Location
Northwest Side, Chicago, IL — a 1,450 sq ft brick ranch built in 1962 with a full poured-concrete basement.
Basement Waterproofing
Flooded Basement Restored & Sealed for Good
A 1960s Chicago ranch with chronic seepage and standing water, fixed in two days with interior drain tile, a sump system and full wall sealing.
Project Overview
Where, what and how we fixed it
The Hayes family called us after the third flooded winter in a row. Here is the short version of the job.
The Issue
Hydrostatic pressure was pushing groundwater through the wall-floor joint, leaving 3 inches of standing water after heavy rain.
The Service
Interior perimeter drain tile, dual-pump sump system with battery backup, and a sealed vapor-barrier wall system.
ClientThe Hayes Family
Home type1960s brick ranch
Affected area1,100 sq ft
Crew4 technicians
Standing water
Three inches pooled along the north wall after a 1-hour rain, with a damp odor and efflorescence on the block.
Tap a marker to read each finding.
Initial Damage & Inspection
What our technician found on day one
A moisture meter and thermal scan traced every leak back to one cause: water pressing up under the slab with nowhere to go.
- North wall94%
- Floor joint81%
- East wall57%
- Mold growth behind stored items and drywall
- Hairline cracks, but no structural movement
- Existing sump pit undersized and failing
Before & After
Same room, two days apart
Drag the handle to compare the basement floor before and after the repair.
- BeforeAfter
- Standing water3 inNone
- Wall moisture94%38%
- Humidity82%46%
- Usable space0 sq ft1,100 sq ft
Repair Process & Final Results
Five steps from wet to watertight
-
1
Prep & cut
Cleared the room and cut a trench along the floor perimeter.
Day 1 · morning -
2
Drain tile
Laid 140 ft of perforated drain tile in clean gravel.
Day 1 · afternoon -
3
Sump system
Installed a new pit, primary pump and battery backup.
Day 1 · evening -
4
Wall sealing
Sealed cracks and fitted a vapor-barrier wall panel system.
Day 2 · morning -
5
Water test
Flooded the pit to prove the pumps, then restored the floor.
Day 2 · afternoon
0 inWater after the next storm
0%Drop in wall moisture
0Sq ft of usable space
It stormed the week after the crew left. The basement stayed bone dry, and the kids finally have a playroom again.
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