Foundation and Water Problems in Montgomery, IN

Monday, April 27th, 2020 by Haley Tepool

Challenge

Homeowner Dennis E. was having trouble keeping water out of his basement. Every time it would rain, he dreaded walking down the steps to find how much damage there was. He was equipped with multiple fans and a shop vac, but it was a repeating cycle he hated doing. Aside from the water issues, the homeowners wanted somewhere safe and climate-controlled to store all of their important belongings, like old photos, documents, and odd and ends. The leaks and puddles made it a place they wanted to avoid and they couldn't shake the uneasy feeling they had about keeping their possessions down there, and who could blame them? We wanted to transform this basement for them.

Solution

Our Design Specialist, Mike McAtee, was called to the home to perform an inspection. After it was complete, he sat down with Dennis & his wife to discuss all of their possible options.

The first step was to install a WaterGuard System. This system is installed around the perimeter of a basement acting as a drain system for water that intrudes. it will then go to the sump pump and disposed of through exit lines. For the foundation, GeoLock wall anchors were installed, which help keep the foundation stable and can be tightened over time. As the soil around your home becomes soaked with moisture, the soil will expand, and the weight of the water will press on your foundation. This is known as hydrostatic pressure and is a lot of the time why water enters through your basement. Lastly, CleanSpace was installed on the walls. CleanSpace is a wonderful barrier that prevents mold, acts as a vapor barrier, and drains water behind it while brightening the basement.

We are glad we were able to transform this basement to make it a safe and healthy place to be because every family deserves a dry basement without worry.

Commonly, water intrusion occurs because the soil around the outside of the foundation can't drain and becomes saturated. The weight of the soil creates hydrostatic pressure and pushes the water into the basement through the easiest path it can find.

The homeowners want the basement to be a functional space that they can use. It is valuable space, and it was worth fixing. If these homeowners were now to sell their home, they would get the correct amount for it. If they put it on the market without the fix, they most likely would have been paid 10% less than they wanted.

The white chalky powder in this photo is efflorescence from the minerals in the concrete, mortar, or soil that dissolve in water and are left behind when the water evaporates off the surface of a wall or floor. This commonly happens when water is coming through the wall or floor.

WaterGuard is being installed throughout the perimeter of the basement. The flange spaces make a neat and finished look while keeping dirt and debris from the floor out of the gap. After it is completely installed, it will be covered with concrete, so you won't see it.

These GeoLocks are permanently stabilizing the foundation walls and straightening them back to their original position. Once tightened, the anchors hold the wall in securely in the current position. The white covering on the walls in CleanSpace. This will help protect the basement from moisture and humidity, especially in the hot summer months.

Our TripleSafe sump pump is part of keeping your basement dry. This is a top of the line system that sports three sump pumps in one liner. They all have a unique job but work together as a system to keep water out.