North of Hoover
Waterproofing in Homewood
In Homewood the question to settle early is whether your water is groundwater or creek water. A waterproofing company deals with the first. The second is governed by the city's floodplain rules.
Call (205) 555-0115Where the city says flooding happens
Homewood's local flood areas page says its flood hazard areas lie mainly along Shades Creek, its tributaries and Griffin Brook, and that the ground along Griffin Brook and the Shades Creek tributaries has historically been hit hardest.
To find out whether your lot is inside the mapped area, the city's Engineering and Zoning office will check for you on 205-332-6800. It also links to Jefferson County's online flood map and says it is willing to talk with owners about protecting a property.
If your lot is in the mapped area
The city requires a Floodplain Development Permit for all development in a special flood hazard area. That can include regrading and anything built outside, so raise it with any company before it prices drainage work on your lot.
For shallow flooding, the city itself lists regrading the yard, small flood walls and flood-proofing walls or utilities as lower-cost measures. For deep flooding it says the building may have to be raised. Those are flood measures. A crawl space liner or a basement drain is built for seepage from the soil and will be overwhelmed by a creek leaving its banks. A company should tell you honestly which one you are facing.
When it is ordinary groundwater
Away from the creeks, a wet Homewood crawl space has the usual causes: roof water let go beside the wall, soil that has settled toward the house, open vents and bare dirt. The symptom page matches what you notice to a likely cause.
If the space under your floor is low, say so when you call. A crawl space too shallow to kneel in changes how the work is done, and sometimes which work is possible.
Who to tell about what
- A spill or unknown liquid going into a storm drain or stream: the city gives 205-332-6800.
- Sewage overflowing: the city's stormwater contact page gives 205-942-0681.
- A blocked drain or other street problem: the city's online Report an Issue form.
The numbers are from Homewood's stormwater contact page.
Before you hire
Checking a company's Alabama license takes a few minutes, and the steps are in choosing a waterproofing company. Homewood issues its own permits from City Hall on 19th Street South.