Properly done, yes they do. You have to remove the water

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Moderator Post (s) for this thread: > Oh, I fully understand. The cost and mess is going to be huge by Bruno1949 on 03/12/2011

from the foundation some how or other. If you can't divert the water away from the house then your only option is to tackle it at the foundation. Surface drains won't do much. The drains have to be all the way down to the footings to keep water from entering from under the foundation.

Properly done with water proof foundation covering going all the way up to the siding and all the way down to the footings, coupled with a good, well designed french drain at or below the footings, will keep your basement dry no matter how much rain you get.

Anything less might help a little but is generally a waste of money. Sump pumps in the basement only takes care of the water after it has already entered the house and damaged the foundation and floor. Water proofing the inside of the foundation is generally a waste of time and money for the same reason. The water has already done its damage and it's difficult to seal a wall against water pressure from the inside. The water proofing on the outside of the foundation actually gets better when the water is forced against it.

If you have water problems in the basement then it's best to grit your teeth and have it done right in the first place. Like so many things, do it cheaply and poorly five times or do it properly once.