Waterproofing Your Home Inside & Out

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.

Interior Drainage with Sump Pumps

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.

Exterior Drainage with French Drains

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.

Sump Pumps vs. French Drains

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!

Sir Williams Basement Waterproofing Solutions

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.