Photo Album: Waterproofing a Basement and Crawl Space in Cement City

Jon called us with suspicions of both his basement and his crawl space. His basement "got wet sometimes" and he was concerned there was a moisture issue in the crawl space, but none of it had been that code red level that makes someone rush to the phone. He was right, though, that he had water issues in both the basement and crawl space, and while they weren't a crisis yet, they were already starting to affect the structure of the house by waterlogging support beams. We installed WaterGuard below-floor drain system in the basement as well as a new Super Sump pump to replace the old, ineffective pump. In the crawl space, we encapsulated with CleanSpace and installed a new door and vent covers to keep the outside out of the crawl space. With the moisture issues taken care of, we installed a PowerBrace in the basement and SmartJacks in the crawl space to take care of a few structural issues.

Water Damage on Basement Floor

Basement floors show signs of water damage for one of a few reasons: either there is consistent standing water, or the water is coming up through the floor itself. Either way, it showcases the need for a perimeter drainage system.

Peeling Paint and Warping Steps Show Water Damage

Bubbling and peeling paint are huge red flags for water damage, as water comes through the walls and takes the paint with it. Also, as you can see on the steps, darkened areas show waterlogged wood.

Ineffective Sump Pump Leads to Wet Basement

1) The sump pump wasn't very good, and 2) There was no drainage system to direct the water to it. This led to water just pooling in the basement instead of actually being removed.

Moisture Problems in Crawl Space

Meanwhile, over in the crawl space, there are multiple signs of efflorescence on the walls and visible water damage on the support beams.

Vented Crawl Space Increases Moisture Issues

Don't vent your crawl space! If your crawl space has vents, call us to cover them! Crawl space vents are an outdated troubleshooting method of reducing moisture by increasing air flow, but in what world does a hole from the outside lead to LESS moisture?

Mold and Water Damage in Crawl Space

What you see on the beams up there is what happens when you have crawl space vents. Mold is not only a health hazard, but it weakens the support beams and can lead to collapse.

Super Sump Pump Keeps Basement Dry

Instead of just hoping the water makes it to the sump pump, which may not be able to keep up, we installed a Super Sump and tied it into the WaterGuard to make sure it proactively discharges the water.

IceGuard Prevents Water Backup

In the event of the discharge line freezing in the winter (which, since it's underground, and Michigan, may happen), the IceGuard cover will prevent water from backing up into and flooding the basement by allowing it to escape through the vents.

Vent Covers Keep Crawl Space Dry

By sealing the crawl space, it's kept protected from the elements and can be humidity controlled.

Energy Savings Package Keeps Crawl Space Insulated and Dry

Our "energy savings package" involves CleanSpace, SilverGlo insulation panels, and FrothPak spray insulation, and works to keep the crawl space protected from ambient moisture and insulated against the elements.