Exterior Basement Waterproofing, Dug by Hand
We waterproof basement walls from the outside: dug by hand to the footing, sealed, tarred, wrapped in membrane and given new drain tile, then the yard is restored.
Exterior basement waterproofing
Exterior Waterproofing Services
Six exterior services built around one hand-dug method: waterproofing, crack repair, leak diagnosis, drain tile, grading and downspouts, and work under porches and concrete.
- Owner on site at the key stages of every job
- 10–15 year written warranty
- Small, family-owned, founded in 1956
Short answer
Clark Basement Waterproofing offers six exterior services for homes in St. Clair Shores, the Grosse Pointes, Warren and Macomb County. Its waterproofing follows one method: dig by hand to the footing, seal the wall from the outside, lay new drain tile in pea stone and restore the yard. Clark works outside the foundation only and does not install interior drainage systems.
All of our repair work happens outside your foundation, where the water gets in. This page helps you match what you’re seeing to the right service, shows the method our waterproofing follows, and lists the jobs we leave to other trades.
Which service do you need?
Start with what you’re seeing in the basement. If nothing below fits, or you can’t tell where the water comes from, start with a leak diagnosis at a free estimate.
| What you’re seeing | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Water through a basement wall, or where the wall meets the floor, after rain or snowmelt | Exterior basement waterproofing |
| A crack in the foundation wall that seeps or drips | Foundation crack repair |
| Water along the base of the walls, and you suspect the old drain tile is clogged or broken | Drain tile replacement |
| Water coming in under a front porch, stoop, patio or driveway | Waterproofing under porches, decks and concrete |
| Downspouts emptying next to the house, or ground that slopes toward the wall | Exterior water management (grading and downspouts) |
| Water, but you can’t tell where it’s getting in | Basement leak diagnosis and repair |
| Water coming up through a floor drain during a storm | Usually a sewer backup, which waterproofing doesn’t fix. See sewer backup vs. seepage. |
What method does our waterproofing follow?
Our exterior waterproofing follows one method, in the same order every time, and it’s dug by hand from start to finish:
- Hand dig down to the footing. No backhoes.
- Seal cracks with hydraulic cement.
- Coat the wall with tar.
- Cover it with a waterproof membrane.
- Lay new drain tile in pea stone.
- Backfill and restore the yard.
A typical job takes 3 to 7 days. Our process covers each step, what happens before we dig, and how we work around porches, driveways, bushes and narrow side yards.
What don’t we do, and who should you call instead?
Some basement water isn’t a waterproofing problem, and some fixes belong to other trades. We’d rather say so up front than sell you the wrong job.
- Interior drainage systems. Clark doesn’t install them. Our interior vs. exterior comparison explains how the two differ and when an interior system is the practical choice.
- Sewer backups. Water that comes up through a floor drain in a storm is usually a sewer backup, and exterior waterproofing doesn’t stop it. A licensed plumber can tell you whether a backwater valve suits your house. Here’s how to tell a sewer backup from seepage.
- Bowing, leaning or shifting walls. A wall that’s moving, or a crack that keeps getting wider, needs a structural engineer’s opinion before any waterproofing. What basement wall cracks mean explains which cracks to worry about.
- Plumbing leaks and condensation. Water from a leaking pipe, or walls that sweat in humid weather, isn’t coming through the foundation. A leak is a plumber’s job, and sweating walls are a humidity problem. Why is my basement leaking? helps you tell them apart.
Not sure which of these you have? That’s what the free estimate is for. Request one here.
What we do
Every service we offer
Clark specializes in exterior waterproofing and the foundation work that goes with it. No interior drains, no sump-pump upsells.
Foundation Crack Repair from the Outside
Water gets into a leaking crack from the soil side. Clark digs to it by hand, seals it there with hydraulic cement, and covers the wall with tar and membrane.
Basement Leak Diagnosis and Repair
Find out where the water gets in before you pay to fix it. Seepage, sewer backup and condensation each need a different fix.
