Basement Waterproofing in Clawson, MI
Before Clawson, MI had its present name, the crossroads at its center was known as Pumachug, after the "pum-a-chug, pum-a-chug" of a cider mill and a sawmill. If water is turning up in your basement, describe it on the short form, and one independent local contractor will reach out.
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Waterproofing Options in Clawson, MI
Filling in the form is a request to be contacted, nothing more. The contractor who receives it looks at the walls and explains the possible approaches, and nobody can promise a basement that never takes on water again. Clawson is a city of its own in Oakland County, about 3 miles due north of downtown Royal Oak, MI.
What you are reading is a free referral and advertising site. It does no basement work, writes no estimates, visits no homes and carries no Michigan residential builder license or maintenance and alteration contractor license. Your note goes to a single independent contractor, which may pay the site a flat advertising fee, waived for now as a trial. You are never charged.
Clawson, MI Homes From the 1950s and 1960s
Census survey data put Clawson's typical build year at about 1958, with about 40% of houses from the 1950s and about 19% from the 1960s. Only about 10% date from 1939 or earlier and about 7% from the 1940s, so roughly 57% were standing before 1960. Of 5,872 homes, about 76% are detached.
About 11,312 people live in its 2.2 square miles (2025 Census estimate), three in four homes are owner-occupied, and the median value is $267,100. Not every Clawson house has a basement, and later builds can differ; this page is for owners whose homes do, landlords included.
The name is "a misspelling of the surname of John C. Lawson," an early settler. Settled in 1829, Clawson became a village on May 12, 1920 and a city on June 12, 1940.
Common Jobs in Clawson, MI
- Seepage at the floor joint. In a 1950s basement, water often appears first where wall meets slab. An interior drain feeding a sump is a usual answer; see basement drainage.
- Settling cracks. Poured 1960s walls can crack thinly and weep after soaking rain; see foundation crack repair.
- A pump past its prime. An older sump that cycles nonstop may need replacing. Its water should land outdoors, clear of the walls and the next lot, never in a laundry tub or floor drain.
Rain and the Combined Sewer in Clawson, MI
Clawson calls its own pipes combined. The City has posted a "Rainwater, Catch-Basin, Combined Sewer System Alert," saying DPW would review its practices for managing "the combined sewer system to prevent basement flooding" ahead of heavy rain. Clawson is also among the communities the George W. Kuhn drainage system serves (CBS Detroit, 2011).
For August 11, 2014, the National Weather Service reports that 4 to 6 inches fell in roughly four hours over southern Oakland County, without city-by-city totals.
Seepage is slower: the glacial lake plains of southeast Oakland County can hold dense soil that keeps a wall wet for days after a spring thaw or summer cloudburst. Water rising from a floor drain is a sewer matter for DPW instead.
Permits and Sewer Contacts in Clawson, MI
Building questions go to Community & Economic Development at City Hall, 425 N. Main St., 248-435-4500. Until January 1, 2026 it was called Building and Planning. Digging, foundation or structural repairs may need a city permit, and any tie-in to a drain or sewer a separate plumbing permit taken out by a licensed plumbing contractor. The contractor checks with the city which ones apply.
For sewer questions or a backup, reach DPW at (248) 288-3222; after hours, its emergency line is 248-524-3477.
What Basement Work Costs Near Clawson, MI
These figures are national; no Clawson price survey exists.
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical basement waterproofing project | about $3,000 to $10,000 (average about $5,000) | Fixr national (2026) |
| Interior perimeter drain, per linear foot | $40 to $120 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Sump pump installation | $600 to $2,500 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Epoxy crack injection, per crack | $250 to $1,000 | Fixr national (2026) |
| Waterproof paint or sealant, per sq ft | $1 to $8 | Fixr national (2026) |
Drain length and whether the old pump can stay usually swing the total most. The cost calculator turns your basement's size into a rough range.
Local Help, One Request
- Clawson's offices, not Royal Oak's. The permit desk and both DPW numbers here belong to Clawson, MI.
- One recipient. Whatever you send reaches a single independent contractor and nobody else.
- On your timetable. Read the guides first and send a request only if you want one.
Is Your Clawson, MI Address Covered?
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What Clawson, MI Homeowners Ask
Clawson sits right above Royal Oak. Which city's offices do I use?
Clawson's, for any address inside the city: Community & Economic Development for permits and DPW for sewers. The City of Royal Oak's departments serve Royal Oak addresses only. State rules on licensing, contracts and plumbing, on the other hand, read the same on both sides of the boundary.
How do I check whether a contractor holds a Michigan license?
Look it up yourself. Michigan's LARA issues the licenses for residential builders and for maintenance and alteration contractors, and waterproofing a basement is among the trades covered. Ask for the number and type it into LARA's verification page at lara.michigan.gov/colaLicVerify; the Attorney General notes builder numbers run to 10 digits.
Our house was built in the 1960s. Will it have the same issues as older ones?
Not necessarily. About a fifth of Clawson's homes come from that decade, and newer houses can have different walls, different drains or no full basement at all. A contractor looking at the actual basement can say which, if any, applies.
What should the paperwork say before anything starts?
Michigan's rule for builders and contractors calls for a written agreement, signed by both sides, giving the cost, the type and amount of work and the materials, with later changes signed too. Pay in stages as the job moves along, collect lien waivers before the last check, and send complaints to the Michigan Attorney General (517-335-7599, toll-free 877-765-8388).
Towns Around Clawson, MI
To the southeast, Madison Heights, MI is home to the George W. Kuhn basin, and to the southwest, Berkley, MI is a city of 1940s houses with its own page.
Get an Estimate in Clawson, MI
Note where the water shows up, then send the form. A single independent contractor receives it and gets in touch; any visit and written estimate are that contractor's, and going ahead is entirely your choice.