Key Takeaways
- Waterproofing PD is the Best Overall Waterproofing Basement. It combines interior and exterior waterproofing with engineered underpinning and basement lowering, a perfect 5/5 HomeStars score and help with the City of Toronto subsidy.
- Dryshield: a strong fit for foundation cracks, crawl spaces and commercial waterproofing, with the widest range of crack injection services in this comparison.
- Aquatech: a strong fit if review volume and drain work matter most, with 853 HomeStars reviews and a published price match guarantee.
- All three hold a 5/5 HomeStars rating, so the real differences sit in service scope, warranty wording and how each company handles structural work.
- This comparison is based on desk research of public sources, checked on October 6, 2026.
Wet Basement, Three Quotes, Three Different Diagnoses
A leaking Toronto basement can leave you facing conflicting advice. One contractor recommends crack injection, another exterior excavation, and a third digging up the basement floor. Each approach addresses different water-entry problems and varies significantly in scope and cost.
This comparison examines Waterproofing PD, Dryshield and Aquatech, focusing on verified services, customer feedback and the homeowners each may suit. The goal is to help you understand the differences and assess your quotes with greater confidence.
Our Criteria for Comparing These Companies
This article is desk research. We did not inspect properties, test systems or interview customers. Instead, we reviewed each company's website, its HomeStars profile and relevant City of Toronto guidance against six criteria:
- Verified service scope and Toronto coverage
- Customer ratings, review volume and recurring feedback themes
- Awards and credentials, separated from memberships and platform badges
- Published warranty terms
- Assessment and quotation process
- Suitability for different basement problems
Where a claim comes only from a company's own marketing, we say so.
Comparison Table
The table summarises what we could confirm. "Not publicly confirmed" means we could not verify the details, not that the company lacks it.
Here Are The 3 Basement Waterproofing Companies
1. Waterproofing PD- Best overall waterproofing basement
Waterproofing PD, formerly Edko Enterprise, is a family-owned company that says it has served Toronto since 2010 from an Etobicoke office. Its published services cover exterior and interior waterproofing, sump pumps, foundation and crack repair, parging, egress windows, wet basement inspection reports, slab replacement and basement lowering.
That breadth matters because water and structure often meet in older Toronto homes. Waterproofing PD's basement underpinning Toronto service builds new footings below the existing ones to add ceiling height, and the company states every project runs on engineer-stamped drawings and a city permit. Underpinning is a structural renovation, not a leak repair, and a wet basement does not call for it on its own. It earns its place when you also want more headroom or the footings themselves need strengthening, and the company installs new drainage and membrane while the floor is open.
The awards and features Waterproofing PD highlights carry different weight, so each is worth reading on its own terms:
- HomeStars Best of Award Winner 2024. Waterproofing PD displays this badge, and a current HomeStars directory listing also shows a Best of Awards 2026 badge on its profile. HomeStars is a review platform, so this is platform recognition tied to customer feedback rather than an industry certification.
- Transferable Lifetime Warranty. This is a company warranty, not an award. Its about page offers a lifetime transferable warranty on waterproofing, while the warranty page also refers to 25-year terms and lists 10 years of labour coverage on sump pump installation. Ask which term applies to your package, in writing.
- Toronto Subsidy Program. This refers to the City of Toronto's Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program, which offers up to $6,650 per property for eligible work such as sump pumps and backwater valves. It is a municipal program, not an endorsement. The City requires your contractor to hold a valid City of Toronto business licence, so confirm that before work starts.
- Veteran Owned Business. Waterproofing PD displays this badge. We could not identify an issuing organisation, so treat it as a company-stated ownership detail.
- Waterproofing PD displays Fully Insured, Toronto City Rebates and WSIB Ontario badges on its website.
Waterproofing PD holds a 5/5 HomeStars rating from 148 reviews as of October 6, 2026. Recurring themes include owner Edgar's on-site involvement, clear explanations and tidy job sites. A Scarborough homeowner wrote:
"Edgar was incredibly knowledgeable and the team worked incredibly hard." Roslin, Scarborough 5⭐ on HomeStars (November 2025)
Another reviewer tied the service directly to the City subsidy:
"Edgar took care of all the paper work for the rebate" HomeOwner 5⭐ on HomeStars (January 2025)
Where It Excels:
- One company covers waterproofing, underpinning, lowering and egress work, which reduces hand-offs between trades.
- The company publishes a detailed underpinning process, from engineering and permits through staged excavation.
