Clay-soil bowing walls
Southeast Michigan's clay holds water and freezes against block walls, causing horizontal cracks.
Bowing Basement Wall RepairMidwest & Great Lakes · MI
Basement waterproofing in Michigan
Cold winters with heavy lake-effect snow on the west side of both peninsulas, deep frost and wet springs. Soils are glacial: heavy clay around Detroit and much of the southeast, sandier soils in the west and north.
Free referral · Michigan
One call connects you with an independent contractor that serves your ZIP code.
Call (833) 460-4463By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent waterproofing contractor, who may call or text you back about your request at the number you call from. Calls may be recorded for quality and routing. Consent is not a condition of any purchase; you can opt out at any time, and message and data rates may apply. Privacy policy.
What kinds of foundations do homes in Michigan have?
Detroit-area bungalows and post-war ranches mostly have block or poured basements; older homes have brick or stone. Basements are the norm statewide.
What basement and foundation problems are most common in Michigan?
Floor-wall joint seepage
Spring thaw raises groundwater that enters where the floor meets the wall.
Interior Drainage SystemsSewer backup in storms
Older combined sewers in southeast Michigan have backed up into basements during extreme rain.
Sump Pump Installation & RepairWhich Michigan cities have local guides?
Which parts of Michigan are covered?
- Detroit
- Grand Rapids
- Warren
- Sterling Heights
- Ann Arbor
- Lansing
- Flint
What do Michigan homeowners ask most?
Does a Michigan waterproofing contractor need a license?
Most residential work above the small-job threshold requires a residential builder or maintenance-and-alteration license from LARA.
Why does my Detroit-area basement crack horizontally?
Heavy clay soil and frost push on block walls. A horizontal crack along a mortar joint is a sign of inward pressure that should be measured and usually reinforced.
Where can I verify this information about Michigan?
- 1NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: U.S. Climate NormalsAverage precipitation, snowfall and temperatures for weather stations near Michigan.
- 2USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Web Soil SurveyLook up soil drainage class and shrink-swell potential for any lot in Michigan.
- 3FEMA: Flood Map Service CenterCheck whether a property in Michigan is in a mapped flood zone before finishing a basement.
- 4U.S. Census Bureau: QuickFactsHousing and population facts for Michigan, including the age of local housing stock.
- 5Federal Trade Commission: Hiring a ContractorWhat to check before hiring: licensing, insurance, written estimates and payment terms.
Wet basement or cracked foundation in Michigan?
By calling, you agree to be connected with an independent waterproofing contractor, who may call or text you back about your request at the number you call from. Calls may be recorded for quality and routing. Consent is not a condition of any purchase; you can opt out at any time, and message and data rates may apply. Privacy policy.