Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Stopping Water from Entering a Petoskey Basement

David was not pleased when he found cracks in his basement walls. He was even less so when he realized the cracks were there due to water leaking in. Unable to find the source, David contacted Ayers and had our resident foreman Blade perform an inspection. Blade was able to understand and diagnose the issue, giving David a comprehensive list of treatments to save his basement. Blade installed GeoLock Anchors to fix the wall's bending, a TripleSafe pump, and a WaterGuard channel to help save the home.

TripleSafe Pumps Control Water Flow

To help control how much water might enter the home, Blade and his team installed a TripleSafe pump. The pump is trusted by Ayers due to its three levels of security used to guarantee the pump works around the clock. The 1st level of security is a powerful motor that helps the pump handle high volumes of water. The 2nd level of security is a backup motor that activates if the initial motor succumbs to the water. The final level of security is a reserve battery that activates should the home lose power.

GeoLock Anchor helps Prevent Sliding Walls

The cracks in the basement walls are caused by too much pressure being applied by the earth surrounding the wall. To counteract that pressure Blade and his team installed GeoLock Anchors. GeoLock pulls the wall back into place and is a permanent solution to sliding walls. Geolock is installed by excavating the ground surrounding the crack wall. A steel anchor is secured into the ground with metal drives. On the opposite side, inside the home, a steel plate is placed over the cracks and is bolted to the underground anchor. The bolt is tightened and the tension pulls the wall back into place and holds it there.

WaterGuard Solves Overflow Issues

Often times water in the home can be unpredictable. Blade noticed that this particular home may be susceptible to high water yield so he installed a WaterGuard System. WaterGuard is comprised of a series of channels that direct any water that the sump pump cant handle away from the home. The system has an outlet that deposits the water safely away from the home's foundational base. WaterGuard is installed under the foundational floor and covered with cement, making it invisible and easy to cover.

Stairstep Cracks are a Cause for Concern

Cracks like these found on David's basement walls are a sign that intervention is needed. "stairstep" cracks occur in brick walls and are a symptom of the soil settling on the outside. As the foundational soil settles, it also shifts and creates new points of pressure. Not fixing these cracks can put your home in jeopardy. The shifting soil can cause the foundational structures of the home to be compromised, risking even more extensive work.