If you’ve recently moved into a new home, suddenly finding water in the basement is a huge shock. After all, it’s old homes that should be having these problems, right? Unfortunately, new homes have a couple of potential causes for basement flooding as well. Because the home is new, you’re the first family living in it after it’s been built. That means, any issue in the construction of the building that’s gone unnoticed until now is now your problem.
For now, we’ll focus on basement flooding in a new home. Basement flooding is likely caused by different things in a new home than in an old one. If you need help with basement flooding in an older home, check out our next article. If you’re struggling with moisture, rather than water, we have an article for you as well.
Warning Signs of Construction Flaws in New Homes
New homes aren’t immune to serious oversights. Here are some signs your builder may have cut corners:
- Water stains on the basement floor or walls
- Unsealed pipe penetrations through foundation walls
- Poor downspout placement near the foundation
- No visible sump pump or drainage access
- Cracks forming shortly after move-in
These red flags should be investigated immediately to avoid long-term water damage.
Poor Plumbing
Unfortunately, not all buildings are made with good plumbing. Plumbing contractors are often hired to do the entire plumbing system in a new home as it’s being built. If the company in charge of the building’s construction wants to save money, they’ll cut corners. That can mean that they hire people with a poor reputation or lack of training. That leads to a home with extremely poor plumbing.
If pipe connections are done wrong or placed poorly, or even if the wrong size piping is used, the new owners of the home may end up with a burst pipe right off the bat. A burst, inflowing pipe means an immediate flooding situation. If the pipe is placed in a wall without any nearby openings, or below the main floor, a burst will lead to basement flooding. In that case, you need immediate, emergency plumbing assistance.
How do you know if poor plumbing is the cause of your basement flooding? The easiest way to figure this out is by ruling out water from outside. If it’s not storming and the water looks clear, it’s probably from a burst pipe. If it is storming, but the water looks clear, you might need a professional’s opinion. Storm water is typically filled with sediment, but stranger things have happened than clear storm water.
Poor or Nonexistent Waterproofing
If your home was just recently built, it’s unlikely that your basement has flooded from through the basement walls, but not impossible. If the basement walls were built poorly, there may be enough space, perhaps between bricks, for water to come in. With exterior basement waterproofing, this wouldn’t be possible.
Any home in a location that risks heavy groundwater should have exterior basement waterproofing done during initial construction. However, this isn’t the industry standard, which leaves homeowners, like you, having to get that done yourself.
Give us a call and have us come out to assess your basement flooding. If we find that your walls are letting in groundwater, we can make a plan for you to have your basement walls waterproofed.
How to Check for Drainage Issues in a New Build
Even if everything looks new, drainage problems can already be forming. Here’s what you can do:
- Inspect basement walls after heavy rain
- Walk your yard — is water pooling near the home?
- Check gutter downspouts: do they extend far from the house?
- Ask the builder if weeping tile or perimeter drains were installed
- Request building plans or waterproofing documentation
Don’t assume a new build means perfect protection — verify it.
Poor Home Location
Finally, the basement flooding could be caused by poor location. For example, if your home is at the bottom of a hill, rainwater will pool there. While water pooling on the surface can cause issues, it’s more likely to cause problems after it’s soaked into the ground.
You know how the amount of water in your straw will always be at the same height as the water in your glass? This is from equilibrium. If the ground around your basement is full of water, that water will rise up, into the water-free space in your basement. The solution to this kind of flooding is installing a sump pump, which should have been done during construction.
Buying a New Home? What to Ask About Basement Protection
Before closing on a new home, ask:
- Was exterior waterproofing installed?
- Is there a sump pump system in place?
- Where does rainwater drain away from the property?
- Are there warranties covering water intrusion?
- Has the basement ever shown signs of moisture?
A little due diligence can save you from major renovation bills later.
Why Leaquida Is Your Partner for New Home Flood Prevention
We work with new homeowners across Toronto to fix what the builder missed. With Leaquida, you get:
- Full inspection of foundation and drainage
- Correction of poor slope or gutter placement
- Interior and exterior waterproofing retrofits
- Emergency pipe burst repairs
- Transparent advice and honest pricing
Schedule a consultation and protect your investment from the ground up.
FAQ
No — but it’s more common than you think. Poor construction oversight, cost-cutting contractors, or lack of proper waterproofing during the build can cause early flooding even in new homes.
Yes. If piping is misaligned, improperly sealed, or undersized, high water pressure can burst pipes soon after move-in. These breaks often occur in hidden areas, like behind walls or under floors, leading directly to basement flooding.
Unfortunately, exterior waterproofing isn’t always part of the building code and is often omitted to cut costs. Builders may assume soil grading and concrete alone will be enough — leaving you to fix the issue later.
If your home sits at the base of a slope or on low land, heavy rains will naturally flow and pool there. When the ground becomes saturated, groundwater rises through the basement floor — especially if there’s no sump pump installed.
You may have legal options, especially if the flooding was caused by negligent plumbing or building code violations. But first, you’ll need a professional assessment to confirm the cause and document the issues.
Always conduct a waterproofing inspection first. Even if no flooding has occurred yet, unseen vulnerabilities like soil pressure or missing drainage systems can ruin a finished basement down the line.
CLOGGED OR BROKEN WEEPING TILE