A damp, musty smell
Moisture is wicking through the walls, often before you ever see water.
Est. 1956 Small, family-owned · Mount Clemens, MI
Exterior basement waterproofing · Metro Detroit Fix the leak from the outside.
Most basement leaks start outside the wall. We hand-dig to the footing, seal the foundation, and install new drain tile, stopping water before it ever reaches your basement.
- Owner on site at the key stages of every job
- 10–15 year written warranty
- Licensed and insured
Clark in brief
Clark Basement Waterproofing is a small, family-owned exterior basement waterproofing company founded in 1956 and based in Mount Clemens, Michigan, serving St. Clair Shores, the Grosse Pointes, Warren and Macomb County. It is independent, not a franchise. Owner Mark Rhoades is on site at the key stages of every job, and Clark’s own crew digs by hand to the footing, seals the wall and lays new drain tile, usually in 3–7 days, with a written 10–15 year warranty.
1956The year Clark was founded
70 yrsYears in business, and still small
40+ yrsMark’s hands-on waterproofing experience
3–7 daysFor a typical exterior job, start to finish
10–15 yrWritten warranty; the length depends on the job
Mark Rhoades
Owner/Operator
About Clark
70 years in. Still small.
Clark Basement Waterproofing was founded in 1956. Mark Rhoades worked for Mr. Clark for years before taking over the company. Today it is still a small, family-owned company based in Mount Clemens: not a franchise, not part of a national company, and doing one kind of work, exterior waterproofing.
Mark Rhoades brings more than 40 years of hands-on waterproofing experience. He looks at every basement himself, explains the fix in plain language and is on site at the key stages of every job.
- Owner on site at the key stages of every job
- No subcontracted crews
- Independent, not a franchise
- Exterior-only methods, hand-dug
- Licensed and insured
- Family-owned, founded in 1956
From the Clark archive
Trucks change. The number hasn’t.
Look at the door: 885-3915. It’s still the number to call. And the work hasn’t changed either: every wall is dug out by hand and sealed from the outside.
Call (313) 885-3915On the job
See the work up close.
Enhanced frames from our job videos: making room by hand, working on the outside wall and backfilling with pea stone.
See our process
Warning signs
Is your basement trying to tell you something?
Most leaks start small. If you’re seeing any of these, water pressure is building outside your wall and finding a way in.
Stains or seepage lines
Tide marks show where water has already been coming through the wall.
Puddles after a storm
Rain or snowmelt is pushing water through cracks or the wall-to-floor seam.
Cracks in the foundation
Michigan freeze–thaw cycles widen a wet crack a little more every winter.
Rust on appliances
Constant humidity from a damp foundation is attacking metal in the room.
Mold or mildew
Mold needs a steady water source, usually one inside the wall itself.
These aren’t “normal basement problems.” They’re signs of water pressure outside your home, and they only get worse with every storm and freeze.
The 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
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.
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01FreeInspect & 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 Estimate
Now you try it
Beat the storm
Tar the wall, scrub the leaking cracks, and pour the pea stone before the rain rolls in. Mark’s up top watching, so get diggin’.
Play the GameTakes about a minute. Works on your phone.
Side by side
Clark vs. interior waterproofing systems
| Question | Clark exterior | Interior systems |
|---|---|---|
| Stops water before it enters the wall | Yes | No |
| Relieves hydrostatic pressure on the foundation | Yes | No |
| Cracks sealed on the outside with cement, tar & membrane | Yes | No |
| Foundation wall stays dry instead of constantly wet | Yes | No |
| Hand dug, no backhoes tearing up the yard | Yes | Usually not |
| Landscaping, decks & concrete restored after the job | Yes | Not typically |
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.
What we do
Exterior-only. That’s the whole point.
Clark specializes in exterior waterproofing and the foundation work that goes with it. No interior drains, no sump-pump upsells.
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.
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.
Where we work
St. Clair Shores, the Grosse Pointes & Metro Detroit
Clark is based in Mount Clemens and works across Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland counties. We specialize in older foundations, especially homes built from the 1920s to the 1970s.
Macomb County
Also serving
- Grosse Pointe Shores
- Harrison Township
- Clinton Township
Don’t see your town? Give us a call and we’ll tell you if we work on your street. · All service areas
Quick facts
Clark at a glance
Facts last reviewed
- Founded
- 1956 (70 years in business)
- Ownership
- Small, family-owned and independent (not a franchise or part of a national company)
- History
- Mark Rhoades worked for Mr. Clark for years before taking over the company.
- Based in
- Mount Clemens, MI
- Owner
- Mark Rhoades, on site at the key stages of every job
- Crews
- No subcontracted crews
- How we work
- Exterior only, dug by hand, no backhoes
- Typical job
- 3–7 days
- Warranty
- 10–15 year written warrantyWarranty length depends on the scope and conditions of the job.
- Credentials
- Licensed and insured
- Estimates
- Free, written, on site; Mark Rhoades looks at every basement himself
- Discount
- 10% senior discount
- Phone
- (313) 885-3915
- Phones
- Every call is answered, and Mark calls you back.
Common questions
Questions homeowners ask us
Still wondering about something? Mark is happy to talk it through on the phone.
(313) 885-3915Do you do interior waterproofing?
No. Clark waterproofs from the outside only and does not install interior drainage systems. We dig down to the footing by hand, seal the wall on the soil side, where the water gets in, and lay new drain tile in pea stone along the footing. If you’re weighing both approaches, read our honest comparison of interior and exterior waterproofing.
Is Clark a franchise or part of a national company?
No. Clark is a small, independent company founded in 1956 and owned by Mark Rhoades, who worked for Mr. Clark for years before taking over the company. Mark looks at every basement himself and is on site at the key stages of every job, and Clark’s own crew does the work. More about Clark.
How long does a job take?
About 3 to 7 days for a typical job. The time depends mostly on how much wall has to be dug and whether a walk, driveway or porch has to be cut out and poured again. Our process walks through each step, from the first shovel to the restored yard.
Will my yard be torn up?
Not the way a backhoe would. We dig by hand, so the digging stays in a trench along the walls being waterproofed and no heavy machine crosses your lawn. Bushes along the wall are usually worked around. When the wall is done, the trench is backfilled and the yard is restored. If a walk, driveway or patio is in the way, our own crew cuts it out and pours new concrete.
Do you give free estimates?
Yes. Estimates are free, written and done at your house, and Mark Rhoades, the owner, looks at every basement himself. Call us or request an estimate online, and we call back within a day to set up a visit. Seniors get a 10% discount.
What areas do you serve?
St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe Park, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Shores, Warren, Harrison Township and Clinton Township, plus some other parts of Macomb, Wayne and Oakland counties. See where we work for local details, or call us to check your street.
When can I call?
You can call anytime. An answering service picks up every call, and Mark calls you back. Hours on the job site vary from job to job, and we don’t dig when the ground is frozen.
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.