Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Waterproofing a Walkout Basement on Bass Lake

Our customers bought the home next to their own lake house as an investment property, and the basement was the last thing on their to do list. While there is a bowed wall and likely some crawl space work to do in the future, their immediate priority was waterproofing the walkout basement so it could be clean, dry, usable space. We installed the WaterGuard below-floor drain system and a TripleSafe sump pump to keep everything dry, and put Brightwall panels on the walls to cover the peeling paint and make everything brighter and more aesthetically pleasing, with the bonus of the panels being water and mold resistant and tied right into the drainage system for easy water routing.

Water Damage and Wall Cracks in Basement

Here we can see the dreaded stairstep crack in one wall, and cracks throughout both walls that someone tried to seal themselves to no avail. Standing water has left stains on the walls and floor as well.

Water Damage Under Stairs

The damage at the join of the floor and wall is evident here, as well as staining on the floor itself.

Bowing, Leaking Wall Shows Signs of DIY Repair Attempts

All of the spots where the seams between blocks are dark are the result of an attempt at DIY leak sealing. Popular products for these attempts include rubberized spray paint and spray foam insulation, but water always prevails and ends up on your floor.

External Reinforcement of Bowing Walls

Although they know it's something they'll need to fix in the future, at some point a contractor did some excavating and external reinforcement of the bowing wall.

Unsuccessful Attempts at Keeping the Basement Dry

Even this box fan knows it's a lost cause. Running fans and using shop vacs are telltale signs of basement water problems, but you don't have to live this way!

Water Damage on Bowed Wall

Throughout the wall, but especially at the bottom, there are signs of water damage from water coming through the cracks in this bowed wall.

Closeup of Water Damage in Corner

This kind of staining occurs largely because of mold and efflorescence, caused by standing water and the traveling of water through concrete, respectively.

TripleSafe Ensures Proactive Water Removal

Instead of living with standing water and just hoping it will soak back into the ground or evaporate, the TripleSafe actively pumps it outside.

Brightwall Panels Spruce Up Basement

Brightwall panels are a great way to give your basement a clean look without committing to completely finishing it. Plus, they're water-resistant.

WaterGuard and Trench Drain Keep Water Under Control

In addition to the WaterGuard system, a TrenchDrain floor drain at the door helps allow water to drain quickly and go right to the sump pump.

Brightwall Panels Help Water Removal Process

In addition to giving the basement a cleaner look, Brightwall panels are water-resistant and inorganic, which means they don't harbor mold or warp with water damage. They can be tied right into the WaterGuard system to expedite the water drainage process.