What to check around a New Westminster home
Check 1
Find the drainage records
Where available, plans and permit history can help identify later alterations, buried piping, or basement work. Do not assume a visible pipe serves the function a contractor expects without tracing it.
Check 2
Inspect before concealment
New Westminster's plumbing guidance requires inspection of underground piping before it is covered by a slab. Confirm required inspections before interior drainage work is closed in.
Check 3
Review major grade changes
Large fill or grade changes can affect drainage and may need a soil deposit permit, drainage plans, or professional review. Check before using regrading as a cure for seepage.
Local drainage and permit context
The City's plumbing permit guide notes that a building permit will generally precede a plumbing permit, while its soil-deposit process can require drainage information and a geotechnical report for larger work.
Municipal guidance changes and a rule for new construction may not apply to a maintenance repair. Confirm the address, scope, permits, and inspections directly with the municipality before work begins.
Official New Westminster references
Use these municipal sources to verify drainage, flood, and permit questions. Wet Basement Repair BC is an independent research directory and is not affiliated with the municipality.
Repair approaches to compare
The right scope should follow the diagnosed source. Compare proposals by the water path they address, the drainage outlet they rely on, required inspections, restoration exclusions, maintenance, and written warranty terms.
Wet basement repair
A problem-first repair path that starts with the water entry mechanism instead of jumping straight to a single product or method.
Basement waterproofing
A broad term for controlling recurring water intrusion with interior, exterior, or combined drainage and sealing methods.
Foundation crack repair
Focused repair for leaking or stable foundation cracks, with the method chosen according to whether the crack is only leaking or also moving.
Exterior foundation waterproofing
Excavation-based waterproofing that stops water before it reaches the wall by rebuilding the foundation’s outside protection layer.
Interior drainage systems
A perimeter collection system that catches seepage inside the basement and moves it to a sump or discharge point.
Crawlspace encapsulation
A moisture-control approach for crawlspaces that combines sealing, drainage, and humidity management instead of leaving the space open to soil moisture.