Basement Crack Repair & Waterproofing in Miami County, OH

A homeowner in Covington, Ohio reached out to The Basement Doctor of Cincinnati about several bowing walls in her basement. Water was seeping in through the areas where the walls had shifted, creating both structural concerns and potential moisture issues.

Donny, our Certified Inspector, met with the homeowner and determined that the walls needed immediate stabilization. While some waterproofing work would also be necessary, the homeowner decided to start by stabilizing the walls first and address waterproofing later.

Donny recommended the installation of several PowerBraces. These patented, zinc-coated I-beams are specifically designed to stabilize bowing foundation walls. In the first three photos, you can see the walls before the repair, showing the noticeable bowing. The last photo shows the installed PowerBraces, which have now stabilized the wall. These braces can be tightened over time and may even help straighten the walls further, giving the homeowner a safer, more secure basement.

A homeowner in Piqua had concerns about the foundation in his 70-year-old home.  He scheduled an appointment with one of our Certified Inspectors for a free estimate and recommendation for this problem.  The Certified Inspector recommended that he have SmartJack XL installed to support the foundation.  

A SmartJack Floor Support is an adjustable steel pier designed to stop settling.  A structural stone footing is set in place and the SmartJack is fitted to the correct size.  An adjustable screw is used to raise your floor to the proper height and can be adjusted in the future if needed.  

In the photo, you can see the posts that were previously installed and the shiny new SmartJack Floor System is now installed.  With the SmartJack Floor Support installed, the home will have the proper support that is needed.  

A homeowner in Laura, Ohio had recently purchased their home and noticed there is water seeping into the unfinished basement from the seam between the floor and the wall.  The home was built in the 1960s, has a block foundation and a sump pump has already been installed but is still not able to keep up with the water that is seeping in.   We recommend WaterGuard Basement Waterproofing System to resolve this problem for the homeowner.  The WaterGuard Basement Waterproofing System is a piping system installed along the perimeter of the foundation walls to intercept the water that is seeping in.  The water then will be pumped out of the home through the sump pump system that is currently installed.  The homeowner would also have the option of adding a new sump pump system or a battery back up system to the current pump that is already in place.  By adding a newer pump or a battery back up pump the customer will have the extra security of knowing the basement is going to be free of water and will be able to use the basement as he intended. 

A Piqua, Ohio homeowner was having problems with the floor settling and cracks in the drywall in the home.  He met with one of our Certifed Inspectors, Mark, who recommended that SmartJack floor Support System is installed.  SmartJack Floor system is a high-capacity adjustable pier used to stop settling and can even raise the floor back up to the original position.  A structural stone footing is compacted in place, then the SmartJack is cut to size and installed under the area needing support.  The adjustable screw jacks up the floor to the desired height.  This can also be re-adjusted in the future if needed.  

A homeowner in Troy, Ohio was having problems with water seeping into the basement in several places.  The home was built in the 50s, has a finished basement, and there was no sump pump installed at the time.  The homeowner met with Donny, a certified inspector, who recommended that WaterGuard Basement Waterproofing System, a TrenchDrain, a TripleSafe Sump Pump System, and CleanSpace Wall System is installed to resolve the water problems that the homeowner was experiencing in the basement.

Waterguard Basement Waterproofing system is a non-clogging piping system that is designed to intercept water that seeps into the basement unseen by the homeowner.  The water is then drained into a sump pump system to be removed from the basement.  The TrenchDrain is a piping system also but has a grated top to allow water to flow into.  It is commonly used across doorways and hatches.  

The TripleSafe Sump Pump System is a three pump system.  Pump 1, the primary pump, will do the majority of the pumping. Pump 2, is a 1/2 hp high volume pump and will turn on if pump 1 fails or becomes overwhelmed with a heavy water volume.  Pump 2 will turn on to give it a "turbo boost" when it is needed.  Pump 3 is the UltraSump Battery Back-up System.  Pump 3 will automatically turn on during a power failure to remove water from the basement.  It comes with its own battery and charging station.

