Thrasher Foundation Repair Case Studies: Waterproofing and Egress Solution

Kent and Stephanie J. replaced the flooring in their basement five times! They have lived here for 16 years. You do the math.

Two were plumbing issues. These issues ended up causing foundation cracks in the floor and the walls. Kent had tried several things on his own himself. He's a contractor and has more than a little know-how, but he was chasing an issue that he didn't know he had. 

The "straw that broke the camel's back" happened last year when Kent suspected a displaced downspout as the cause of their latest water problem. Kent said he'd had enough, so he decided to call the professionals. No other estimates. Because of his experience in construction, he knew you get what you pay for. He decided he wanted to get this taken care of once and for all.  

Kent and Stephanie J. replaced the flooring in their basement five times! They have lived here for 16 years. You do the math.

Two were plumbing issues. These issues ended up causing foundation cracks in the floor and the walls. Kent had tried several things on his own himself. He's a contractor and has more than a little know-how, but he was chasing an issue that he didn't know he had. 

The "straw that broke the camel's back" happened last year when Kent suspected a displaced downspout as the cause of their latest water problem. Kent said he'd had enough, so he decided to call the professionals. No other estimates. Because of his experience in construction, he knew you get what you pay for. He decided he wanted to get this taken care of once and for all.  

We presented a full perimeter non-clogging WaterGuard® interior drainage system with a TripleSafe sump pump. We also presented a full-height CleanSpace wall system. Kent and Stephanie chose to go with a partial waterproofing system and believed it covered the most worrying areas. They also chose our Premier Egress enclosure with the largest window available. We tied it into their waterproofing with a "Guaranteed Dry" Well Duct system. That carries Thrasher's same great 25-year warranty on their egress window from ever leaking, just like our waterproofing system has. 

To prepare for our arrival, they moved everything 4' from the perimeter, removed all carpet and flooring, plus provided electrical outlets for their new sump pump. Upon inspection, we found existing tile under the flooring that appeared to be asbestos. We marked it in the proposal and recommended having it tested to ensure it didn't need to be mitigated by a professional. We also pointed out that they would lose some bushes where the Egress window was to be installed.

Two things that made this job unique:

1. We found a significant sewage issue in the house. When completing the waterproofing system, we found an old cast iron plumbing line had completed eroded under the floor slab. We determined that the plumbing line had a low spot in it that allowed raw sewage to collect over the years and eventually failed. Team Lead Julian Daniels found this and immediately shared this with the homeowner. We were then able to coordinate with the homeowner to get a plumber to take care of this. Kent has many friends in the business and was able to get a friend to help him out. Kent was extremely thankful that the crew battled through this. We took a lot of the concrete out to expose the rest of the line, for which the customer was grateful. 
2. When we scheduled this job, no one knew they'd be battling frigid temps in Omaha. We discussed with the customer, and while he couldn't believe we wanted to push through, he agreed. "In this industry, I've seen a lot of other people and companies call it a day in these types of situations. I'm amazed by the crew and the number of people who showed up to get this done. Everyone was in great spirits and walking around with smiles." He appreciated the job updates and the guys going over everything before they left. Ultimately, he gave Thrasher a "10" on the project. 

"Totally professional and courteous through the entire process. Kept me informed of what they were doing and went out of the way make things go smoothly and efficiently." - Kent J.

In talking to the customer, he contacted his insurance company and got a discount written into his homeowners' policy now that he has chosen to install a waterproofing system.

"I have shared all this on Facebook, and I have a lot of my friends already asking about their basements, so more than likely, you guys will be getting some referral work off this," Kent said. "I am excited to put this behind us and have peace of mind. We can finally, once and for all, have this problem, along with my plumbing issue, taken care of," Kent added. 

If you have one of those problems around the house that you want to get taken care of, once and for all, call Thrasher for a Free Inspection. Whether it's waterproofing your basement, taking care of a nagging foundation problem or installing an egress window, Thrasher's 45+ years of experience will put your mind at ease. Fill out the form here or call today.