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GJ MacRae Foundation Repair

The Original Wetbasements Experts – Since 1975
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THE GTA'S HIGHEST RATED

Basement Waterproofing Services: Save Your Walls!

GJ MacRae Foundation Repair is an award-winning second generation family-run Basement Waterproofing, Foundation Repair, and Underpinning company serving the Greater Toronto Area.

Our Services Are Trusted By

Trouble With a Leaky and Wet Basement?

In the past, basements were typically not considered a significant selling point; they were often seen as little more than crawl spaces or laundry areas, and thus could be overlooked or neglected. However, over time, if water accumulates in your basement, it can lead to the development of multiple cracks and holes in the walls, resulting in water leakage during rainy seasons. Basement walls are subjected to significant stress due to changing weather conditions and continuous hydrostatic pressure, which can slowly cause cracks to form. Without adequate foundation waterproofing, basement walls are at risk of leaking during a rainy season.

Damp basements are also an invitation for mould and mildew to flourish. Mould and mildew are serious health hazards that can create a musty smell in your basement. People lose valuable items during basement flooding, rendering the basement practically unusable. If your basement does not have a proper waterproofing system, we highly recommend getting a professional basement waterproofing quote from basement waterproofing experts in Toronto like GJ MacRae.

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Expert Basement Waterproofing Services Toronto

GJ MacRae Foundation Repair is one of Toronto’s most renowned names for basement waterproofing. We have served the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton, Etobicoke, Mississauga, Toronto, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Georgetown, and surrounding areas since 1975. With almost five decades of experience, we have served over 10,000+ customers. These numbers speak for themselves and have been backed by our quality service. We are a completely family-owned, Toronto-based basement waterproofing company, currently in its second generation, and we take great pride in our work. The quality of our service is second to none, and we can guarantee that.

We also offer a transferable 15-year warranty for all our services, and our highly experienced staff and cutting-edge repair methods are second to none. For the finest basement waterproofing service in Toronto and the GTA (yes, even during the winter), call us today at (905) 824-2557

Benefits of a Dry Basement

What does a dry basement mean to you? A healthy, dry, livable, mould/mildew free, musty smell free, usable space? On top of that, a dry basement also promotes a healthy long-term structure and foundation. Let’s discuss the benefits of a dry basement:

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Get More Livable Space

What's good about a wet basement? Nothing! A dry basement opens up many possibilities and translates to more livable space in your home. You can use the basement as a movie room, a game room, a gym, a bedroom, or an apartment.

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Peace of Mind

We have a lot on our minds, and a leaky basement should not be one of those things. You should be able to check off a leaky basement from your list of troubles during the rainy season. Get interior basement waterproofing services from GJ MacRae, and be assured that your basement is dry and won’t damage all your valuables during the rainy season.

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Stronger Foundation Support

Waterproofing your basement walls ensures your walls are dry and do not have to endure water damage. Also, the hydrostatic pressure is highly reduced with a waterproofing system installed around your basement walls. Any holes or cracks in your basement walls are fixed during basement waterproofing. This promotes a damage-free and strong foundation wall. A stronger foundation means more robust support for your house.

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Higher Selling Price

In addition to the previously mentioned benefits, there's one more advantage you can enjoy while residing in your home: the added value when selling it. A dry, usable basement is highly sought after in today's market, and every prospective buyer will value a sturdy basement foundation that offers extra livable space. By investing in basement waterproofing now, you can reap these benefits while you live in the home and also when it comes time to sell.

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Get Rid of That Musty Smell

A wet basement only invites trouble. Mould and mildew is a byproduct of basement leaks, but a dry basement means that your walls are mould and mildew free. A consistently damp and musty wet basement not only produces unpleasant odors but also poses significant health risks. Exterior basement waterproofing prevents water from entering through your foundation walls, while interior waterproofing addresses any additional leakage issues if there are external access concerns.

How Do We Repair The Structure of Foundations?

01

The very first step is to locate the cracks in the foundation walls. We then set up tarps and begin hand excavation down to the footings. Going to the bottom of the footings is essential to completely repair the cracking.

02

We then clean the exposed walls with a wire brush and chisel out the cracks, allowing the quick setting of the hydraulic cement applied to the cracks with a trowel.

