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French Drains, Sump Systems, Foundation Sealing.

Basement Waterproofing Contractors. NJ, PA & NYC.

Below-grade French drains, exterior protective coatings, foundation damp-proofing, and sump pump installation. The most-requested service in our service area.

Family-Owned Since 1947

Four Generations · Paul-Led

Written Proposal

Fixed Total · Clear Scope

Tri-State Coverage

NJ · PA · NYC · FL

By Paul Pennacchi·Fourth-Generation Owner, A. Pennacchi & Sons

Basement waterproofing is what clients call the most often, and it is the service we are reviewed for most. A. Pennacchi & Sons installs interior perimeter drainage systems, exterior excavation waterproofing, sump pump systems, and foundation sealing across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York City. Four generations of Pennacchi ownership. Paul-led on every project.

Basement Waterproofing: The Two Real Fixes For A Wet Basement.

The Two Real Fixes For A Wet Basement.

Waterproofing in the region reduces to two legitimate scopes. Interior systems manage water that is already entering: a trench is cut along the perimeter of the slab, a perforated drain pipe is installed on washed stone, and water is carried to a sump pump and ejected above grade. Exterior systems prevent water from entering in the first place: the foundation is excavated, cleaned, sealed with a bituminous or polymer membrane, and a drainage board and perimeter pipe are installed before backfill. Interior systems cost less and work reliably when executed correctly. Exterior systems cost more and are the gold standard when access allows excavation. We do both.

  • Interior perimeter French drain installation
  • Exterior foundation excavation and waterproofing
  • Sump pump installation with battery backup
  • Foundation crack injection and sealing
  • Window well drainage and sealing
  • Concrete floor crack repair and resurfacing
Basement Waterproofing: Why So Many Previous Attempts Fail.

Why So Many Previous Attempts Fail.

Most basements we fix have been "waterproofed" before. The three most common failure modes: a surface-applied sealer painted over damp block that peels within a season, a sump pump installed without a perimeter drain that cannot collect the water, and an exterior excavation that skipped the drainage board and perimeter pipe. Our diagnostic approach starts with identifying what has been tried before and why it failed, then designing a scope that addresses the root cause.

Basement Waterproofing: When The Basement Is A Symptom, Not The Problem.

When The Basement Is A Symptom, Not The Problem.

Water in a basement frequently originates from grading, gutters, or a foundation crack that is the visible end of a deeper issue. On most projects we coordinate with a roofer, mason, or grader to address the upstream causes before the basement scope starts. If the grade is pouring water into the foundation wall, no interior system will keep up. Diagnosis first, scope second.

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What Our Clients Say

A Reputation Built On Referrals.

5.0
Countless Google Reviews
MA

Michael Atkin

8 reviews

10 Months Ago

Knowledgeable, professional, reliable. Sent 6 masons to get the waterproofing job done quickly. Highly recommended. Has the knowhow to get the job done right the first time. A trustworthy expert firm.

Basement Waterproofing
LH

Lauren Hilton

1 review · 1 photo

A Year Ago

I had a roofer come out for a small leak in my attic. He fixed it and while up on the roof took pictures of my chimney. Told me I had a big problem. Lot of mortar missing. I called A. Pennacchi & Sons. Paul came out the next day. He told me what needed to be done and gave me a price. I asked him if I should add a few bricks to the top. He said "why do you want to spend more money?" What contractor says that? The men came out a few days later. On time, polite, got right to work, and cleaned up like they were never there. Paul had given me a choice of colors. His price was the best one. My chimney now looks absolutely beautiful. I would give them 10 stars.

Chimney Repoint
RT

Rich Treichler

11 reviews

A Year Ago

Great experience with Paul and the Pennacchi team. We contracted this firm to waterproof our basement and replace our basement windows. Nick was excellent at coordinating the effort, including preparation, window replacement, waterproofing, clean up, and follow up to inquire about and resolve a few questions. Happy to recommend Pennacchi and Sons.

