Clark Basement Waterproofing is a small, family-owned exterior basement waterproofing company founded in 1956 and based in Mount Clemens, Michigan. It is independent, not a franchise. Owner Mark Rhoades worked for Mr. Clark for years before taking over the company. He looks at every basement himself and is on site at the key stages of every job, Clark’s own crew digs every job by hand, and Clark serves St. Clair Shores, the Grosse Pointes, Warren and nearby Macomb County.
Clark Basement Waterproofing does one kind of work: we waterproof basement walls from the outside, digging by hand down to the footing. This page covers who we are, who runs Clark today, who will be at your house, what we fix and what we don’t.
What kind of company is Clark?
A small one. Clark is a family-owned company founded in 1956, and we have waterproofed thousands of homes since then. It is independent: not a franchise and not part of a national company. Today it is owned and run by Mark Rhoades, who has more than 40 years of hands-on waterproofing experience.
We work on the outside of the foundation only, where the water gets in, and we specialize in older foundations: homes built from the 1920s to the 1970s.
Who runs Clark today?
Mark Rhoades, the owner. He worked for Mr. Clark for years, then took over the company.
Mark kept the Clark name, and he runs the company himself. He looks at every basement himself, explains the fix in plain language and is on site at the key stages of every job, and the work is done by Clark’s own crew rather than subcontractors.
Who will be at your house?
Mark and Clark’s own crew. Mark runs every job and is on site at the key stages of each one. Clark does not use subcontracted crews: our own crew digs, waterproofs and backfills, and when a walk, driveway or porch has to be cut to reach the wall, our own crew pours the new concrete.
Every trench is dug with shovels, not a backhoe. That lets the crew work in tight side yards, around bushes and next to walks and driveways without heavy equipment rolling across the yard.
Why we dig by hand, and what it costs in time, is in hand-dug vs. machine excavation.
What does a small company mean for your job?
The people you meet are the people who do the work. These are good questions to ask any waterproofing company before you sign. Here are Clark’s answers:
| Question to ask | Clark’s answer |
|---|---|
| Who comes out to look at the basement? | Mark Rhoades, the owner. He looks at every basement himself. |
| Who does the digging and waterproofing? | Clark’s own crew. Clark does not use subcontracted crews. |
| Is the owner there during the job? | Yes. Mark is on site at the key stages of every job. |
| Who pours new concrete if a walk or driveway has to be cut? | Clark’s own crew. |
| Is the company a franchise or part of a national company? | No. Clark is independent and owned by Mark Rhoades. |
| How long has the company been around? | Clark was founded in 1956. |
| Is the estimate free and in writing? | Yes. Free, written and done at your house. |
| Is there a written warranty? | Yes. A written 10–15 year warranty; the length depends on the job. |
Ask every company you are considering the same questions, and compare the answers side by side.
What does Clark fix, and what doesn’t it?
We fix water that gets in through the foundation walls, cracks and footing, and we do it from the outside. We offer six exterior services, and all of our waterproofing follows the same hand-dug method:
- Exterior basement waterproofing: dig to the footing, seal cracks with hydraulic cement, apply tar and a waterproof membrane, lay new drain tile and pea stone, then backfill and restore the yard.
- Foundation crack repair, sealed from the outside where the water gets in.
- Basement leak diagnosis and repair, for when you’re not sure where the water is coming from.
- Drain tile replacement at the footing.
- Exterior water management: grading and downspouts.
- Waterproofing under porches, decks and concrete.
A typical job takes 3 to 7 days. Our process goes through it step by step.
Some basement water isn’t a waterproofing problem, and we’ll tell you when yours isn’t:
- Water that comes up through a floor drain during a heavy storm is usually a sewer backup. That is a job for a licensed plumber, not exterior waterproofing. Here’s how to tell backup from seepage.
- Leaking pipes are a plumbing repair, and walls that sweat in humid weather are condensation.
- A wall that bows inward or has a long horizontal crack needs a structural engineer first.
- Clark does not install interior drainage systems. If digging outside isn’t practical, interior vs. exterior waterproofing explains the other option.
Is Clark licensed and insured?
Yes. Clark Basement Waterproofing is licensed and insured. On every job:
- Permits. We pull the permits the job needs ourselves. Permit rules differ from city to city.
- MISS DIG 811. We call MISS DIG 811 before every job. In Michigan, when a contractor does the digging, contacting MISS DIG is the contractor’s responsibility, at least 3 business days before the work starts.
Clark gives a written 10–15 year warranty; the length depends on the job. More on the warranty page.
Where does Clark work?
Clark is based in Mount Clemens, in Macomb County. We serve St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe Park, Woods, Farms and Shores (the Grosse Pointes), Warren, and Harrison and Clinton townships, along with other parts of Macomb, Wayne and Oakland counties. See our service areas, or call us to confirm your street.
Is Clark connected to other companies named Clark?
No. Clark Basement Waterproofing of Mount Clemens, Michigan, is not affiliated with similarly named companies in other states.
