Waterproofing a Century Old Basement in Staten Island, NY

Friday, July 24th, 2015 by Sarah Gozick

Challenge

The owners of this Staten Island, NY home had water seeping into their home. They called Quality 1st Basement Systems to inspect the problem, and save their nearly century old house. Inspector Colin Peare found a half finished, half unfinished basement with a bathroom, closet, and utility room. The basement had finished walls with insulation, studs, and sheetrock. Unfortunately, the sheetrock near the bathroom and the basement perimeter had developed black spots. This is a sign of mold growth from water damage, and could be a hazard to the homeowner’s health. The homeowners wanted their basement completely waterproofed, so that they could use all the wasted valuable space.

Solution

Quality 1st Basement Systems installed several helpful products to fix this Staten Island home. WaterGuard, a piping system designed to keep basements dry and pipes clog free, was installed into the basement. WaterGuard comes with a lifetime warranty, and is proven to remain effective and accept all water that comes down the foundation wall. A TripleSafe Sump System was installed, which pumps water away from the home. The TripleSafe Sump System is special because of its airtight, fail-safe, three pump system. With its battery backup, the homeowners will rest peacefully knowing that the TripleSafe will work even during a power outage. The Ultra Sump III Backup System is capable of pumping out 12,000 gallons of water on just one battery. Additionally, Quality 1st Basement Systems installed a SaniDry Basement Air System, an efficient dehumidification system that keeps relative humidity low and air dry. The SaniDry Basement Air System cleans dust mite droppings and mold spores, which keeps the basement healthy and allergen free.

In order to keep the basement floors dry and looking spectacular, Quality 1st Basement Systems installed Thermal Dry Basement Flooring. These interlocking tiles keep the basement floor raised from the concrete and away from water vapor. Thermal Dry keeps the floor up to 10 degrees warmer than concrete, which saves on heating bills and makes the basement a cozy place to stay. They are made out of durable plastic, so they will never rot or buckle. SilverGlo wall insulation was fastened to the foundation wall. SilverGlo has foam insulation and tiny graphite particles, which reflect heat and save on energy bills. In case of an emergency, Quality 1st Basement Systems installed FloodRing, a water tank with an airtight seal. FloodRing drains into a drainage system or sump pump, and alerts the homeowners of a leak. FloodChek Washing Machine Hoses were fitted in to replace consumer grade washing machine hoses. FloodChek Washing Machine Hoses will not rust or deteriorate and will stand up to high water pressure. Now this homeowner has a basement that is prepared to withstand any weather condition. They told Quality 1st Basement Systems that their basement is now Fort Knox. Most importantly, the space is now usable after 25 years of staying damp and unfinished.