Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Ovid, MI Basement Rescued by WaterGuard

Our customer called after noticing a leak in their basement and crawl space. She hadn't noticed it until having some remodeling done, and wanted to get to the root of the problem quickly. The existing floor drain was ineffective and there was no drainage system, and the crawl space was vented - which is a big no-no. Their yard was also a major source of the problem, as the landscaping was sloped in a way that encouraged water to drain right into the foundation. On the crawl space side, we installed the CleanSpace vapor barrier system with drainage matting and SilveGlo insulation panels on the exterior walls. We also sealed those pesky vents. For the basement, we installed a TripleSafe sump pump with battery backup and a perimeter of WaterGuard below-floor drain. We put IceGuard on the discharge lines to prevent water backups in the winter and LawnScape outlets to disperse the water in an unobtrusive manner. Finally, we regraded the surrounding landscaping to direct the water toward the sump system and not directly at the foundation.

Water Damage on Block Wall in Ovid, MI Basement

Water damage is visible on the wall and floor in this corner of the basement - note the discoloration and general...mucky...look.

Leaks Leave Gross Basement in Their Wake

Speaking of muck, this basement and crawl space aren't very inviting in the aftermath of the latest round of water. Note the beams in the top right of the photo, which are already starting to show signs of damage from the ambient moisture.

Gross Floor Drain Doesn't Help with Standing Water

Yum. Standing water and bacteria in the ineffective floor drain. That thing passed "useless" a while ago. This is common with drains in rainy seasons, as the surrounding soil can only absorb so much water before it's at its saturation point. This is why we recommend a sump pump and active water discharge.

Leaking Ovid, MI Basement

While our customer didn't notice any water issues until the remodeling, the extent of the damage makes it likely that there's been a low key water problem for a while.

Insulation Protects Home Comfort from Crawl Space

We installed the CleanSpace vapor barrier along with SilverGlo insulation panels. To seal the seams where the insulation meets the rim joists, we used FrothPak spray insulation.