Basement Waterproofing in Gig Harbor, WA

Basement waterproofing in Gig Harbor: what to know

A footing trench more than one foot deep reaches the city’s grading list, which also covers any excavation of 50 cubic yards or more. The small-excavation exemption in GHMC 14.40.040 applies only to cuts under one foot deep. Its five-foot item covers grading within five feet of a proposed footing for a building under a permit, so we confirm whether it reaches an existing foundation before we assume it does.

Drain connections are the other question. Work on infrastructure tied into city water, sewer, or stormwater, and on private stormwater infrastructure, falls under the civil permit list, so a footing line that ties into the city system is reviewed before the tie-in. We confirm the outlet under the city’s 2023 stormwater manual before any trench opens.

Permits and rules in Gig Harbor

We check the excavation depth and volume against the grading list, check whether the trench sits within five feet of a building footing under permit, and confirm whether any tie-in reaches city stormwater infrastructure. Each answer comes from the city, and we verify the outlet before the trench is opened.

Rules change and vary by parcel, so we confirm the current requirements with the city before we start.

How we approach it

Trace water from roof, grade, or groundwater before excavating
Measure trench depth and volume against the grading list
Confirm any stormwater tie-in with Public Works before the pipe is laid
Keep each discharge on the lot unless the city approves a connection

For the full process, see our Basement Waterproofing page.

Our basement waterproofing work, serving Gig Harbor

Examples of our work. We build basement waterproofing in Gig Harbor and the cities around it. See all of our work

Questions from Gig Harbor homeowners

What causes a Gig Harbor basement to stay damp through winter?

Roof runoff, the grade along the house, and the footing drain can each send water toward a foundation, so we check all three before deciding whether a trench is needed.

Can a Gig Harbor footing line feed into the city storm network?

Only after the city reviews the tie-in. Work on infrastructure tied into city stormwater falls under the civil permit list, so we confirm the connection point before any pipe is laid.

Does a trench beside a Gig Harbor foundation trigger grading review?

The grading list reaches a trench more than one foot deep or a cut of 50 cubic yards or more, unless an exemption applies. Cuts under one foot may fall under the annual exemption, so we measure before we quote.