Photo Album: Waterproofing a Church Basement in Three Rivers, MI

We received a call from the management of a church in Three Rivers when they discovered multiple points of entry for water in the basement. The window well and several spots on multiple walls were all suspected, and they needed an inspection to figure out what was going on. We installed WaterGuard below-floor drain and two Super Sump pumps to effectively collect and discharge the water, and used CleanSpace vapor barrier on a wall that had many hairline cracks that were allowing ambient moisture in. We also extended the downspouts outside to minimize the amount of water collecting around the foundation and put in some floor supports where the floor was weakening.

Foundation Cracks Let Water Into Basement

The crack visible on the wall was leaking, which begins a vicious cycle where water widens the crack, which allows more water to come through, and so on. Discoloration is visible on the carpet, which means the water has been present for a while.

Exterior of Leaking Window Well

The frame of the leaking window breaking down, which happens after consistent water influx. Egress windows, if installed improperly, are prone to leaks as the soil around them shifts.

Short, Poorly Placed Downspout Adds to Water Problems

Downspouts are rarely the only problem in a building with water problems, but they can certainly add to the problems. When water from the gutters is dispersed right at the foundation, you're basically doubling the amount of water in that spot. And right next to the egress? You're asking for trouble.

Wet Carpet in Basement

When a basement is finished and has water problems, it can take longer to notice because the carpet can disguise telltale staining and other signs.

Warped Linoleum Under Leaking Window

Although there were multiple water entry points, the window well was the worst offender. The floor underneath the window shows major signs of long term water damage - the linoleum is warped and it's very likely that there's mold growing underneath it.

WaterGuard Installation in Progress

Once the WaterGuard is in place we secure it in preparation for new concrete.

SuperSump Pump Removes Water From Basement

By installing sump pumps at the low points of the basement, we're able to tie WaterGuard into them and route the water directly to the pumps so it can be discharged outside quickly.

Second Sump Pump Covers Basement Low Point

Since they didn't want to install a full perimeter of WaterGuard in the multi-room, expansive basement, we were able to install two sections of WaterGuard tied into two SuperSump pumps that covered the problem areas.

Running the Discharge Line Outside

The discharge line is run out through the drop ceiling, through the foundation and outside so the water can be dispersed away from the basement.

New Concrete Restores Floor

Once the WaterGuard is in place, we pour new concrete to restore the floor. Then carpet or other flooring can be installed and the basement can return to use.

New Concrete Around Sump Pump

When new concrete is poured, the sump pump is secured in place.

Extending the Downspouts to Eliminate Problem Discharge

We installed a series of downspout extensions and tied them into a discharge line that extended away from the foundation of the church. The next two photos will show the scope of the new discharge.

Downspout Extension Bypasses Leaking Window

Instead of water coming out of the downspout right next to the window that was leaking into the basement, our extension bypasses both windows entirely and takes water a safe distance away.

Massive Downspout Extension Keeps Water Away From Foundation

By extending both downspouts on the side of the church with the biggest water problems, we can keep the extra water from the gutters from running into the foundation.