Waterproofing & Wall Stabilizing

Why do we have basement problems in the Milwaukee area? Many residential buildings were built without understanding the unique problems in our area. The high clay content of the soil, high annual rainfall and severe freezing conditions in the Winter combine to harness the hydraulic forces of nature to destroy your basement. If the surrounding soil was used to backfill the basement during construction, the conditions are created where expanding water in the surrounding soil push the concrete wall inward. Thawing allows water to seep into the space between the soil and the wall creating a never ending cycle. The only sure solution is to surround the concrete foundation with crushed stone that allows drainage into a drain tile system and sump pump. If the basement walls have been displaced, showing open cracks or bulging, straightening and bracing. Please visit the Wall Stabilization section for details.

Even basements with properly back filled foundations can have problems with water seeping into the basement space. Concrete block walls are porous by nature. Any water that accumulates around the outer surface of the wall will eventually penetrate the wall. The drain tile system that surrounds the base of the wall is designed to collect water and keep the wall surface dry. In time, exterior drain tiles fill with silt, roots and sand. It is much more economical to install interior drain tile than to excavate the foundation. Please visit the Basement Waterproofing section for details.