Basement Waterproofing: How much does it cost?

Waterproofing a basement costs on average 217 Euro per meter, depending on the method used.

Waterproofing a basement ranges from 77 to 357 Euro per meter.

Basement waterproofing protects your home from moisture, mold, and other damage. A dry basement is easier to heat and can also be used as living space.

Depending on the type of waterproofing, which is influenced by soil and wall conditions, you should expect costs in the triple-digit range per square meter.

Factors influencing the cost:

Type of waterproofing
Size of the basement
Type of moisture and resulting damage
Possible additional costs

How to save money

You can save money by doing some work yourself. For example, removing old plaster, repainting, or smoothing walls can reduce labor hours. Since labor costs make up a significant portion of total expenses, saving here is more effective than skimping on materials. However, the actual waterproofing should be done by experts.

Costs of different methods

There are several methods for basement waterproofing, generally divided into external and internal methods. Also, you may need vertical or horizontal barriers depending on the direction of moisture intrusion.

External waterproofing methods:

Black tank with bitumen (including earthworks): 400–450 Euro per running meter
K-tank with PVC: 30–40 Euro per m²
Excavation: 20–30 Euro per m³

External waterproofing works best for new buildings. Retrofitting is often more complicated because exterior walls cannot always be fully excavated.

Internal waterproofing methods (for basements with ≤60% humidity to prevent mold):

Wall saw method

Common for protecting against rising damp.
Cuts the entire masonry over a one-meter length.
Suitable for all wall types and thicknesses.
Cost: 77–357 Euro per running meter.

Cost table (wall saw method):

Material	Cost per meter
Masonry ≤25 cm	77–100 Euro
Masonry ≤38 cm	90–116 Euro
Masonry ≤50 cm	108–140 Euro
Sandstone ≤25 cm	122–157 Euro
Sandstone ≤38 cm	132–170 Euro
Sandstone ≤50 cm	187–241 Euro
Basalt-lime ≤25 cm	132–170 Euro
Basalt-lime ≤38 cm	181–233 Euro
Basalt-lime ≤50 cm	277–357 Euro

Curtain injection

Applied to seal the floor slab.
Drill into slab and inject gel to form a waterproof curtain.
Cost: 74–154 Euro per meter.

Cost table (curtain injection):

Wall thickness	Cost per meter
≤25 cm	93–127 Euro
≤38 cm	103–148 Euro
≤50 cm	127–170 Euro

Area injection

Gel or resin is injected after drilling a grid of holes into masonry.
Cost: 93–170 Euro per running meter.

Cost table (area injection):

Wall thickness	Cost per meter
≤25 cm	74–99 Euro
≤38 cm	91–130 Euro
≤50 cm	107–154 Euro

Wall replacement

For heavily damaged walls; replace masonry with concrete or other materials.
Cost: 102–135 Euro per running meter.

Steel plate method

Stainless steel plates are inserted into masonry joints to prevent rising damp.
Cost: 98–210 Euro per meter.

Cost table (steel plate):

Wall thickness	Cost per meter
≤25 cm	98–127 Euro
≤38 cm	122–157 Euro
≤50 cm	162–210 Euro

Experts will recommend the best method. Horizontal water intrusion requires horizontal barriers internally or externally.

Tip: Consider combining waterproofing with basement renovation to prevent heat loss. Insulation may be eligible for KfW funding.

Professional assessment

Before waterproofing, a professional inspection is necessary to determine the best method and detect hidden damage. Cost: 250–350 Euro.

Additional costs

Additional expenses may include:

Re-plastering walls: 31–48 Euro/m² for base plaster, 21–34 Euro/m² for finishing plaster
Removing old plaster: 12–118 Euro/m²
Renting a drying device: 5–15 Euro/day