Basement Waterproofing Photo Album: Water Protection Inside and Out

When it comes to protecting a basement from water damage there are steps to take inside the home and out. For this home in Granite City, IL. the steps were to extend downspouts and add IceGuard™ outside while also adding WaterGuard™, waterproof wall panels and a TripleSafe™ sump pump system inside.   Extending downspouts is one of the easiest and cheapest methods to help protect basements from water. Rainwater collects in the gutters and gets poured down the downspouts. Wherever the downspout ends is where the rainwater gets dumped. If the end of the downspout is near the foundation then it isn't really helping keep the foundation safe from rainwater. By extending the downspouts, rainwater is forced away from the foundation where it won't cause harm or leak inside.    Of course, extending downspouts only protects against rainwater. To keep the basement dry from water that soaks in from below WaterGuard™ should be installed. WaterGuard™ is a drainage system that sits along the perimeter of the wall on top of the foundation. From this advantageous position, WaterGuard™ can drain water before it leaks through the gap between the floor and the wall as well as being able to collect water leaking in from higher on the wall. This water gets funnelled into the TripleSafe™ sump pump system to be removed from the house.   If a flood or leak were to occur, another important protection measure to consider is waterproof walls. Finished walls are often made of wood or drywall, which can be damaged by floods or leaks and can grow mold. Instead, homeowners should use inorganic materials like BrightWall™ panels that are mold-proof and waterproof. While nobody wants a leak or flood in their basement, having the right wall panels can mean the difference between cleaning walls and replacing them.    The sump pump is an important part of any waterproofing project and the TripleSafe™ system is the king of sump pumps. With three seperate pumps that can turn on and off automatically depending on conditions, the TripleSafe™ system will keep the basement dry no matter the conditions. One of the pumps is also battery-powered, meaning it can continue to pump water out of the home when the power goes out.    The water getting pumped out by the TripleSafe™ passes through the IceGuard™ system on its way out of the home. The IceGuard™ system is an attachment that will keep water pumping out of the sump pit even if the end of the discharge line is blocked by ice or debris. Water will pour out of the gaps in the IceGuard™ attachment when the end of the line is blocked, but won't leak out of those gaps if the end of the line is not blocked.   With these systems in place inside and outside the home, the basement is well protected from water trying to enter from any angle.