Basement Waterproofing Case Studies: Full Basement Waterproofing in Gross Pointe, Mi After Years Of Water Damage
Challenge
Grosse Pointe Shores, Mi had a home regularly teaching its residents the trials that can come with homeownership. This homeowner had gone through extensive efforts to resolve their leaking window wells and sprinkler pipes in the past; they even replaced their flooring once before, only to have their carpet ruined again, and were primarily interested in finding ways to protect the rest of their finished basement. Their search for a basement waterproofing contractor near Grosse Pointe Shores, put them in touch with us at HomeSpec.
Dave was our representative of choice who met with the homeowner. She explained to Dave her previous issues with wet basements, with water coming through different places, and all the effort she's gone through over the years to rectify the problem step by step. Her walls were stained from water damage, her carpet was ruined, and she desperately needed a proper waterproofing solution.
Solution
Dave's inspection helped him realize the full scope of this project. Dave outlined the need to remove the carpet, proper wall paneling, a vapor barrier, window well replacement, and drainage system. First of all, the repeated water damage had not only ruined their carpet. But there were clear signs of mold growth underneath, which was likely a contributing factor to the regular coughing fits the homeowner was subjected to, a culprit they hadn't considered. The dry wall was stained and left crumbling, it would be best to install a vapor barrier to help redirect any possible leakage to a drainage system and replace the drywall with a panel wall system for a clean finish. There was also the matter of the water the customer mentioned that would leak in through their window well. During the inspection, Dave not only found the well to be incredibly shallow, but the downspout let out water too close to it as well, likely compounding any water issues from melting snow and rain through the seasons. To properly solve this set of problems and finally give this homeowner the peace of mind they had desperately been striving towards, each issue would need to be addressed and the solutions would need to work in tandem to not interrupt each other.
Our crew would set to work, carefully moving, and safely covering personal belongings as they began the process of cutting up the carpet and sanitizing the general area. The drywall would need to be removed to be removed, and an encapsulation/vapor barrier installed. CleanSpace would be the best solution for this particular area. A fast and economical way to stop water vapor permeating the walls and drain wall leaks, this vapor barrier and basement encapsulation system is installed to the foundation walls, conforming to its shape, and permanently held in place by drilled-in fasteners. Next would be to install a proper drainage system along the perimeter of the basement that could redirect and drain any leakages. The customizable piping solution, WaterGuard, would be installed to address this step. While other drains sit in the soil and can clog, WaterGuard is designed not to sit in the dirt, so there isn't a worry of it clogging from silt and sediment under the floor, and its special wall flange creates space between the floor and wall allowing wall seepage collected from the vapor barrier to discreetly drain away to the designated basin. Finally, this would all be covered with the EverLast finished wall restoration system, and wall panels. The panels are cement board, covered with a textured mold-proof, washable, vinyl finish. The trim is all plastic and installed over metal studs- no paint needed and cannot be ruined by a plumbing leak or high humidity. Beyond that, these panels have a 50-year warranty to ensure that the homeowner is happy and taken care of for years to come. These bright new walls, allowed the inside of the basement to look even better than when work began, to the point that the homeowner would review "It felt like a brand-new basement." That would handle all of the internal wet basement, and water damage issues, as well as basement waterproofing, but what about the leaking window situation? Our crew handled that directly, with the installation of a SunHouse window well with an enclosed bottom and glass top, to prevent water from getting in while directing as much natural sunlight as possible to the basement. We also included an extension to the downspout, so it would drain further out from the well, as a precaution to make sure we addressed every possible cause.
Years of struggling with water leaks, wet basement problems, leaky windows, and more, were all addressed by our crew. The homeowner hadn't had this type of peace and comfort in their basement in years, and could finally feel at home in their own house once again.
