Finished Basement Protected in Kalamazoo County

Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 by Jared McCarthy

Challenge

Mike H. noticed large puddles of water gathering around the base of his basement walls. With the basement finished and used as a main living area, Mike feared potential mold growth beneath the carpet. The work needed to be done quickly, and we were able to resolve his basement concerns in less than two weeks after the inspection.

Solution

The first step was to protect all items that wouldn’t be involved in the waterproofing process. A thick tarp was laid down, moving the items to the center of the room and careful consideration from the crew ensured the job would be clean.

The DryTrak Drainage Pipe System was ideal for this finished basement because it eliminated the need for jackhammering by sitting above the floor. This system collects water from the walls and floor joists and directs the captured water straight to the sump pump.

However, Mike’s old sump pump wouldn’t handle the increased workload, so he upgraded to the Super Sump pump system. It pumps 2200 gallons per hour at a 8-foot discharge head and resists clogging up to ½-inch solids.

Once the water has been captured and is ready to be pumped out, the final step is to get the water outside and make sure it stays away from the home. Extra drainage pipes were installed to make sure the outflowing water wouldn’t find its way back into the home. A LawnScape outlet and IceGuard were put on to prevent water backup during the winter.