"Awesome DIY Experience, Wonderful Result" - A Customer's Basement Before and After with EnduraFlood
Phil's finished basement took on water after a heavy rain and the carpet was ruined. Once it was out, the lower walls were painted cinder block and the floor was a bare slab; and he had to decide what was going on those walls.
He went with EnduraFlood. He framed the lower walls with metal studs, and he and his wife did all of the work themselves over the summer. Then he left us a five-star review on Trustpilot titled "Awesome DIY experience, wonderful result!" and sent over his before and after photos.
We could not be happier with how it turned out. Here is the review in full, then the photos.
"We installed Enduraflood panels in our finished basement area over the summer, after water had ruined the carpet down there after some heavy rain. We don't live in a flood prone area or an area with hurricanes, but I picked this product because it was waterproof, and would work good with the metal studs I was using to frame the wall. I didn't want to deal with drywall, and this worked perfect. We are so happy with the result! My wife and I did all of the work, and it really has transformed the space.
The product shipped quickly and everything was in great condition. Directional videos were easy to follow. The panels are light enough for one person to carry and install, and we cut them easily with a straight edge and a vibrating multi tool saw. Overall a really nice product that makes for a good alternative to drywall." - Phil, EnduraFlood Customer
Where It Started
This is the basement with the carpet out. Peeling paint on the block walls, residue on the slab, a dehumidifier and a shop vac in the middle of the room. If you have ever stood in a room at this stage, you know the feeling. The water is gone, the room is finally clean, and now you have to decide what you are going to put up and whether you trust it to hold up.
Why He Didn't Want Gypsum Drywall
"I picked this product because it was waterproof, and would work good with the metal studs I was using to frame the wall," Phil writes. "I didn't want to deal with drywall, and this worked perfect."
Gypsum drywall is always the weak link. It absorbs water and feeds mold. It has to be cut out at the water line every time it gets wet, and putting it on a wall in a room that has already taken on water is setting yourself up to do that someday.
EnduraFlood is waterproof drywall. The panels are 100% inorganic, so they do not absorb water, they do not soften, and mold has nothing to feed on. And the system is built to be opened. If water gets in again, you take the panels off, dry out the panels and the wall cavigty, and put the same panels back. No demolition. No dumpster. No waiting on a contractor.
And yes, it can easily go on metal studs. Our patented system comes with rivets for mounting the trim to steel framing for those who select metal studs.
Light Panels, Basic Tools, and a Crew of Two
Here is the install mid-stream. The metal studs are in, the upper walls are painted, and the first run of panels is up on one wall while the other is still open. That open section is a good look at what an EnduraFlood wall actually is: a rail along the top, the studs, the panels, and nothing behind them that can rot or hold water.
Phil on how it went: "The product shipped quickly and everything was in great condition. Directional videos were easy to follow. The panels are light enough for one person to carry and install, and we cut them easily with a straight edge and a vibrating multi tool saw."
That is what we designed it for. One person can carry a panel and hang it. You do not need a table saw. A straight edge and an oscillating multi tool did the job here, and a sharp utility knife works just as well. Every step, from the first rail to the last corner, is available in our installation videos.
Ready for the Next Time
This basement got wet once. If it happens again, the panels come down, everything dries out, and the same panels go back up. The room goes right back to being a home gym. That is the peace of mind EnduraFlood is built for.
If you are rebuilding after water damage, or finishing a space you want ready for it, do not put gypsum on the wall. Our waterproof panels replace the lower portion of your drywall, so you have peace of mind and much faster recovery next time it storms.
