How We Completed a Waterproofing and Foundation Repair Project in Wilmington, DE
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When a basement develops multiple foundation cracks and continues to take on water during heavy rain, the problem may require more than simply replacing a sump pump. Water entering through foundation walls, especially when it is enough to overwhelm an existing drainage system, can point to the need for a closer look at how water is moving around and into the basement. Structural concerns can also make it important to address foundation movement alongside waterproofing. That was the situation in Wilmington, DE, where a homeowner was dealing with horizontal and vertical cracks throughout the unfinished basement walls. Water was also seeping through the bottom of the walls during heavy rain. Although the home already had a sump pump and French drains, the basement could still flood when the amount of incoming water exceeded what the existing system could handle.
The first part of the installation focused on creating a controlled path for water around the foundation. Our team installed WaterGuard around the full perimeter of the basement. WaterGuard is an interior perimeter drainage system designed to collect water along the foundation and direct it toward a sump system. This gives water entering around the foundation a designated path instead of allowing it to collect on the basement floor. CleanSpace was installed along the full perimeter of the basement walls as part of the moisture-control system. The durable vapor barrier separates the foundation walls from the interior basement environment and helps limit moisture vapor entering the space. Using CleanSpace alongside WaterGuard addresses both liquid water management and moisture coming through the foundation.
The structural concerns required another part of the solution. Five CarbonArmor straps were installed in the problem area where the foundation wall required additional reinforcement. CarbonArmor is a low-profile carbon fiber reinforcement system that is bonded to the foundation wall to help strengthen the wall and resist further inward movement. This allowed the structural portion of the project to be addressed as part of the larger basement system.
The existing sump pump was also replaced with a SuperSump. A drainage system needs a reliable place to send the water it collects, so the new sump system provides a dedicated point for removing water from the basement. This is particularly important in a home where heavy rain had previously caused the existing system to become overwhelmed. Finally, our team installed a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier to help manage humidity inside the basement. Water intrusion is only one part of basement moisture. Even after liquid water is directed away, controlling humidity can help create a more controlled environment in the space.
The project was led by Foreman Bernie, and the completed system combines several different approaches rather than depending on one product to solve every problem. WaterGuard addresses perimeter drainage, CleanSpace helps control wall moisture, CarbonArmor provides structural reinforcement, SuperSump handles collected water, and SaniDry Sedona helps manage basement humidity. For homeowners dealing with foundation cracks and recurring basement flooding, understanding the entire path of the water and the condition of the foundation is an important part of developing a solution.
