Foundation Repair & Waterproofing in Wyoming, MI

Grand Rapids Elite Foundation books free foundation and basement waterproofing inspections in Wyoming, a city of about 76,500 people just south of Grand Rapids. A licensed local contractor comes out, finds the cause and gives you a written quote.

Homes in Wyoming, and what goes wrong with them

Wyoming grew in waves, and the problems tend to follow the age of the house.

• The oldest neighborhoods. Galewood, Urbandale and Burlingame (the "GUB" area) were platted between 1890 and 1906, when Wyoming was an early suburb of Grand Rapids. Foundations from that era are often block or stone, with no drain tile. Expect seepage at the base of the walls, washed-out mortar and stair-step cracks.
• The postwar boom. Wyoming's population went from about 29,000 in 1950 to nearly 46,000 in 1960, its fastest decade. A lot of ranch homes from that period have concrete block basements, which are the walls most likely to crack horizontally and bow under wet soil.
• Newer homes in the southwest, near RiverTown Crossings and Metro Health, mostly have poured walls. Shrinkage cracks and leaks at the floor joint are more common there than bowing.

Creeks and low ground

Buck Creek runs through the city and Plaster Creek crosses the northeast, where gypsum was mined for decades. Homes on low ground near the creeks see the water table rise quickly after heavy rain and snowmelt. A sump pump with a battery backup matters more there than up on higher ground.

Common jobs in Wyoming

• Bowing block walls in 1950s and 1960s homes.
• Interior drain tile and sump pumps in older basements with no drainage.
• Crack repair and settling in poured walls.

Questions from Wyoming homeowners

My 1950s basement leaks at the bottom of the wall. What is the usual fix?

Water at the joint between the wall and the floor is the most common leak in block basements of that age. The usual fix is interior drain tile along the footing to a sump pit, sometimes with a membrane on the walls. See basement waterproofing.

Is the old gypsum mining a problem for my foundation?

The mines along Plaster Creek are part of the area's history. If you are worried about your property, ask the inspector to look for signs of settling, and check with the city for records about your address.

How fast can someone come out?

That depends on the contractor's schedule. Call and you will get a time for the free inspection.