Hurricane Damaged Basement Waterproofed in Imlaystown, NJ

Monday, November 2nd, 2015 by Sarah Gozick

Challenge

A homeowner in Imlaystown, New Jersey called in for a free estimate on having his basement waterproofed. During Hurricane Irene and Hurricane Sandy his basement had flooded and the waters never stopped. The homeowner wanted to finish the basement to use it for a family playroom, but he didn't want the area to be unhealthy and damp. He was scared to invest any money in finishing his space before properly waterproofing it. Basement specialist Collin Peare came out to inspect the property. The homeowner told him that even during light rains, the basement got some water in it. At one point the basement's tile flooring had been removed after being submerged in water. The bottom 32 inches of the sheet rock, insulation, and wood studs were cut and removed because they had severe water damage. The homeowner was frustrated because he had just recently purchased a new hot water heater and did not want to replace it again if it got damaged by rain.

Solution

Juan Garcia and his construction team installed several waterproofing products to keep this basement dry. First, they installed a WaterGuard basement drain. WaterGuard is a patented piping system specifically engineered to solve basement water problems effectively without the worry of clogging from soils underneath the floor. It is completely different than any other type of waterproofing pipe on the market because of its size, shape, and installation method. WaterGuard is engineered not to sit in the dirt like other pipes. Pipes in the dirt clog with silt, sediment, and tree roots. WaterGuard has large holes in the back of the pipe to accept larger amounts of water and a flange to keep dirt from entering the pipe. Quality 1st Basement Systems installed the TripleSafe sump pump, which is comprised fo two A/C powered cast iron pumps, and one D/C operated battery backup pump. Two separate discharge lines allow for 6,200 gallons of water to be pumped out should both pumps need to run at the same time. The battery back up will turn on in case the power goes out and has the capacity to pump out 12,000 gallons on one fully charged, maintenance free battery.

The last concern that the homeowner had was re-installing the sheet rock and studs after the job was complete. Quality 1st Basement Systems had the perfect solution: EverLast wall restoration. This system is a complete alternative to sheet rock and is an inorganic cement board panel covered with a textured washable vinyl finish. The EverLast panels combine the two most popular interior finish colors - off-white and beige. They are laid in a designer pattern over a slightly alligatored vinyl. The washable surface allows for an easy clean if damaged by rowdy children and because it is inorganic, the EverLast basement wall panels are not affected by water and will not grow mold. This family can breathe easy knowing that their investment to fully waterproof their basement will not only last for one or two rain storms, but for many years to come. They can now invest in finishing their basement and creating memories that will last a lifetime!