Below Grade Waterproofing: What It Is and Why It Could Be Important to You

If you've searched "what does below grade mean" or "what is below-grade waterproofing," here's the short answer, followed by what it means for your property.

What Does "Below Grade" Mean in Construction?

"Grade" refers to ground level. Anything below grade — a basement wall, a crawl space, a foundation footing — sits at or under the surrounding soil line. Because that soil holds moisture and shifts with rainfall, anything built below grade is in constant contact with water pressure that structures above ground never experience.

So, What Is Below Grade Waterproofing?

Below-grade waterproofing is the work of keeping water out of those underground and ground-level structures — sealing, draining, and redirecting water away from walls and footings before it can penetrate the structure. It's different from surface drainage work (regrading a yard, French drains) in one key way: below-grade waterproofing addresses water at the structure itself, not just water moving across the property.

What This Includes:

• Foundation waterproofing — sealing and water management at the foundation itself

• Crawl space waterproofing — keeping moisture and standing water out of crawl spaces

• Structural crack repair — addressing cracks that are letting water in

Signs You May Need It

• Standing water in your yard near the foundation after rain

• Damp or musty smells in a crawl space or basement

• Visible water stains or efflorescence (white mineral deposits) on below-grade walls

• Water intrusion during heavy rain that wasn't there in prior years

If any of these sound familiar, it's worth having it looked at before it becomes a larger repair.

How Scott Lockhart Drainage Contractor Approaches It

Scott Lockhart Drainage Contractor has been assessing and solving Austin-area water problems since 1984 — 10,000+ projects, 41 years in the field. When our team evaluates a below-grade waterproofing job, we look at the whole water path: where it's coming from, how it's reaching the structure, and the most direct way to redirect or seal it out.

Think You Might Have a Below-Grade Water Issue?

Give us a call at 512-790-8564 and we'll help you figure out what's actually going on — no guesswork, no upsell.