Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Waterproofing a Lansing, MI Basement

Our customer (and her realtor) called because her house was for sale - they actually had an offer already - but the unfinished part of the basement was leaking, threatening both the finished section and the sale. She needed a permanent solution, and needed it quickly, to satisfy the buyer and save the sale. We installed WaterGuard in the unfinished section of the basement, since the customer didn't want to disturb the finishing, and put in a SuperSump pump to collect and discharge water. We also replaced a leaking window that was sealed off with duct tape. With a dry basement, this home can be sold with a clear conscience.

Unfinished vs Finished Basement

The unfinished portion of the basement was the source of the water issues, with water coming in through the window and at the floor.

Efflorescence on Basement Walls

When water travels through block walls, it dissolves minerals naturally present in the blocks and then leaves them behind on the surface when the water evaporates. This process is called efflorescence and, while it's largely just an aesthetic nuisance, over time it can degrade the strength of the blocks.

Heavy Water Damage Where Wall Meets Floor

The join of the walls and floor is an area of the basement notorious for water leaks. That's the case here, and the staining points to a longstanding problem.

Gross Water Damage in Lansing Basement

Regardless of if it's causing problems, water damage even when a basement is currently dry creates a gross environment.

The Return of the Shop Vac

We include these pictures to show how widespread these DIY attempts at controlling a water problem are. Almost every wet basement has a shop vac lurking in the corner as the homeowners try to keep the problem under control.

Poorly Sealed Basement Window Causes Leaks

Duct tape isn't a reliable seal against water. Clearly, this window has been a troublemaker for a while, given the water damage around it and the attempts to block it off.

New Window Eliminates Source of Leaks

The window was one of the areas where water was entering the basement, so we replaced it with a new one. It's important for basement windows to be installed by basement companies - working below-grade is a specific skill.

WaterGuard Installation in Progress

In addition to the WaterGuard system, we install inspection ports that allow us to access the system for annual maintenance check-ups.

Super Sump Pump Installation

We tie the WaterGuard directly into the new sump pump to ensure that water gets directed there for discharge.

Floor Restoration After WaterGuard Installation

Once the WaterGuard is in place, we pour new concrete to restore the floor. Other than some slight discoloration and a new lack of flooding, there's no sign that we drilled the floor for installation.

IceGuard Protects Against Winter Backups

In the event of a frozen discharge line, the IceGuard system gives water an escape route to prevent it from backing up into the basement.

Lawnscape Outlet Camouflaged

The Lawnscape outlet allows us to bury the discharge line without disrupting the water discharge or causing backups. As you can see, it's unobtrusive and doesn't interfere with landscaping.