Foundation Repair & Waterproofing in Grandville, MI

Grand Rapids Elite Foundation books free foundation and basement waterproofing inspections in Grandville, a city of about 16,000 people southwest of Grand Rapids. A licensed local contractor checks where the water comes from and what the walls are doing, then gives you a written quote.

The river and the water table

The Grand River forms Grandville's northern border. Homes on low ground toward the river sit closer to the water table, and it rises fast after heavy rain and in spring, when snowmelt and rain arrive while the ground is still frozen. That is when basements leak at the floor joint, sump pumps run nonstop and a pump failure turns into a flooded basement.

For these homes, the priorities are usually:

• a drain tile system that carries water to the pit;
• a sump pump sized for the water, with a battery backup;
• a discharge line that does not freeze in winter.

Grandville homes

Grandville's population nearly quadrupled between 1950 and 1960, from about 2,000 to almost 8,000. Many homes from that boom have concrete block basements that are now 60 to 70 years old. Common problems are seepage through the block, washed-out mortar and bowing walls. Newer homes built during the growth of the 1980s and after RiverTown Crossings opened in 1999 mostly have poured walls.

Common jobs in Grandville

• Basement waterproofing and sump pump upgrades.
• Bowing wall repair in 1950s and 1960s block basements.
• Crack repair in poured walls.

Questions from Grandville homeowners

My sump pump runs all spring. Is that a problem?

A pump that runs a lot in spring near the river is common. What matters is that it keeps up, that the discharge is not freezing or blocked, and that there is a backup for when the power goes out.

Does a battery backup really matter?

Storms that knock out the power are often the same storms that fill the pit. Without a backup, the pump stops when it is needed most.

Can water come up through the floor?

Yes. When the water table is high, water can push up through cracks in the slab and at the floor joint. Interior drain tile relieves that pressure from under the floor.