Washed Rock surrounds the drain tile as a filter medium, keeping soil and debris out of the system.
Serving Minnesota and Wisconsin Since 1977
Basement Waterproofing MN & WI
Water doesn’t need a large opening to get into a basement. A hairline crack in a block wall, a compromised joint where the floor meets the foundation, or a drain tile system that has reached the end of its life can all let enough moisture in to cause real damage over time. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, freeze-thaw cycles and clay-heavy soils accelerate that process, putting steady pressure on foundations from late fall through early spring.
Standard Water Control has been waterproofing basements for homeowners across Minnesota and western Wisconsin since 1977. We’ve installed systems in more than 30,000 homes and put over 2.2 million feet of drain tile in the ground. We don’t use subcontractors, and we stamp our name in the concrete next to every sump basin we install because we stand behind the work for the life of your foundation.
Water doesn’t need a large opening to get into a basement. A hairline crack in a block wall, a compromised joint where the floor meets the foundation, or a drain tile system that has reached the end of its life can all let enough moisture in to cause real damage over time. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, freeze-thaw cycles and clay-heavy soils accelerate that process, putting steady pressure on foundations from late fall through early spring.
Standard Water Control has been waterproofing basements for homeowners across Minnesota and western Wisconsin since 1977. We’ve installed systems in more than 30,000 homes and put over 2.2 million feet of drain tile in the ground. We don’t use subcontractors, and we stamp our name in the concrete next to every sump basin we install because we stand behind the work for the life of your foundation.
Signs Your Basement Has a Water Problem
Basement water problems show up in a range of ways depending on where the water is coming from and how long it has been getting in. Some signs are immediate and visible. Others develop gradually and can go unnoticed until the damage is already done. Knowing what to look for helps you catch the problem before it reaches your framing, your flooring, or your air quality. Standard Water Control offers free inspections for homeowners across Minnesota and western Wisconsin, so if anything on this list looks familiar, a call is the right next step.
Here’s what to look for:
- Musty or earthy odors coming from the basement, even when nothing looks wet
- Efflorescence on block or poured concrete walls, the white or gray chalky deposits left behind when water moves through masonry and evaporates
- Damp or wet walls after heavy rain or snowmelt, with or without visible cracks
- Water stains or tide marks along the base of the walls or across the floor
- Rust stains near the floor drain, sump basin, or wall anchors
- Mold or mildew on walls, wood framing, stored belongings, or carpet
- Peeling paint or bubbling drywall in finished basement spaces
- Standing water on the floor after rain or during spring thaw
These signs don’t all point to the same problem, and the right fix depends on what’s actually driving the water in. A free inspection gives you a clear picture before any work begins.
How We Install Basement Waterproofing
In most cases, a full basement waterproofing installation takes two days. Standard Water Control crews handle everything from start to finish using their own permanent staff, no subcontractors, and take steps at every stage to protect your home and property during the process.
Step 1: Dig Trenches & Protect The Foundation
After the preparation work is done, the foreman will walk you through the site answering any questions you may have. We then jackhammer around the basement’s perimeter, removing approximately 18 inches of the floor from the wall. The finest equipment is used and our crews pay special attention to ensure the footing of the foundation is undamaged. All trenches are dug by hand and sloped toward the sump basket. The dirt and debris are removed via rubber buckets and wheelbarrows and hauled away by our trucks for recycling.
Step 2: Drain Water From Foundation Blocks
Step 3: Install Rigid Drainage Pipe
Step 4: Patented Drainage Technology
- It facilitates the unrestricted flow of water from the block, across the footing and into the drainage field.
- It eliminates the concern of sediment blockage in the small openings of tubes and other products.
- Diamond Drainage Board® allows for replacement of concrete to the same thickness as the original floor with positive contact to the footing. This will restore the structural strength of your floor. It also resolves the need for an “open gap” between the floor and wall for moisture barrier installation and to keep the creepy crawlies out.
- By installing our patented technology with every basement waterproofing system, we help provide peace of mind for homeowners for generations to come.
Step 5: Install Moisture Barrier
To eliminate this risk, Standard Water Control installs a moisture barrier, prior to having new concrete put in place and professionally finished. We are so confident in this process, and its ability to permanently eliminate basement seepage, that we stamp our name in every job we do – right in the concrete next to the sump basin.
Step 6: Install Superior Sump Pump System
This premium grade, totally automatic submersible pump with a high water alarm helps ensure a longer pump life and a dry basement. Two discharge pipes are installed on every job, one for the primary pump and the other to facilitate the installation of a battery backup pump system now or in the future.
Why Homeowners Choose Standard Water Control
Standard Water Control has been waterproofing basements across Minnesota and western Wisconsin since 1977. In that time the company has installed systems in more than 30,000 homes and put over 2.2 million feet of drain tile in the ground. That scale of work, sustained over nearly five decades, comes from a reputation that holds up after the crew leaves.
Every installation is performed by Standard Water’s own permanent, trained employees. No subcontractors are brought in at any stage, and Standard Water stamps their name in the concrete on every job and backs the system with a lifetime foundation warranty.
The company holds certification from the Basement Health Association as a below-grade waterproofing specialist, membership in the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors, a 2018 BBB Torch Award for Ethics, and EPA lead safe certification. They are fully licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Our Work
