Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Waterproofing a Basement in a Grand Rapids, MI Flood Zone

Our customers called after their sump pump ran for a week straight but there was still water in the basement. They moved into the house knowing it was in a flood zone, and realized that there was just too much water coming in during heavy rains for their sump pump to cope. We installed WaterGuard below-floor drain around the perimeter of the basement to collect the water and channel it to a new TripleSafe sump pump, which won't be overwhelmed by the influx of water.

Warped Wall Panels Hint at Water Damage

Water damage can be difficult to spot in a finished basement, but notice the wave in the wall panels - that's from getting wet and drying out repeatedly.

Overworked Sump Pump Can't Keep Up with Heavy Rain

Water was coming in through both the walls and floor of the basement, and even running continuously for a week, the sump pump couldn't keep up.

Creative Methods of Water Control

There isn't much of a point to this photo other than to show that the Shop Vac is a classic method of trying to keep on top of a flooding basement, but it's difficult to keep up with. Think of the time you're wasting and the sleep you're losing by vacuuming the basement in shifts.

Almost Hidden Water Damage

Look at the wall panels right where the baseboard starts. See that dark area? Bingo - water. Like I said, spotting water damage can be difficult when you have even a partially finished basement.

Prepping the Floor for WaterGuard Installation

In order to install a below-floor drain system, we need to get below the floor. This labor intensive process includes jackhammering the concrete at the perimeter of the basement floor and then digging a trench for the WaterGuard system.

Putting WaterGuard in Place

Once the floor is prepped, we put the WaterGuard track in place. This can involve going through multiple rooms and around fixtures - whatever is necessary.

Installing a New Sump Pump

In addition to the need for a perimeter system, this basement required a stronger sump pump to keep up with the demand of the basement. The TripleSafe has three pumps and a battery backup so no amount of water is too much, and even power outages are no match for it.

The Finished Product

With CleanSpace installed on the walls and new concrete poured, this basement is better than before since it's now waterproof.

Securing the Waterproofing Installation

Once the WaterGuard and TripleSafe sump pump are in place, we secure everything to prepare for new concrete.

TripleSafe Sump Pump Ready to Go

With new concrete poured and the discharge line in place, the new, powerful sump pump is ready for action.

CleanSpace Wall System Provides Protection

Since water was coming in through the walls, covering them in CleanSpace allows us to control the ambient moisture by trapping it and channeling it to the WaterGuard.

IceGuard Prevents Winter Water Backup

In the event of a frozen discharge line (Michigan winters - it happens), the IceGuard system creates an escape route for discharged water to prevent it from backing up into the basement. Water simply ejects through the grate and onto the ground.

Lawnscape Outlet Keeps Discharge Line Out of the Way

By installing the Lawnscape outlet on the discharge line, we can bury the line. This keeps it from being a trip hazard, eyesore, and landscaping obstacle.