Gutters that dump water right next to your house make it worse. Poor grading where your yard slopes toward the foundation instead of away from it. Sump pumps that fail or weren’t sized correctly for the water volume. All of this adds up, and it’s why basement flooding is so common here. The good news is it’s fixable with the right system designed for these exact conditions.
It depends on what’s causing your water problem and what your budget allows. Interior waterproofing is less expensive and handles most situations—it manages water that’s already getting in by giving it a controlled path out through drainage and a sump pump. It works well for homes with occasional seepage or minor foundation cracks.
Exterior waterproofing stops water before it reaches your basement walls. We excavate around your foundation, apply a waterproof membrane, install drainage tile, and regrade. It’s the most thorough approach and makes sense for homes with chronic flooding, significant foundation damage, or where you’re planning to finish the basement and want total peace of mind.
During your free inspection, we’ll tell you what your house actually needs. Some homes need both—exterior work on the worst walls and interior drainage as backup. Some just need a properly installed sump pump and better discharge routing. We’re not here to sell you the most expensive option. We’re here to solve your water problem in the most effective way.
Horizontal cracks are the ones that worry structural engineers. They indicate pressure from soil pushing against your foundation wall, and they can lead to bowing or failure if ignored. Vertical cracks are usually less serious—they’re often from settling—but they still let water in and should be sealed.
If you’re seeing cracks wider than a quarter-inch, cracks that are growing, or any crack that’s allowing water into your basement, get it looked at. Stair-step cracks in block foundations also signal movement that needs attention.
We inspect foundation cracks as part of every waterproofing assessment. Minor cracks get sealed with polyurethane injection to stop water. Structural issues might need carbon fiber reinforcement or more involved repair. The key is catching problems before they turn into expensive foundation failure. Most cracks in Kennett homes are fixable without major structural work if you address them before they get worse.
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