If you have a wet Michigan basement, you’re probably wondering what’s the best way to waterproof it once and for all. There are many different types of home drainage methods, all of which can be divided into two categories — interior and exterior solutions.
If your basement is prone to flash flooding during heavy storms or as the snow melts, a sump pump is ideal for handling the large volume of water rushing into your home. Sump pumps are an interior drainage solution that automatically engages when it detects a rising water level.
Sump pumps are installed inside your home into a basin below the main surface of your basement floor. When water enters this basin, the sump pump begins pushing the water into a discharge pipe directed away from your home’s foundation.
Sump pumps typically need electricity to function but can also be battery or water powered. Usually, a home’s primary sump pump is wired in but includes a backup that doesn’t require power in case of an outage.
If you have a consistently wet basement, the problem is most likely around the exterior of your home. French drains are an excellent passive drainage system that moves water away from your foundation, preventing it from entering your home in the first place.
French drains use the laws of gravity to divert water from problem areas through a pipe in a sloped gravel-filled ditch. When the water rises to fill a French drain trench, it passes through the holes along the bottom of the pipe. Then, due to the slope gradient, the water flows through the pipe to a pre-determined location where it won’t cause issues.
While French drains are ideal for preventing wet basements, they are a passive waterproofing method. A French drain cannot pump water out if it’s already in your basement. However, French drains do not rely on electricity to function, so they are continuous and silent waterproofing solutions.
Depending on your specific basement waterproofing needs, there is an interior or exterior drainage solution to solve your water woes.
Interior sump pumps offer excellent protection against spot flooding as they automatically engage when water starts collecting in the basin. The downside is that they require water to be already present to work.
On the other hand, French drains are an around-the-clock method for moving water away from your foundation, preventing it from seeping into your basement. However, French drains are only a preventative measure and cannot drain out water that has already entered your home.
Since sump pumps and french drains work independently, you can further protect your home by installing both!
From sump pumps to French drains, Sir Williams Gardens takes pride in protecting your Michigan home from water damage. Our team of highly skilled waterproofing and drainage professionals is ready to help solve your water problems for good.
Contact Sir Williams today to learn about all of our interior and exterior drainage solutions, and get a free quote.
Living in the Great Lakes State shouldn’t mean a great lake in your basement. However, with large seasonal shifts and a flood-prone landscape, wet basements are a persistent problem in the Detroit suburbs. So whether you live in Ypsilanti, Belleville, Van Buren, or Sumpter, there’s a basement waterproofing solution.
Knowing why there’s water in your basement is the first step in treating the problem. Weather plays a significant role, especially in Michigan, where melting snow and excessive springtime rain result in water collecting around your foundation. From there, the water can make it through cracks in your foundations, windows, and doorways with disastrous results.
However, it’s not just the changing seasons that result in Michigan basements flooding. Here are a few other common reasons why you could have a wet basement:
Since water is dense and heavy, its constant force on your foundation can eventually cause it to seep into your basement. Whether the water pushes through the wall-floor joint, the most common root of basement floods, or through porous concrete, the wet soil around your foundation is your home’s worst enemy.
When homes are built, a hole is dug into the ground to make room for your foundation. This hole is later filled in with looser, unsettled soil that absorbs water better than the packed Earth, essentially drawing the water toward your foundation.
Clogged gutters, poorly installed downspouts, and drainage tile failure all result in water pooling around your home rather than being directed away. Also, a yard that slopes toward your home can result in water collecting too close to your foundation.
Basement floods are often the result of leaky or burst pipes. While plumbing failures are the most avoidable cause of wet basements, they still can wreak havoc in your home when not identified quickly.
The entryway to your basement may be the culprit of your wet basement. Hatchway entrances are usually built separately from the foundation, creating a weak point that’s not sealed to your foundation’s walls. Metal hatchway doors can also be vulnerable, especially when not flush with the concrete frame.
Cracks in your foundation are an obvious weak point where water can enter your home. These cracks are caused by decades of foundational stress from the weight of your house, ground shifts, weather conditions, and environmental problems. Despite all the issues that basement wall and floor cracks cause, they can be filled easily by professional waterproofing companies.
No matter the cause of your basement water issues, there is a waterproofing solution that can solve your water woes.
A crack in your foundation is like leaving your door open for uninvited guests. Whether years of fluctuating weather conditions or the weight of your home caused the damage, these cracks allow water to seek into your basement, causing a whole host of problems. Luckily, basement waterproofing experts like Sir William Gardens can easily seal minor cracks in your foundation.
Like foundation cracks, rod holes are a weak point in your foundation that gets worse over the years. As part of the construction process, metal tie rods were used when laying concrete for your foundation. After hardening, builders removed them and filled the holes. However, these filled holes can crack and cause leaks after years of temperature and environmental fluctuations. Therefore, repairing them is crucial for waterproofing your basement.
Whether used as a preventative measure to keep your basement dry or as a backup, a sump pump helps move water away from your drain tile. This interior drainage solution is especially beneficial when the ground around your home slopes towards your foundation and you need to pump it out.
If you’re looking for a permanent solution to your drainage woes, a French drain might be the solution you’re after. A french drain is a gravel-filled ditch with a perforated PVC pipe that helps move water away from your house. By preventing water from pooling near your foundation, you can proactively prevent many of the worst basement issues homeowners face.
While ideally, you should install a french drainage system while your home is still being built and the foundation is exposed, you can still hire a professional drainage company such as Sir Williams Gardens to install one after the fact.
If you’re looking for the best basement waterproofing company in Michigan, look no further than Sir Williams Gardens. Their waterproofing solutions address both the exterior root of the problem, hydrostatic pressure from standing water around your foundation, and interior issues such as foundational and rod hole repairs for a complete waterproofing solution. Sir Williams Gardens can help you say goodbye to a wet basement by correcting your basement water problems from the root.
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