Weeping Tile Winnipeg: Does Yours Need Work?

Weeping tile Winnipeg homeowners ask about usually comes up right after a leak, when a contractor says the tile may be to blame. That can be a lot to take in when you are mopping the floor.

Call [PHONE] and tell us what you were told.

How do you know it might be the weeping tile?

Only someone who looks can say for sure, but here is what people tend to notice first.

• Water comes in low on the wall.
• It leaks after rain or snow melt.
• A spot that was always dry is now wet.

On the night of a big storm in April 2022, one Winnipeg homeowner with a stone foundation built in 1911 found water in a corner that had never leaked before. They said they could hear the weeping tile running.

Should it be repaired or replaced?

It depends on what the contractor finds, so get answers to these questions before you say yes to anything.

• How did you check the tile, and what did you see?
• Why do you want to repair it instead of putting in new tile, or the other way around?
• Will the work happen inside the basement or out in the yard?
• What will you put in writing?

Write the answers down. A contractor who has looked at the job should be glad to answer each one in plain words.

What about a sump pump?

If a contractor brings up a sump pump with new weeping tile, ask why your house needs one and what it will do. Get that in writing, too.

What else could cause the leak?

A crack in the wall can let water in, and so can ground outside that slopes toward the house. Our page on basement waterproofing covers those, and our crack repair page helps if you can see a crack in the wall.

Questions people ask

Is weeping tile a big job?

It can be. The size of the job depends on your house and what is wrong, so ask for the plan in writing before any digging starts. If the problem turns out to be something else, like a sinking floor or a door that sticks, see our page on foundation repair in Winnipeg.

Why is there no price here?

No two houses are the same. Our cost guide lists what changes a quote.

Call about your basement

Find the contractor's notes if you have them, along with any photos of the wet spot, and keep them near the phone. Then call [PHONE].