Drain Tile Replacement (Footing Drains)
Old clay drain tile clogged or broken? Clark hand-digs to the footing, seals the wall and lays new drain tile in pea stone, within your city's drainage rules.
Exterior Water Management: Grading and Downspouts
Downspouts and grading that keep water away from your foundation, the local rules on where roof water can go, and an honest answer on when that is all you need.
Waterproofing Under Porches, Decks and Concrete
Water coming in under a porch, stoop, patio or driveway? Clark cuts the concrete, waterproofs the wall underneath by hand and replaces the concrete.
How we work
The Clark method, start to finish
Owner/operator Mark Rhoades runs every job. Here’s exactly what happens, and what’s left in the ground when we leave.
-
01Free
Inspect & estimate
We inspect your foundation, explain what’s causing the problem, and give you a clear written estimate. No pressure.
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02By handProtect & dig
We protect landscaping and hard surfaces, then hand-dig the wall down to the footing. No backhoes tearing up your yard.
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03SealSeal, tar & membrane
Cracks are sealed with hydraulic cement, then the wall is coated in tar and covered with a waterproof membrane.
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04RestoreDrain tile & restore
New drain tile and pea stone relieve the pressure and carry water away. Then we restore the yard like we were never there.
What’s left in the ground
Follow the repair from the foundation wall to the restored yard.
Most projects take 3–7 days depending on the length and depth of the wall. When we’re done, your basement is protected through spring thaws, heavy rain, and seasonal ground pressure.
Start With a Free EstimateThe right fix
Why we fix leaks from the outside
Metro Detroit basements leak because of hydrostatic pressure: wet soil pressing against your foundation until water forces its way through cracks, joints, and gaps.
Interior systems
Interior systems manage water. They don’t stop it.
Interior drains collect water after it has come through your wall. They handle the symptom and leave the structure wet.
- Water still soaks the foundation wall and footing
- Freeze–thaw cycles keep widening cracks every winter
- Constant moisture weakens concrete over time
- A wet wall can keep feeding mold and mildew
The Clark way
Exterior waterproofing stops water at the source.
We relieve the pressure and seal the outside surface, so water never reaches the wall in the first place.
- Cracks and mortar joints sealed from the outside
- Old, clogged, or collapsed drain tile replaced
- Gaps at windows and utility entries addressed
- Protected through spring thaws and summer storms
Common questions
Straight answers
Still wondering about something? Mark is happy to talk it through on the phone.
(313) 885-3915How much does exterior waterproofing cost?
It depends on the job, so we price each one at a free, written estimate at your house. The main factors are how much wall has to be dug, how deep the footing is, whether a walk, driveway, porch or patio has to be cut out and replaced, and how much of the yard has to be restored. Seniors get a 10% discount.
Are you licensed and insured, and who pulls the permits?
Yes, Clark is licensed and insured, and we pull the permits the job needs ourselves. Permit rules differ from city to city; our city pages cover the local ones.
Who does the work at my house?
Clark’s own crew. Clark does not use subcontracted crews: our crew digs, waterproofs and backfills, and when concrete has to be cut out, our own crew pours the new concrete. Owner Mark Rhoades runs every job and is on site at the key stages of each one.
Is there a warranty?
Yes. Clark gives a written 10–15 year warranty, and the length depends on the job. See our warranty page for more.
Do you call MISS DIG before digging?
Yes. We call MISS DIG 811 before every job, so the utility companies mark their buried lines before anyone digs. MISS DIG does not mark private lines, such as sprinkler lines or a line to a garage.
Can you work in winter?
Not when the ground is frozen. We don’t dig frozen ground, so digging waits until it thaws.
10%senior discount
Do it right, and dig it!
Don’t wait for the next storm to make it worse. Call today and we’ll set up a free, written estimate for your home.
Get in touch
Request a free estimate
Seeing water, smelling mildew, or just worried about a crack? We’ll take a look and give you an honest opinion.
Call(313) 885-3915
PhonesEvery call is answered, and Mark calls you back.
Based inMount Clemens, serving Metro Detroit
Tell us about your basement
We call back within a day.