Since 1965

We are a third generation family-owned and operated business dating back to 1965, when Robert “Bob” Cotten first patented the Beaver Basement Water Control System – the original baseboard style waterproofing channel.

Over next 50 years, we took our expertise in the basement waterproofing installation industry and designed a full suite of waterproofing system to solve any wet basement problem for homeowners and contractors.

Our basement waterproofing products are manufactured in the USA and shipped direct from our warehouse in Hudson, WI.

Company History Since 1965

As a third generation family business, we have a rich company history dating back to 1965. The founder, Robert “Bob” Cotten, invented the original baseboard-style basement waterproofing channel called the Beaver System after working in the tuckpointing and commercial waterproofing industry. His goal was the create a product that could be installed in a basement without having to bust up your concrete floor. Bob, designed and manufactured his invention and began installing the Beaver System in the Twin Cities. 

Over the next few years, the company expanded from the installation industry to in-house plastic manufacturing. They expanded their service areas and created a network of waterproofing contractors. As the company continued to grow across the US, they introduced a new stand-alone footer basement waterproofing channel called the Drain Main Basement System for contractors and UnderGround Downspout Kits for homeowners and landscapers. Our top-of-the-line and unique products earned us a well respected place in the market. 

Before the birth of the internet, home centers across the Midwest and East Coast carried our original baseboard-style system now in the hands of the second generation, Ken Cotten, son of Bob Cotten. Improvements had been made of the original Beaver System to create the most DIY-friendly waterproofing system for homeowners. Most notable being the creation of the SealOnce Adhesive. This single-step adhesive was a significant upgrade from the two-part epoxies. The SealOnce Adhesive made installation simple and effective, plus is removed the unwanted side effects of epoxy, like skin irritation and toxic odors.  

In 1997, Ken saw the opportunity of bringing the products out of the home centers and onto the internet to sell direct to homeowners and waterproofing contractors and WATERPROOF.COM was born. Over the next decade, the company grew rapidly serving DIY homeowners directly with the 2nd generation of our baseboard-style system named SquidGee Dry. Our new online presence expanded from the DIY market to include exclusive professional contractor waterproofing supplies. In 2000, Ken invented and engineered our hybrid drain tile product called the Fast Track Basement System.

In that same decade, Ken designed and patented the revolutionary Drain-Eze Basement System. This low-profile, dimple footer drain board introduced features never seen before in the waterproofing industry. Ken created a footer drain board with an accordion-like hinge that could adapt to all the imperfections found on concrete footings, while still maintaining solid structural integrity demanded of the installation.

Another invention of Ken’s was the Rim-Skirt Basement System, which was designed to allow the Fast Track Basement System the ultimate installation flexibility to be installed either on top of the footing or next to the footing. 

In 2009, Kitty Cotten joined her father’s company with her expertise in business and online marketing. She took her talents and knowledge of the online e-commerce space and helped propel WATERPROOF.COM to the industry leader it is today in the basement waterproofing market. The company continued to grow rapidly and the headquarters was moved from St. Paul, Minnesota to Hudson, Wisconsin to facilitate the exponential growth. 

We carry a full array of contractor-grade waterproofing systems from an above floor channel to a rugged stand alone footer system to our new hybrid subfloor drain tile system, which is ICC-ES certified. Today, we offer a complete basement waterproofing solutions to remedy any wet basement or crawl space.