03

After the hydraulic cement is set, we apply a layer of quick-drying primer to the exposed walls. The purpose of this primer is to enhance the adhesion for our next step in basement waterproofing.

04

A special rubberized membrane is applied to the entire wall using a trowel. This rubberized membrane is impenetrable to water, air, or moisture. A layer of fiberglass mesh is also applied to provide flexibility to the membrane while keeping its integrity. Another layer of rubberized membrane is applied over the top, creating a double coat and extra protection.

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While the patch is still tacky, we install a layer of thick plastic on the surface of the rubberized membrane. We have installed drainage boards on top of all our waterproofing layers. This acts as an additional layer that prevents water from getting into the foundation walls and as a shield for the membrane against power tamping during backfilling. These boards help against hydrostatic pressure and also help to redirect large volumes of water to the weeping tiles below.

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The existing weeping tile drainage is replaced if required, and a new weeping tile system is installed. It is surrounded by a filter sock that helps clean fine particles from groundwater and eases drainage.

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Now, we start the backfilling process. We first like to fill the top and around the weeping tile system with clear gravel to ensure consistent and rapid drainage. After that, the native soil is poured back. We power tamp the soil every 6″ -12″ inches. This ensures that our membranes and drainage board are locked and restores the original grading.

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A termination strip is attached to the top of the drainage board to ensure that the strip does not separate from the board. The entire repair area is washed and swept.

HIGH QUALITY FOUNDATION REPAIR

Why Choose GJ MacRae?

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KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE LONG TERM

Protect Your Foundation

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

Some Kind Words From Our Customers

Robert Sraka
Robert Sraka
2024-03-19
From our initial discussion with Dean through to the completion of the project I was most impressed with knowledge and professionalism. We had foundation damage from a tree root and they took the time to explain what was required and the steps involved in rectifying the situation. I highly recommend GJ MacRae for any foundation work you may need.
Wendy M
Wendy M
2024-03-13
The extremely labour-intensive work done on our heritage home basement by the staff at GJ MacRae was nothing but impressive! They handled it all with great care, attention and finesse every step of the way. Thank you!
Lisa Nicholson
Lisa Nicholson
2024-03-09
Our experience with Gavin went very well. We are very pleased with the quality of work that was done. They did an excellent job repairing the leaks and the cleanup was great too. Gavin was a pleasure to deal with. He was very professional and pleasant. We highly recommend this company.
Stephanie Williams
Stephanie Williams
2024-02-29
Honest, courteous, thorough, professional, reliable, on-time, clean and trustworthy. Solved our home’s basement water concerns caused from living on the flood plain (water table). Would definitely recommend GJMacRae Ltd as the company to fix your wet basement. Dean and his crew’s attention to detail solved the various challenges of our 91 year old home.
Maria Aleman
Maria Aleman
2024-02-05
Dean, came out right away after we noticed water in our basement and provided an estimate. Communication with him was easy and he answered all my questions. Work was done within the week. I had a great experience and will recommend to others.
Jakob Backstrom
Jakob Backstrom
2023-11-17
Gavin and his team did a great job. Right from quoting the job I had confidence they can do the job well and had the experience. Great videos on their website really help you understand what’s involved in foundation repair.
Bob
Bob
2023-11-15
Job was done in 2 days which I was amazed it could be done that quickly! That’s a lot of pails of concrete and rock that had to be shuttled in and out of the house! The guys were all very friendly and let me know everything that was being done and answered all my questions! The bowed wall looks solidly supported now with carbon fibre strapping and the water found beneath the floor is now being safely routed through newly installed Plastic Weeper to our sump. We now have peace of mind that we can finish the basement with no leaks or crumbling walls! Thankyou Gavin, Maggi, Ricardo and Jay!
Debra Gold
Debra Gold
2023-10-16
We would like to express our gratitude to G.J. McRae for the exceptional job they did in restoring our peace of mind. Every time it rained or snowed, our basement would leak, causing us great distress. However, the crew from G.J. McRae arrived promptly, worked diligently, and efficiently resolved the issue. They even left our backyard in excellent condition, cleaning up after themselves. We cannot thank you enough for the outstanding service and for making us feel confident that the problem is now completely resolved. We are so happy to be able to not worry about this any longer.
Tricia LaDouceur
Tricia LaDouceur
2023-10-16
Workers were on time and professional. Quality and value for money. My only issue was the concrete poured was a little uneven causing a small lip near the drain. We managed to smooth it out. Would highly recommend GJ MacRae Foundation Repair.
John Prostran
John Prostran
2023-10-10
Very happy with the work done by the GJ Macrae team. Recommend them to anyone for the quality of their work and the amazing warranty, that provides a piece of mind, that they have.
YOUR FREE GUIDE TO BASEMENT WATERPROOFING

