Belknap Lookout sits on the bluff just north of downtown Grand Rapids, overlooking the Grand River and the medical buildings along Michigan Street (Belknap Lookout). Its streets are lined with older homes, many from the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Homes built into a hillside get water running toward them from uphill. Without good gutters, downspouts and grading, that water ends up against the foundation, and the basement or crawl space stays damp enough for mold.
Call (616) 226-9528If one basement wall is always wetter than the others, it's usually the uphill side. Fixing the drainage outside is part of keeping the mold from returning.
Common questions
Why is only one basement wall damp?
On a slope, the uphill wall gets the most water from rain and snowmelt. Gutters, downspout extensions and grading on that side often help.
Do older homes here have crawl spaces?
Some do, often under additions or porches. They're worth checking if the floor above smells musty.
Do you cover the area near the Medical Mile?
Yes, Belknap Lookout and the nearby neighborhoods north and east of downtown.