Photo Album: Waterproofing a Basement to Prepare for Finishing

Our customer called because their basement was wet and moldy and they wanted to start down the path of finishing it for extra living space. "Currently it is moldy, damp, dark and floods with every rain storm," they said when first talking to us. During heavy rain it seemed that water was running straight down the walls and it had been that way for two years. There was also a small crawl space off of the basement that had similar moisture problems. The first step in creating usable space in a basement is waterproofing and ensuring that it will stay dry. We installed a full perimeter of WaterGuard below-floor drain and a TripleSafe sump pump to route all water to the pump and outside. We also encapsulated the crawl space and installed SilverGlo insulation panels. Our customers have taken the first - and biggest - step to finishing their basement.

Unpleasant Wet Basement In Charlotte

It's difficult to imagine this basement being a usable, finished living space with the condition it was in during our inspection, but that's the end goal, and we'll help them get there.

Peeling Walls in Wet Basement

A constant influx of water peels paint off the surface of the poured section of concrete, which is what you see here.

Moldy Beams in Basement

Constant ambient moisture coming from flooding causes the support beams in the basement's ceiling to mold. Over time this can weaken the beams and compromise the structural integrity.

Efflorescence in Wet Basement

When water travels through the concrete blocks, it dissolves minerals present, leaving them behind on the surface of the block when it evaporates. That is the white residue shown. It's largely a nuisance, but over time it can begin to degrade the blocks.

Musty Crawl Space

Even the tall portion of the crawl space wasn't very tall, and the entire thing was filled with damp debris.

Leveling Sump Pump for Installation

We make sure that the sump crock is level before installing the pumps to prevent uneven water distribution or false alarms.

WaterGuard Installation in Progress

One of our crew members lays WaterGuard track.

Small Crawl Space Encapsulated for Humidity Protection and Energy Savings

We used CleanSpace to encapsulate the crawl space against ambient moisture, and SilverGlo insulation panels to prevent energy loss.

TripleSafe Sump Pump Ready for Action

With three powerful pumps and a battery backup, the TripleSafe will get you through a storm - even if your power goes out.

New Concrete Restores Floor

Once everything is in place, we pour new concrete to restore the floor. When the concrete dries it will be almost indistinguishable from the original floor.