The CleanSpace Wall System is our most economical wall covering.  CleanSpace Wall System is a bright white plastic liner, similar to a pool liner, that is designed to cover the walls and will also drain wall leaks down into the WaterGuard Basement Waterproofing System.  CleanSpace Wall System reflects the natural light in the basement and helps to brighten up the basement.

WaterGuard working with these other systems will provide the homeowner with a dry basement that they can use for extra living space and storage without worrying about water intrusion. 

A homeowner in Bradford, Ohio called The Basement Doctor regarding some problems with cracking in the walls and some sagging floors.  The home is an older home built in the 1920s, has a dirt crawl space floor.  One of the first problems that the homeowner had was that the opening was too small for anyone to enter into the crawl space.  After having that resolved the homeowner had a certified inspector come to look at the crawl space to find out what needed to be done.  The certified inspector recommended that the homeowner have SmartJack Floor Supports installed along with a supplemental beam to support the floors of the home.  To install a SmartJack Floor Support, a structural stone is compacted into place and a steel pier is cut to size and placed under the floor that is in need of support.  The adjustable screw on the pier is used to jack up the floor into a level position.  

Something to consider for homes without a vapor barrier is the CleanSpace Encapsulation System.  The CleanSpace Liner is a plastic liner, similar to a pool liner.  The CleanSpace liner is attached to the floors and walls of the crawl space to provide a mold and vapor-proof barrier.  This keeps moisture in the ground from getting into the crawl space area and eventually making its way into the home.  Too much moisture in the crawl space can encourage mold, musty odors and allergens.  Call to schedule an appointment with a certified inspector for more ways to improve the environment of your home by encapsulating your crawl space!

A homeowner in Tipp City, Ohio needed a safe means of egress from their finished basement. Building codes require basements to have an emergency exit, and an egress window provides both safety and peace of mind.

The homeowner chose to have a RockWell Window Well with an egress window installed. This system not only creates a secure escape route in case of emergency but also allows more natural light into the basement, making the space brighter and more inviting.

With the new RockWell Window Well in place, the basement now meets safety requirements while also improving the comfort and look of the living space.

A homeowner with a 1950s block foundation was dealing with water in the crawl space and called The Basement Doctor of Cincinnati for help. The home had no sump pump, so moisture had no way to properly drain.

Our Certified Inspector, Donny, met with the homeowner and recommended a full CleanSpace Encapsulation System, a TripleSafe Sump Pump System, and a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier.

The CleanSpace liner is a durable, 20-mil thick white barrier that seals the floors and walls, keeping moisture and vapor from entering the crawl space. The TripleSafe system provides triple the protection with three pumps: a primary pump for daily use, a high-capacity secondary pump for heavy water flow, and a battery-powered backup pump that runs during outages. Together, they ensure the crawl space stays dry no matter the conditions.

To address air quality, we installed a SaniDry Sedona. This system filters and dries the air, reducing humidity that can lead to mold, odors, and pests. Since the crawl space air mixes with the air inside the home, keeping it dry and clean improves the overall air quality throughout the house.

The photos show the transformation—what began as a damp, unprotected crawl space is now fully sealed and protected with CleanSpace.

If you’re experiencing water issues, contact The Basement Doctor of Cincinnati to schedule a free estimate and find out which products are right for your home.

This basement in Troy, Ohio was having issues with pooling water. We installed a below-the-floor WaterGuard drainage system around the perimeter of the basement floor in order to collect water and drain it to the sump. This drainage system was designed to sit underneath the basement floor without clogging in the surrounding soils. This system works well to collect and drain water from the basement, working together with other products to keep the basement dry and clean. 

This Tipp City homeowner was dealing with two major basement concerns: bowing foundation walls and persistent water intrusion. Over time, hydrostatic pressure had caused the walls to shift inward, and water was making its way in at the base — creating a damp, unstable environment.

To address the structural issue, we installed a full set of PowerBraces®, a patented wall reinforcement system that stabilizes the foundation and can even be tightened over time to help straighten walls back into place.

