What is the Basements Plus Platinum Guarantee?
When homeowners in Southeast Michigan are choosing a basement finishing contractor, there’s one question most people don’t think to ask: What happens to my warranty if water gets in after the basement is finished? Choosing the right contractor means choosing the right warranty, not just the lowest price.
Why Did We Create the Platinum Guarantee?
“We learned early on that most waterproofing companies void their warranty the moment you finish over the system. That never sat right with us — it felt like an easy way for a company to wash their hands of a problem and point the finger somewhere else. We believe homeowners should be able to trust their waterproofing system and finish their basement with confidence, without one voiding the other. That’s how the Platinum Guarantee came to be — coverage that lasts for as long as you own your home.” – Steve Iverson (owner)
What the Platinum Guarantee Cover
If you ever get a leak at a floor/wall joint or a leaking crack, Basements Plus will:
1. Remove damaged walls, floors and any other finished materials in the way – including a bar, bathroom, or any built-out space at the leaking area. We handle the demo.
2. Repair the failed waterproofing system.
3. Reinstall or replace the finished materials – rebuilding walls, rehanging cabinets, repainting, and reinstalling flooring to bring the space back to its original condition.
4. All at Basements Plus’s expense.
How to Qualify for the Platinum Guarantee
You must install the following products using Basements Plus:
1. Full perimeter waterproofing with Basements Plus
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Full perimeter WaterGuard waterproofing system
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Full perimeter VaporSeal
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TimeMachine
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TripleSafe sump pump system
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Annual sump pump maintenance
2. Finish basement with Basements Plus
What Happens If Two Different Companies Handle Your Waterproofing and Finishing?
Say your basement leaks after it’s finished, and one company installed the waterproofing while another company built out the finished space. Here’s what that repair actually looks like:
First, you call a contractor to tear out the finished walls, flooring, or ceiling just to reach the source of the leak. Then you call a separate company to actually repair the waterproofing. Then you call a third company to rebuild everything that was torn out. That’s three different contractors and three separate bills, just to fix the leak.
And here’s the part most homeowners don’t find out until it’s too late: neither warranty covers the whole problem. The waterproofing company’s warranty only covers their own system, not the cost of tearing out or rebuilding your finished space to get to it. The finishing company’s warranty only covers their construction, not a water problem underneath it. So, when something goes wrong, each company can rightly say it’s not their responsibility and the cost of the demo and rebuild falls on you.
It gets worse if you finish over someone else’s waterproofing system. Many waterproofing companies void their warranty entirely if another company finishes over their work so, the protection you thought you had may not even apply anymore. The same risk runs the other way too: finishing first and waterproofing later can jeopardize coverage on that side as well.
When Basements Plus does both, none of this happens. One company, one warranty, one call if something ever goes wrong. No finger-pointing, no gap in coverage, no guessing who’s responsible for what.
This Platinum Guarantee is not transferable
The Platinum Guarantee only applies to the original purchaser.
The related Lifetime Limited Warranty on waterproofed basement components IS transferable.
Platinum Guarantee vs Lifetime Limited Warranty: What's the Difference?
These are two different things that often get mentioned together at Basements Plus:
The Platinum Guarantee covers removal and replacement of materials only if your basement was waterproofed AND finished by Basements Plus, and the waterproofing system fails at a covered points mentioned above.
The Lifetime Limited Warranty covers only the waterproofing scope of work. This applies to basements waterproofed by Basements Plus regardless of who finished the space.
Beyond these specific exclusions, the Platinum Guarantee does not extend to any implied warranties, and Basements Plus isn’t liable for incidental or consequential damages. Full legal language will be in your signed agreement with Basements Plus. This is just a summary of it and not an official document.
What the Platinum Guarantee Does NOT Cover
The Platinum Guarantee covers water issues at the wall/floor joint or a leaking crack — the specific area our system is designed to protect. It doesn’t cover water from other sources, including water leaking from upstairs (roofing, appliances, or plumbing), water coming over the top of the basement wall, water entering through a basement window, or sewage and floor drain backups. It also doesn’t cover capillary action, which is the natural wicking of moisture through basement walls and floors, since that isn’t a system failure. Sump pumps carry their own separate manufacturer’s warranty covering materials only, with labor to remove and reinstall billed separately. The guarantee also doesn’t apply to damage from misuse, neglect, or repairs attempted by anyone other than Basements Plus, any alterations or changes made to our original work, weather-related or abnormal conditions such as chemicals, fire, or vibration, or pre-existing conditions that weren’t part of the original contract. Finally, the current presence or development of iron ochre voids the Platinum Guarantee and any other implied warranty.
Sump Pumps Are Handled a Little Differently
Your sump pump is covered under the manufacturer’s warranty. If it fails, it gets replaced.
But if a sump pump failure causes water damage to your finished basement or your personal belongings, that damage is not covered under the Platinum Guarantee. The manufacturer’s warranty covers the pump, it doesn’t cover what happens if the pump lets you down.
That’s exactly why we install a TripleSafe backup system and require annual maintenance, a pump that’s been checked and backed up is far less likely to fail when you need it most.
Why Isn’t Annual Maintenance Optional
Annual maintenance is required to keep the Platinum Guarantee active. A system that hasn’t been checked in a year is a system no one can vouch for. This isn’t about upselling a service call — it’s about making sure the guarantee you qualified for is still one we can actually back up if you ever need to use it.
Peace of Mind You Deserve
A warranty is only as good as the details behind it. If you’re a Southeast Michigan homeowner finishing your basement, you deserve a space to enjoy without wondering what will happen if it is water damaged. The Basements Plus Platinum Guarantee is the answer to a real, reasonable fear, with clear terms, defined coverage, and a team that proudly stands behind their work.
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