Transforming a Kirkwood, Missouri Basement

Challenge

This unfinished basement in Kirkwood, Missouri was a real problem for Carol Ann M.  Several foundation wall cracks on the south end of the basement would leak when it rained.  Persistent groundwater leaks led to mold problems, which really concerned her.  Given her previous experience with Woods Basement Systems at her previous home, she hired Woods to repair the cracks and fix her wet basement problem.

Woods sealed and repaired the leaky wall cracks using the patented wall crack repair system.  To keep her basement dry all the time, Woods installed the WaterGuard basement waterproofing system to properly drain groundwater leaks, the TripleSafe sump pump system with battery backup to evacuate groundwater even during power outages, and the powerful SaniDry dehumidification and air filtration system to control basement humidity and reduce musty odors.

"I don't have mold anymore—I don't have water anymore," Carol Ann said in response to the repairs.

However, her dry basement was still a dark and uncomfortable space.  It wasn't pretty, and she wasn't able to enjoy it the way she would have liked.

Solution

With confidence in the quality of the crack repairs and the success she'd seen with her new waterproofing system, Carol Ann sat down with System Design Specialist Bruce Sprenger and Project Foreman Chris Blickenstaff to completely redesign and finish her basement.

She started by having Woods replace her old basement windows with energy-efficient windows to let more light into the space.  To help make the basement more comfortable, Woods installed the SilverGlo wall insulation and radiant barrier system along the walls, which when combined with the WaterGuard syste, also functions to drain wall leaks from any future cracks into the drainage system and to the sump pump.  Instead of using wood framing and drywall, Carol Ann decided to finish the basement walls with the EverLast Wall syste, a bright and waterproof alternative to drywall fashioned out of inorganic material.  To finish the basement floor, she chose the ThermalDry floor tile, waterproof flooring that creates a thermal break underneath, making floor surfaces 8-10°F warmer than the cold concrete surface below.  To top it off, Woods installed non-sagging and mold-resistant ceiling tiles to enhance the overall brightness of the finished basement.

"Now, I feel like I have two houses in one," she tells everyone. "All you have to do is go downstairs, and you're in a whole other world."

Woods Basement Systems successfully transformed a formerly damp, moldy and unusable space into a beautifully-bright and comfortable living space—complete with its own family room, wet bar, kitchen, bathroom, and dry storage space.

Project Summary

System Design Specialist: Bruce Sprenger

Project Foreman: Chris Blickenstaff

Installer: Melvin Foster

Installer: Ron DeLisle

Installer: Matt Asher