For waterproofing, we installed our WaterGuard® interior drainage system along the perimeter to capture water at the wall-floor joint and carry it to a TripleSafe® sump pump system, which includes a battery backup for peace of mind during power outages. To protect and brighten the basement walls, we finished with CleanSpace® wall panels, which not only direct moisture into the drainage system but also give the space a clean, finished appearance.

Now, this basement is both structurally sound and fully protected from water, giving the homeowner confidence to reclaim and use their basement space again.

In Troy, Ohio, a homeowner was dealing with a wet, musty crawl space that had started to affect their indoor air quality and raise concerns about mold and long-term moisture damage. They contacted us looking for a permanent solution that would dry out the space and protect their home from the ground up.

We began by treating the crawl space with Anabec mold spray, a powerful antimicrobial cleaner applied directly to the exposed wood surfaces to neutralize and prevent mold growth. Once the area was treated, we installed drainage matting to create a channel for water to flow beneath the encapsulation layer.

The entire crawl space was then sealed with our durable CleanSpace® vapor barrier, which isolates the home from the damp earth below. We also installed a SmartSump® system to remove any water that does make its way into the space, along with a SaniDry™ dehumidifier to keep humidity in check year-round.

To improve energy efficiency, we insulated the crawl space walls with SilverGlo® rigid foam panels and applied spray foam insulation to the rim joists, sealing off one of the most common sources of air leakage in a home.

The result is a clean, dry, mold-resistant crawl space that’s now helping the entire home stay healthier, more comfortable, and more energy-efficient.

A homeowner in Piqua, OH reached out to us after noticing a concrete slab near their home had cracked and sunk about 1.5 inches, creating an uneven surface and potential trip hazard.

To correct the problem, our team used PolyLevel®, an expanding foam system that lifts sunken concrete quickly and precisely. After leveling the slab back to its proper position, we sealed the cracks and joints with NexusPro®, a durable, flexible sealant that prevents water from seeping beneath the concrete — helping to protect the area from future settling.

The result? A safer, level surface with cracks sealed and protected — all completed without the need for a full concrete replacement.

This home in West Milton, OH, had a sidewalk and garage floor that had both sunken into troubling soil. We raised and leveled out the sidewalk and the garage slab with our PolyLevel foam. We injected our foam through pea-sized holes that we drilled into the concrete. This foam is lightweight and strong, which allows us to lift sunken concrete. After leveling everything out and sealing the holes we drilled, we then sealed the cracks and joints in the concrete with our NexusPro sealant, which will help keep water from infiltrating the soil underneath the concrete. This concrete repair system doesn't just level everything out, it also makes sure the concrete doesn't move any more. 

A homeowner in Troy, Ohio, reached out after dealing with repeated water intrusion in their basement. The foundation walls had several leaking cracks, and water was pooling along the floor perimeter during rains.

Our crew installed a full-perimeter WaterGuard drainage system to capture and redirect water before it could spread across the basement floor. To address the wall cracks, we applied BrightWall crack covers, which not only seal the cracks but also channel any seepage directly into the WaterGuard system. For pumping power, we installed a TripleSafe sump pump. This system provides three levels of protection: a primary pump, a secondary pump for backup, and a battery-powered pump to keep the basement dry even during power outages.

With these solutions in place, the homeowner now has a basement that stays clean, dry, and protected against future water problems.

A homeowner in Tipp City, Ohio contacted us after dealing with musty odors and excess moisture coming from their crawl space. Like many homes in the area, their crawl space had an exposed dirt floor and little protection from outside humidity. This not only created an uncomfortable living environment but also raised concerns about mold and long-term structural damage.

Our crew encapsulated the crawl space using the CleanSpace vapor barrier system. CleanSpace seals the ground and walls to block moisture and create a clean, dry environment. To improve insulation and energy efficiency, we installed SilverGlo insulation along the walls. For humidity control, we added a SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier, one of the most powerful and efficient units available for crawl spaces.

Since the home already had a sump system in place, we upgraded it with a reliable battery backup to ensure it would continue working during power outages.

With the crawl space encapsulated and humidity under control, the homeowner now has a healthier home environment and peace of mind knowing their crawl space will stay dry year-round.