Serving Minnesota and Wisconsin Since 1977

Standard Water Control in St. Paul

St. Paul Basement Waterproofing & Radon Mitigation

St. Paul’s housing stock tells you a lot about what’s underneath it. Summit Avenue alone runs through more than a century of architectural history, and a significant portion of those homes are sitting on block foundations that were never designed to handle the hydrostatic pressure that builds up during a wet Minnesota spring. The neighborhoods here are older, the basements are deeper, and the water problems tend to be more established by the time someone calls. That’s true from Lowertown to Mac-Groveland to the West Side.

Standard Water has been working in St. Paul since 1977. We know the terrain, the soil conditions, and what local code requires. In that time we’ve installed systems in Victorians on Summit, commercial buildings in Lowertown, and everything in between. If your basement has a problem, we’ve almost certainly seen it before.

I recently had a chance to work with Steve from Standard Water and I can attest to his expertise and knowledge when it comes to basement waterproofing and foundation repair/sump pump systems. Steve had all the answers to my questions, and was really a nice and genuine guy to work with as well as very responsive in his communications. I would definitely work with Steve again in the future and highly recommend him. –Bob Vance

Radon Mitigation in St. Paul

Ramsey County’s average indoor radon level is 2.5 pCi/L, already nearly double the national average. That number represents an average across all homes tested, meaning a significant share of St. Paul homes are sitting well above the EPA’s action level of 4.0 pCi/L. The older foundations common in this part of the city, block walls with mortar joints and floor cracks that have widened over decades, create more entry points for radon than newer poured concrete construction.

Testing is the only way to know where your home stands. Kits are available from your local hardware store or health department. If your results come back at 4.0 pCi/L or higher, contact Standard Water. We’re NRPP certified and run three dedicated radon crews across the Twin Cities.

The radon mitigation system we install is sub-slab depressurization. We seal foundation openings, then run a ventilation pipe that draws radon and other soil gases from beneath the floor and exhausts them outside. Most installations finish in a single day, and our warranty guarantees levels drop below 4.0 pCi/L or we return and make it right at no charge.

Yesterday (12/13) Rob from Standard Water Control Systems came to service my newly installed (6/21) sump pump, that I had called and reported to them that I heard a constant humming sound coming from the sump pump. When I called to report this concern, Heidi, in the office, was so very kind, and took me through what I needed to do in shutting off the pump until someone came to check the problem. That was on Friday, and she stated that someone would be here at approximately 9 am, on Monday. Rob came on Monday, promptly, and took care of the problem. He was so very knowledgeable, and Kind. I was very impressed with Rob and his ability to take care of my sump pump problem so easily. Thank you to Rob, Heidi, and the entire team that installed my water control system in July. You are to be commended for your professionalism and excellent customer service!! Geraldine Bares South St. Paul, MN. –Geri Bares

Basement Waterproofing & Foundation Repair in St. Paul

Basement Waterproofing St. Paul’s older block foundation homes are particularly prone to water intrusion through mortar joints and wall cavities, not just floor cracks. Our interior drain tile system addresses water at the footing level before it has a chance to pool. We drill drainage holes into each block cavity where the wall meets the foundation, install our patented Diamond Drainage Board® to move water across the footing, and run rigid PVC pipe on a continuous downhill slope to the sump basin. Every installation includes our Superior Sump System with an airtight cover, a high water alarm, and dual discharge pipes sized for a battery backup pump.

Foundation Repair Bowing and cracking walls are common in St. Paul’s older homes, where decades of freeze-thaw cycles and soil pressure have had time to do their work. For wall stabilization we use carbon fiber straps, which are stronger than steel beams, leave no visible obstruction, and don’t interfere with an existing drain tile system. For homes where settling has progressed further, we install helical piers.

Egress Windows St. Paul has a large stock of older homes with unfinished basements that homeowners are looking to convert into livable space. An egress window is where that project starts. We handle the full installation from the window well to the waterproofing around the opening.

Crawl Space Encapsulation An unsealed crawl space draws moisture and soil gases up into the home year-round. Encapsulation seals the space from the ground up, controls humidity, and removes a common source of mold pressure from below.

Sump Pumps We install and service sump systems for St. Paul homes, including battery backup pumps that keep working when the power goes out during a storm.

Dehumidifiers & Mold Remediation Waterproofing controls water intrusion. A dehumidifier handles what’s left in the air. When mold is already present we remediate it at the source rather than treating the surface.

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Services

Basement Waterproofing Egress Windows Dehumidifiers Crawlspace Encapsulation Buried Discharge Foundation Stabilization & Repair Sump Pumps Special Services

What to Expect When You Work With Standard Water

Having installed solutions in more than 45,000 basements, Standard Water understands that providing long-term peace of mind starts when you contact us and continues long after the job is done. From the quality of our products and materials to the effectiveness and affordability of our solution to our installation process and customer service, we are committed to providing the best experience possible before, during, and after the job.

Before the Job

Older homes in St. Paul often need a more thorough assessment before we can scope the work accurately. Block foundation walls hide water pathways that don’t always show up on the surface: where the mortar has deteriorated, where hydrostatic pressure is building, what the drainage situation looks like at the footing. We do that assessment free of charge, and the written estimate reflects what your specific home actually needs. We pull all required permits and confirm compliance with St. Paul code before any work begins. Financing is available if the timing isn’t right.

During the Job

On block foundation walls, we drill drainage holes into each wall cavity where the block meets the footing, allowing water to flow freely into the system rather than building up inside the wall. Poured concrete walls don’t require this step. We seal off doorways and vents, cover belongings, and run air scrubbers with HEPA filters and jackhammers equipped with HEPA vacuums to keep dust out of your living areas. If the crew needs to cross your lawn, plywood goes down first. Most installations finish in two days or less.

After the Job

Our warranty covers the installation for the life of your foundation. If water finds a way back in through our system, we return and resolve it at no charge. For radon installations, we guarantee levels drop below 4.0 pCi/L or we come back and modify the system until they do.

Why St. Paul Homeowners Choose Standard Water

Most of our St. Paul business comes from referrals. That’s been true since the 1970s, and it’s a more honest measure of how we work than any award. The houses on Summit Avenue and in Mac-Groveland that we waterproofed twenty years ago are still dry, and those homeowners are still sending us to their neighbors.

The credentials back it up. We’ve held an A+ rating with the BBB since 1990, we’re Basement Health Association certified, NRPP certified for radon, and a Fortress Platinum contractor. Our crews are licensed and bonded in Minnesota and we don’t subcontract. When we stamp our name in the concrete next to the sump basin, the same people who installed the system are the ones who stand behind it.

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Schedule a Free Estimate in St. Paul

St. Paul’s older homes don’t get more forgiving with time. A block foundation that’s been taking on water for a few seasons has almost certainly done more damage than what’s visible from the basement floor. If something looks off, smells off, or you just haven’t had the basement looked at in a while, call us or fill out the form below. The inspection is free and the estimate is written. No obligation.

Contact Standard Water