Your Washington waterproofing and foundation specialists
Washington straddles the Fall Line, which splits the city into two very different worlds for water. Hilly northwest neighborhoods sit on firm Piedmont bedrock, while large parts of the city near the rivers rest on flat Coastal Plain sediments and historic fill with a high water table. DC's signature rowhomes, with their below-grade cellars, sit on both.
DC's geology and the Fall Line
Northwest DC — Tenleytown, Cleveland Park, and the high ground — sits on crystalline Piedmont bedrock and clay soils. Toward the Anacostia and the rivers, the city sits on Coastal Plain sands, silts, and filled ground with a water table close to the surface. Many low-lying areas were marsh or fill historically, which keeps groundwater high.
Common crawl space & foundation problems in Washington
DC's rowhomes typically have brick or stone foundations and finished or semi-finished cellars that sit partly below grade. In low-lying areas, a high water table drives hydrostatic pressure and seepage; on the hills, runoff and clay soils push moisture against the wall. Tight urban lots leave little room for exterior fixes.
- High water table in low-lying river-adjacent areas
- Damp below-grade cellars under rowhomes
- Hydrostatic pressure and seepage through walls
- Runoff and clay pressure in hillier NW neighborhoods
- Limited exterior access on tight city lots
Popular services in Washington
Neighborhoods we serve in Washington
We serve neighborhoods across the District, including: Capitol Hill · Georgetown · Cleveland Park · Petworth · Brookland · Columbia Heights · Shaw · Tenleytown · Anacostia · Brightwood. Don't see your neighborhood? We cover the surrounding area too — just ask.