Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Waterproofing a Finished Basement in Rodney, MI

John called us because water was coming up through the floor and down the stairs of his partially finished basement. In addition to the WaterGuard system, which we tied into their sump pump, we installed the TrenchDrain system at the bottom of the stairs, which is used in doorways and other spots where large amounts of water may rush at once. We also used BrightWall panels to spruce up a cracked wall and applied the Sentry Seal membrane to repair wall cracks.

Water Damage on Basement Floor

Warping where the tile meets the walls is a red flag for standing water.

Sump Pump Needs Reliable Water Transport

A sump pump is a necessary feature for a basement, but if there's no way to get the water to it, it can't do much beyond hope. By installing a perimeter system and tying it in to the pump, we can guarantee that the water actually gets to the pump so it can be discharged outside.

Wall Cracks Let Water Into Basement

Despite their best efforts to repair the crack with what appears to be spackle, water is stronger and consistently made its way through to the basement.

Leaking Crack from Basement Window

This crack, emanating from the basement window, is another source of water and another attempt at DIY repair. This one looks like that rubberized spray paint, which is another valiant effort but ultimately fails in the face of water.

Cracks in Floor Allow Water Permeation

Hydrostatic pressure - water pressure from saturated soil - causes water to seep through and ultimately widen any cracks in the concrete floor.

Widespread Water Damage in Basement

You can see the warping all along the spot where the wall meets the floor, indicating consistent flooding and standing water.

Sealing Cracks Before BrightWall Installation

By using a flexible crack filler that moves with the crack as the soil causes the walls to shift, we can keep it from continuing to leak.

WaterGuard Installation in Finished Floor

Unfortunately, we need to sacrifice some of the floor tile to install the WaterGuard. But the benefit of a dry basement is worth it.

Trench Drain Eliminates Rushes of Water

By utilizing a wider grate like the TrenchDrain system in the doorway, we can catch rushes of water and shuttle them right to the sump pump via the WaterGuard system, which this is tied into.

WaterGuard Installation After Floor Restoration

Once the WaterGuard is installed, we pour new concrete to restore the floor. Inspection ports, like the one seen here, allow us quick and easy access to the system in the event that we need to service it.

BrightWall Gives Basement a Cleaner Look

Instead of that gross crack, your walls can look like this. Better yet, the BrightWall panels are water-resistant and inorganic (aka no mold here) and tie right into the WaterGuard system.