HomeSpec Waterproofing and Foundation Repair Case Studies: Helical Piers in Deckerville, Mi Lift Sinking Foundation Walls

Challenge

A family in Deckerville, Mi discovered one of their basement foundation walls was sinking slowly on one side of their house. It wasn't overly apparent at first, just a few vertical cracks in the corner where the walls met. However, as time moved on these cracks became more and more pronounced following the length of the corner, and they began to notice that their main floor above was no longer level. They began to worry that "the wall might cave in and flood the basement". This wasn't a need for wall support, but more focused on foundation repair and lifting a family friend explained to them. The family would ultimately be referred to HomeSpec Basementfix from that friend as their foundation repair contractor of choice.

We would first have one of our project managers meet with the family to both discuss and assess the situation firsthand, in order to ensure we could propose the best solution possible to meet their needs. The family was particularly worried because their teenage youths spent a lot of time in the basement, and they were beginning to worry for their safety in addition to everything else.  Changes in the soil surrounding a basement tend to be the primary cause of these situations. Oversaturation or drought periods can both lead to unsecure soft soil movement that can shift and cause settlement issues.

Solution

It became very apparent to our team that one side of the home was indeed sinking, due to settlement issues, and could evolve into a potentially more serious situation if not addressed properly. In order to permanently stabilize their home with a proven and trusted solution set, we proposed the use of helical piers. This Piering system screws the piers into the ground to find more reliable soil, with steel foundation brackets attached to both the pier itself and the homes footing. The piers themselves serve as a medium to transfer the weight of the home through them, and to more competent soils or bedrock. Engineered with galvanized steel to resist corrosion and weathering, this foundation support system can help lift a home back to level with its unique design and versatility. Since the solution is also implemented below the grade of a home, it's perfectly hidden upon completion, as though there was never a problem to start with. With fast and effective year-round installation options, this solution set helps us best manage the needs of the family first.