Basement Waterproofing
BG

Brenda Giannacio

1 review

A Year Ago

A. Pennacchi & Sons has offered outstanding service since our first meeting. Honest, reliable, knowledgeable, and very responsive. The staff take pride in their work and are very respectful of your home. We highly recommend using them if you are having issues with a wet basement. We cannot thank them enough.

Basement Waterproofing
JA

Jackson Adolph

2 reviews

A Year Ago

Pennacchi sealed our basement 2 years ago. After a recent heavy rain we noticed seepage and asked Pennacchi to look at it. They sent Nick, who did an excellent job diagnosing the problem, finding the most likely seepage site, and then repairing it. Nick came by the next day, inspected the repair, and also improved sealing of 2 utility pipe entries. The rapid response, competency, diligence, and follow-up were excellent.

Basement Waterproofing Repair
MA

Mmm Aaa

Local Guide · 19 reviews · 24 photos

2 Years Ago

We are so impressed with Pennacchi & Sons. Multiple people recommended this company as the best in the region. For a company with a huge legacy, working throughout the county, there was no hesitation to see what our small job looked like and whether they could help. The crew was friendly, timely, and efficient. Ray walked us through the process, gave us a play-by-play for the best understanding of the work, and answered tons of questions. The end result was better than the original.

Masonry Restoration
MS

Michael Su

Local Guide · 11 reviews · 1 photo

2 Years Ago

Pennacchi has an exceptional reputation and we now have firsthand experience of their stellar work. The precision craftsmanship and professionalism are impressive. We had our chimneys repointed, brickwork restored, and a basement wall resealed. It all blends seamlessly and looks gorgeous. Ask for Sam as your foreman if you can, he was amazing. The entire crew was fantastic. Kudos to Paul and the leadership for building a great team. Impeccable service and beautiful finished product.

Chimney & Basement Sealing
AA

Adam Arif

Local Guide · 98 reviews · 1,020 photos

2 Years Ago

Pennacchi & Sons does amazing work. They restored my front door steps which were in bad condition. They fixed all the chips and cracks and painted them. Very professional and great service.

Stone Step Restoration
VC

Victoria Chow

9 reviews · 9 photos

3 Years Ago

Water was getting into my house because of the old brick exterior. It needed to be repointed and painted on the interior. Although this was a very small job, Paul and his son Paul Junior were incredibly professional, listened, and addressed my concerns. I left their crew to complete the work without being home and everything was safe and secure when I got back. They kept their work areas clean and took away their trash. Paul’s price was the most competitive. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Brick Repointing
WR

Wayne Richardson

8 reviews · 1 photo

3 Years Ago

My basement was leaking really bad and had 2 different companies come out and try to fix the problem with no luck. Decided to try a third time and luckily I came across APS. They came out and did amazing work and solved all my issues. Put in a French drain, sump pump, and stuccoed the walls. They had to fix all the problems the other companies did, and it was a great experience working with them. Paul was extremely professional. Highly recommend if you need the job done right the first time.

French Drain & Waterproofing
SB

S. B.

Local Guide · 14 reviews

3 Years Ago

These guys did a great job on my chimney with stucco.

Chimney Stucco
SS

Shibani Sharma

8 reviews

3 Years Ago

Excellent work. Very professional.

General Masonry
ES

Ellen Scanlon

Local Guide · 13 reviews · 1 photo

5 Years Ago

Pennacchi is the best. We had several jobs done in the past few months and found Paul and team to deliver exceptional work and service for reasonable prices. Very knowledgeable and professional. We had the basement waterproofed, foundation redone, and steps repointed. Extremely satisfied.

Foundation & Waterproofing
BC

Bill Cunningham

Local Guide · 78 reviews · 265 photos

5 Years Ago

The best in the business. Ask for Paul. Tell him Billy C. sent ya.

