Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Waterproofing a Basement in Grand Ledge, MI

Our customer called with water at the point where the walls met the floor, around the entire perimeter of the basement. The basement already had a sump pump, but it didn't seem to be doing the job. The basement had signs of damage from ambient moisture and a high humidity reading, both of which point to longstanding water issues. We installed a perimeter system of WaterGuard below-floor drain and a TripleSafe sump pump to proactively route and discharge the water.

Water Damage Around Perimeter of Basement

The staining at the meeting of the walls and floor indicates the water entry point in the basement. Luckily, this is where we'll install the WaterGuard, so that water will be promptly taken care of.

Severe Staining in Corner

Given that it's the joining place of two walls and the floor, it's unsurprising that there's extra water damage here. You can also see tributaries of a sort that indicate hairline cracks where the water is traveling outward from the wall.

Ambient Moisture Damage on Support Beams

Discoloration and slight warping on the beams in the ceiling point to damage from constant ambient moisture. Over time, this can lead to mold growth and even structural compromise as water breaks down the wood.

Cracks in Wet Basement Floor

In addition to signs of water damage, the cracks visible in the floor could indicate another water entry point.

Overworked Sump Pump Can't Keep Up

The existing sump pump wasn't broken or even too low power to keep up, but its placement and the lack of a perimeter system directing water to it meant that it wasn't doing much.

Removing Floor for WaterGuard Installation

In order to install the WaterGuard system, we first remove a portion of the slab in order to place it around the perimeter of the basement.

Securing the WaterGuard

Once the WaterGuard is in place, we secure it before adding drainage stone and pouring new concrete to restore the floor.

Drainage Stone Assists in Water Dispersal

By adding stone before pouring new concrete, we assure that the water will drain more uniformly rather than backing up before entering the WaterGuard.

New Concrete Blends With Existing Floor

Once new concrete is poured and given time to dry, it's barely noticeable in the basement. Very few people are picky about what their concrete basement floor looks like, but it's nice to have a better than new floor without a huge neon sign pointing to it.

Inspection Ports Allow Easy Access

WaterGuard inspection ports allow us to easily access the system for annual maintenance to flush the system or check on any concerns you may have.

TripleSafe Sump Pump Promises Quick Water Disposal

The TripleSafe sump pump has three motors and a huge capacity to ensure that water stays out of your basement, even - thanks to its battery backup - when the power goes out.

Lawnscape Outlet Allows Discharge Line Burial

By installing a Lawnscape outlet at the end of the discharge line, we can bury the line. Without it, the line would stay above ground and could be a trip hazard as well as a lawn maintenance and landscaping nightmare.

IceGuard Keeps Water Out in the Winter

By installing IceGuard on the discharge line where it emerges from the house, we can guarantee the water stays out. In the event of a frozen discharge line, water would usually back up into the basement, but the IceGuard system allows the water to eject and the one way nozzle prevents it from re-entering the basement.