- Reviews repeatedly mention owner involvement and subsidy paperwork support.
Where It Falls Short:
- Its 148 HomeStars reviews are well below the other two companies' totals.
- Warranty terms appear as both lifetime and 25 years across its pages, so you must confirm coverage in your contract.
Best suited for: Toronto homeowners fixing a leak who may also want a taller, finished or legal basement.
Why it is our Best Overall pick: all three companies match on rating. Waterproofing PD stands out because it pairs full waterproofing with documented structural capability, then backs that with consistent review feedback and practical subsidy help.
2. Dryshield- Best for crack repair and crawl space specialist
Dryshield says it has more than 25 years of experience and lists a City of Toronto licence number for basement waterproofing on its homepage. Its menu leans heavily on crack repair, with polyurethane and epoxy injection, plus crawl space encapsulation and commercial work such as parking garages and elevator pits.
Dryshield advertises a lifetime transferable warranty on waterproofing and injection work, with a 25-year term listed for exterior excavation crack repair. It also states it holds a BBB A+ rating, and a HomeStars directory listing shows Best of the Best 2024 and Best of Awards 2026 badges.
Its HomeStars rating is 5/5 from 552 reviews as of October 6, 2026, with recent feedback praising communication and clean sites.
Where It Excels:
- Deep crack injection specialisation for poured concrete foundations
- Crawl space and commercial waterproofing experience
Where It Falls Short:
- We found no published underpinning or basement lowering service, so ask before assuming structural work is available.
Best suited for: Homeowners with a defined crack leak, a crawl space problem or a commercial property.
3. Aquatech- Best for high-volume waterproofing and drain contractor
Aquatech says it has served Ontario since 1996. It lists a City of Toronto building renovator licence covering waterproofing, underpinning and concrete floors, alongside drain repair, backwater valves, sump pumps, battery backups and basement lowering.
The company offers a price match guarantee on equivalent work and describes its coverage as a 25-year transferable lifetime warranty. It also states it holds a BBB A+ rating, multiple HomeStars Best of wins and a 2026 Top Choice Award.
Where It Excels:
- The highest review volume of the three
- Broad drain and backwater valve capability alongside waterproofing
Where It Falls Short:
- Its warranty wording pairs "25-year" with "lifetime", so confirm the exact term and exclusions before signing.
Best suited for: Homeowners who want an established, high-volume contractor for waterproofing combined with drain work.
Key Questions to Ask a Basement Waterproofing Contractor in Toronto
Where is the water coming in? Ask for the diagnosed entry point and the evidence behind it.
Why does this solution fit my house? A crack injection, interior drain or exterior membrane each solves a different problem.
Interior or exterior, and why? Ask what the alternative would cost and what it would change.
What does the written scope exclude? Confirm restoration of landscaping, flooring and drywall.
Who does the work, and are they insured? Ask whether crews are employees or subcontractors.
What does the warranty cover? Check exclusions, duration and transferability.
If underpinning is proposed: the City of Toronto requires a building permit, and engineer testing and reports during at least the first and last construction stages.
FAQs
What is the difference between basement waterproofing and underpinning?
Waterproofing stops water from entering the basement. Underpinning deepens the foundation with new footings to add height or strengthen the structure. They solve different problems, and a leak on its own is not a reason to underpin.
How do interior and exterior waterproofing differ?
Exterior waterproofing excavates outside to apply a membrane and drainage against the wall. Interior systems collect water inside, usually through a perimeter drain and sump pump. The right choice depends on access, finishes and where water enters.
What should a waterproofing quotation include?
A clear quote names the diagnosed problem, the exact method, linear footage, materials, restoration work, exclusions, timeline and warranty. Vague line items make quotes impossible to compare.
What should homeowners check in a waterproofing warranty?
Check the duration, what failure it covers, whether labour is included, exclusions such as hydrostatic pressure, and whether the warranty transfers to a buyer.
How should homeowners compare contractor ratings and reviews?
Compare ratings on the same platform and scale, then look at review volume and recency. Read reviews for your type of job, since crack repair feedback says little about underpinning.
Conclusion
Dryshield and Aquatech are both well-reviewed choices, and each has a clear strength in crack injection or high-volume drain work.
Waterproofing PD earns our Best Overall recommendation because it pairs complete waterproofing with engineered underpinning and basement lowering, holds a perfect HomeStars score and helps homeowners with the City subsidy process.
Whichever company you call, get a property-specific assessment and compare written quotations line by line before you sign.
