Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Waterproofing a Leaking, Cracked Grand Rapids Basement

We revisited an old customer who first called in 2013 with pooling water and a wall crack in their partially finished basement, but they decided not to get the work done. Upon our new inspection, the water was more prevalent and had caused damage to the paneling, and the crack was bigger. Water problems in your basement only get worse. We installed a WaterGuard below-floor drain system and a Super Sump pump to take care of the water, and reinforced the cracked wall with PowerBraces to prevent any further bowing.

Severe Wall Crack From Basement Window

Cracks often appear at pressure points - like around a window that wasn't installed properly.

Wall Crack Indicates Bowing Wall

Wall cracks emanating from window frames are a sign of bowing walls.

DIY Attempt at Crack Repair

On our revisit, we saw that the wall crack had expanded and someone had attempted to patch it via some sort of DIY method - this one looks like caulk, but we also often see spray foam insulation and rubberized spray paint.

Shop Vac Isn't a Long Term Solution for Water

If we could arrange a leaky basement starter pack, it would be a shop vac, a box fan, and one of our business cards. You don't have to spend all of your time vacuuming water out of your basement!

Pooling Water in Basement

One side of the basement had consistent water puddling, and no sump pump.

Cracks in Basement Floor Provide Water Entry Point

Cracks like this can form as a result of hydrostatic pressure, as the water looks for any route through which to relieve the building pressure in the soil.

Efflorescence Proves Water Leaked Through Floor

When we pulled back the carpet, the residue left on the concrete floor (efflorescence) showed that water had leaked in through the floor for quite a while.

Mold and Water Damage on Wood Paneling

The water behind and under the finishings in this basement wasn't visible, but the damage is. Mold on the wood paneling proves that something is hiding beneath the surface.

Discharge Line Prevents Water from Immediately Returning

The problem with some discharge lines is that they spill water out right at your foundation, which means it just...sinks back in. We extend discharge lines to work with the grade of your yard and funnel water away from your home.

WaterGuard Track Installation

By installing the WaterGuard system below the floor, we can ensure that the water makes it into the track to be funneled to the sump pump.

WaterGuard Spans Entire Wall

Only one wall had a water problem, so we didn't need to install a full perimeter system.

Super Sump Installation in Progress

If you have water in your basement, you need a sump pump. Even if you don't have water in your basement, you probably need a sump pump to prevent future water problems.