General Masonry
KT

Katia Ten Eyck

Local Guide · 24 reviews · 69 photos

6 Years Ago

We hired Pennacchi and Sons to waterproof our basement. We did not necessarily have issues, we just wanted to prevent any moisture problems in the future. We consulted with a few other people before speaking with Paul, the owner. Paul came up with an effective and cost-effective solution for us. We are very happy with the service and highly recommend Paul to everyone.

Basement Waterproofing
JM

John Monsport

7 reviews · 1 photo

6 Years Ago

These guys did an amazing job for us. 20 years of trying to get my basement dry and these guys finally got it to work. We actually had another company do it 15 years ago but we always got water back. Paul and his brothers worked hard and they cleaned us up as well. Thanks for letting me tell this story guys.

Basement Waterproofing
MS

Mike Salvador

2 reviews

6 Years Ago

I hired Pennacchi and Sons to do repair work on my chimney. In the 3 days they were here, they did an excellent job from start to finish. They also left my home in the same condition as it was before they came. I could not recommend this company more and would definitely hire them again if I needed future masonry work done.

Chimney Repair
MB

MeghanB

16 reviews · 2 photos

6 Years Ago

Gorgeous job repairing and painting my chimney.

Chimney Repair & Paint
BK

B. K.

Local Guide · 56 reviews · 1 photo

6 Years Ago

You want the best, call Paul at Pennacchi & Sons. Great work and he stands by all his work. A++

General Masonry
MP

Marcus Padulchick

Local Guide · 102 reviews · 32 photos

7 Years Ago

I would use them again. We needed a front porch and patio repaired. They did a great job and are very responsive to follow up. Attention to detail is certainly something I was impressed with.

Porch & Patio Repair
Our Process

How We Work.

  1. Step 01

    Request An Estimate

    Submit the form or call the Hamilton headquarters. A specialist replies within one business day to confirm scope and book the site visit.

  2. Step 02

    Site Visit

    A Pennacchi craftsman meets you at the property, identifies the failure mode, documents the scope with photographs, and reviews options with you on the spot.

  3. Step 03

    Written Proposal

    Within 5 business days you receive a fixed-price written proposal with a clear scope of work and a total price. No time-and-materials. No surprises.

  4. Step 04

    Production & Cleanup

    Our crews execute the work, tarp landscaping, enforce strict debris control, and cure the final joints before we invoice. Project leadership stays consistent start to finish.

Cost Of Waiting

Every Season Of Delay Makes The Fix Bigger.

Masonry failure is not a maintenance item. It is a cascade. A hairline mortar crack lets water in, freeze-thaw widens it, brick spalls, the wall destabilizes, and what was a modest repoint two winters ago becomes a full-envelope rebuild. On every basement waterproofing project we quote, the scope is always smaller now than it will be next year. The earlier you book a site visit, the smaller the job.

Interior Or Exterior Waterproofing. Which Is Better?
Exterior is the technical gold standard because it stops water before it reaches the foundation. Interior is the right call when excavation is impractical (finished exterior, hardscape, neighbor-sharing wall) and it works reliably when properly installed. A site visit is the only way to determine which fits your property.
How Long Does A French Drain Last?
A properly installed interior French drain with a clean sump system runs for 25 to 40 years with minimal maintenance. Failures typically come from silt accumulation or pump failure, both fixable with service rather than reinstall.
Do I Need A Battery Backup Sump Pump?
In our region, yes. The heaviest basement water events happen during thunderstorm-related power outages. A battery backup pump runs for 6 to 12 hours on a full charge, which covers the vast majority of outages we see.
Can You Waterproof A Historic Stone Foundation?
Yes. Stone foundations require different techniques than poured concrete or block. We use interior French drain systems with vapor barriers rather than surface sealers, which trap moisture behind the finish and accelerate stone decay.
Start Your Project

Ready To Discuss Your Basement Waterproofing Project?

Call the Hamilton headquarters or submit the form. A specialist replies within one business day to confirm scope and schedule a site visit.

Call Now Get Estimate