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We’re honored to provide these resources to help you on your journey, and we know reputations are hard to build and easy to lose. That’s why our business is built around two simple promises:

Honesty and Transparency.

We genuinely want each step of your journey (from the very first Google search to a leak-free basement) to be positive!

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Utilize Your Dry Basement to the Fullest

A dry basement is full of possibilities. Basements are no longer crawl spaces and can serve a greater purpose. Get creative with your basement and transform that space into your gym, study room, game room, or anything you like. But first, you must have a dry basement.

Need a dry basement? GJ MacRae, the finest basement waterproofing company in Toronto, is here to help. Give us a call or fill out the form below, and our team will inspect your basement situation and provide the ideal basement waterproofing solution. Feel free to contact us at (905) 824-2557 or complete the form below.

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Our Service Areas

At GJ MacRae, we take pride in extending our services across the GTA to meet our valued customers’ unique needs, and our dedicated team is committed to delivering top-notch solutions all year long. Our expansive service areas are a testament to our unwavering commitment to the highest quality foundation repair services and customer satisfaction in the GTA.

WE'RE EXCITED TO GET STARTED!

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

Fill out our request form and we will contact you as soon as possible for a free foundation repair consultation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Waterproofing a basement prevents water from entering a building or home’s basement foundation wall or crawl space. It is crucial because water damage can result from structural issues, mold development, and health risks.

Heavy rain or snow, poor grading, blocked gutters or downspouts, foundation cracks, and hydrostatic pressure are typical causes of basement water damage.

Mold development, musty smells, moist walls or flooring, water stains, water pooling, and mold indicate a wet basement. If you see any of these symptoms, your basement may require waterproofing.

Interior and exterior waterproofing are the primary repair techniques that may be used during foundation repair. Exterior waterproofing entails placing a rubberized membrane on the outside of the foundation walls, and interior waterproofing entails installing a drainage system and sump pump inside the basement. To move water away from the home, exterior French drain installations may entail constructing a perforated pipe around the foundation perimeter.

Even though there are some DIY basement waterproofing kits on the market, it is often advised that you employ a professional to ensure the job is done correctly and prevent any potential mistakes that might lead to more water damage.

The basement’s size, condition, and waterproofing technique can all affect how long and how much it will cost to waterproof a basement. If you want a more precise estimate, it is advisable to contact a specialist.

Depending on the contractor, different waterproofing services may have a warranty or guarantee. When choosing a contractor, it’s crucial to inquire about warranties or guarantees and to check the fine print before signing any contracts.

Yes, by preventing possible water damage and mold development, which may be expensive to fix, basement waterproofing can raise the value of your property.

Expert Waterproofing Services for Your Home

GJ MacRae Foundation Repair has been the industry leader for reliable basement waterproofing in the Greater Toronto Area Since 1975. Nearly five decades of experience inform our proven multi-stage repair process based on below-grade drainage considerations that allow us to waterproof concrete blocks, poured walls, and stone rubble foundation walls properly for the long term. Our repair solutions for leaking foundation cracks include using bitumen-based barrier membranes and high-efficiency weeping tile systems, which give us the edge in reliability and allow for the most robust foundation repair warranty available today in the GTA. Experience the GJ MacRae difference for year-round basement leak repairs in Toronto, Oakville, Mississauga, Burlington, Hamilton, Milton, and Georgetown. If you spot cracked foundation walls, leaky foundations, or any other basement waterproofing issues in your house, reach out and call us today at (905) 824-2557.

Quality Foundation Repair Done Right.