Foundation Repair & Waterproofing in Kentwood, MI

Grand Rapids Elite Foundation books free foundation and waterproofing inspections in Kentwood, a city of about 54,000 people southeast of Grand Rapids. A licensed local contractor checks the walls and the water and gives you a written quote.

Kentwood homes

Kentwood became a city in 1967. Its biggest growth came in the 1970s, when the population rose by about half, and it has kept growing since: there were about 22,000 homes in 2020. So most houses here are from the 1970s or later. Many have poured concrete basements, and the usual problems are different from the block basements in older Grand Rapids:

• Shrinkage cracks in poured walls that start leaking years later.
• Leaks at the cove joint, where the wall meets the floor.
• Window wells that fill with water in spring.
• Original sump pumps that are near the end of their life, often with no backup.

Older farmhouses and early subdivisions from before the city was formed can have block walls, with the bowing problems that come with them.

Plaster Creek

Plaster Creek is the largest creek in Kentwood. When the city was formed, "Plaster Creek" was one of the names considered for it. Homes on low ground along the creek and its branches deal with high groundwater after heavy rain. That is when a drain tile system with a reliable pump earns its keep.

Common jobs in Kentwood

• Foundation crack injection for leaking poured walls.
• Sump pump replacement and battery backups.
• Basement waterproofing where water comes in at the floor joint.

Questions from Kentwood homeowners

My poured wall has a thin crack that only leaks in spring. Is it serious?

Usually it is a shrinkage crack that lets water through when the soil is saturated. Injecting it with polyurethane from the inside normally stops the leak. Have it checked if it is widening.

Should I replace my sump pump before it fails?

If it is the original pump, runs often, or has no backup, it is worth having it looked at. A pump usually fails during a big storm, which is the worst time.

Do you cover the whole city?

Inspections can be booked anywhere in Kentwood, from the 28th Street area down to the M-6 corridor.