Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Waterproofing a Basement in South Haven, MI

Our customer called with a basement that had water coming in every time it rained. Tired of vacuuming up the water and trying to stay ahead of it in other ways, they wanted a system installed that would keep the basement dry from now on. We installed a full perimeter of WaterGuard below-floor drain system and a TripleSafe sump pump to keep the water under control and directed outside permanently. We also installed Brightwall panels on the walls to give the basement a cleaner look. Not only does Brightwall improve the aesthetics of the basement, but the panels are waterproof and inorganic, so they won't harbor mold and they can be tied right into the WaterGuard system to help direct the water.

Water Damage Where Wall and Floor Meet

While water was leaking in primarily through the walls, there was also major damage at the joint of the walls and floor. You can see the large amount of staining here.

Signs of Water in Cove

The cove - the area around the stairs - also had high rates of water influx, as evidenced by the giant squeegee.

Water Leaks Peel Paint from Walls

One of the major signs of water leaking through walls is the peeling of paint. Notice the discoloration in the block wall. In addition to water issues, the influx just makes the walls ugly and unpleasant to look at.

Leaky Basement in South Haven

This basement had water coming in through all of the walls and the perimeter of the floor.

TripleSafe Evacuates Water from Basement

The TripleSafe sump pump will proactively pump water outside through the discharge lines so it doesn't have time to accumulate.

Battery Backup Keeps Sump Pump Running

Even if the power goes out, the battery backup that is included with the TripleSafe will keep the pump running. That means in the event of a huge storm, you won't go underwater.

WaterGuard Installation in Progress

After the track is in place, we secure it before pouring new concrete.

Removing Floor for WaterGuard

In order to install a below-floor drain system, we need to get...below the floor. This is accomplished by jackhammering around the perimeter and hauling the concrete away (in the buckets shown). Once the WaterGuard is installed, we'll pour new concrete.

Brightwall Adds Style and Protection to Basement

In addition to giving the walls a cleaner appearance and covering up that peeling paint, Brightwall panels actually tie into the WaterGuard system to ensure water gets where it's supposed to go.

Restoring the Floor with New Concrete

Once the WaterGuard is secure, we pour new concrete to restore the floor. Don't worry, it'll blend in better once it's dry - and have the added benefit of keeping the basement dry.

Waterproofing Around Stairs

We can install WaterGuard around existing fixtures or structural elements.

Tying WaterGuard into Sump Pump

To ensure efficient and complete diversion of water to the sump pump, we actually tie the WaterGuard system right into it.

WaterGuard Inspection Port Ensures Easy Access

The gray rectangle visible in the new concrete is an inspection port that allows us to access the WaterGuard system for annual maintenance and to flush the system if necessary.