Job Stories

This homeowner in Wayne, Michigan contacted HomeSpec about repairing their crawl space. It had been infested with rats, collecting moisture, and simply a nasty mess. They had no idea what was going on down there until they opened it up for the first time to deal with the rat problem, and they were shocked.  HomeSpec was able to transform this crawl space into a clean, dry, usable space with one simple system – Crawl Space Encapsulation. After the debris was removed and everything was cleaned, the floor and the walls were sealed with a CleanSpace Vapor Barrier. A rigid foam insulation was used to seal any other air leaks. This prevents pests from intruding as well as water vapor and moisture. Lastly, a powerful SaniDry Dehumidifier was installed to condition the air and maintain a healthy 55% relative humidity – to prevent mold, mildew and rot (and musty smells). 

This homeowner in Wayne Mi. had noticed a slight uptake in their energy bills over the years, but their home never felt the right temperature and felt as if there was always a draft.Project manager, Robert, used his expertise to conduct a thorough inspection of the house, which ultimately led him to their crawl space. That's where he found their aged and failing fiberglass insulation to be the problem, not to mention the debris and random sheet metal scattered about. While fiberglass batt insulation is the cheapest and easiest DIY choice for insulating the crawl space, there are several problems with using fiberglass batts in a vented crawl space including. Fiberglass can absorb water and lose its R-value when wet, air can easily pass through it, leading to uncomfortable living conditions and decayed or wet fiberglass insulation can lead to mold and other health hazards.Robert recommended SilverGlo insulation. SilverGlo features a radiant barrier that reflects heat back into your crawl space for energy savings and is made with a mix of polystyrene foam and graphite to resist heat flow. This allows the material to make the crawl space and floors above them warmer in the winter, especially crawl spaces with ducts, like these homeowners.The crew cleaned out the crawl space, removing debris and replacing the failing old fiberglass insulation with the shiny SilverGlo insulation. The homeowners were happy to report a more notably more comfortable living condition after the installation of this heat-reflective insulation. If your energy bill has been increasing, but your home still feels uncomfortable or drafty, it may be worth looking into reinsulating your crawl space.

Robert in Otisville, Michigan contacted HomeSpec because water was seeping into his basement where the floor and the wall meet. This is a very common spot for water to leak into a home, but HomeSpec had a solution for him. HomeSpec installed a waterproofing system into the basement to prevent seepage – a perimeter drainage system connected to a sump pump. These two work together to capture water before it leaks inside, and then pump it away from the home.  Robert is very happy with his now dry basement even after a season of heavy rains!

Bill in Otisville, Michigan owns a beautiful farmhouse that was built in 1883. The only downside to this is the stone foundation is almost 140 years old – meaning it's very susceptible to water leakage and damage.  Bill noticed that after rain storms, he would discover water leaking into his basement. He knew he needed a drainage system.  So that's what HomeSpec did – we installed an interior drainage system and connected it to Bill's sump pump. This system installs around the perimeter of the basement and keeps things dry. Bill's basement is in much better shape now! 

Ken in Otisville, Michigan contacted HomeSpec because water was leaking into his finished basement. The carpet would be wet in several areas after heavy rains, so ken removed some carpet and drywall and found where the water was coming from – where the floor and the wall meet.  The best way to solve this issue was to install a perimeter drainage system around the basement and connect it to a sump pump. This means water will seep into the drainage system instead of the basement, and then it will be funneled away by the sump pump.  Ken was able to re-install the drywall and flooring over the system, and now he doesn't have to stress about ruining his finished basement! 

This Vassar, Michigan homeowner contacted HomeSpec because his foundation was in bad shape. The walls were not only cracked and bowing inward, but water was also seeping in and causing damage. The structural integrity of the home was at risk, and the homeowner wanted a permanent solution.  HomeSpec stabilized the bowing walls and filled the cracks, and then waterproofed the basement with an interior drainage system. Now the walls are straight once more, and the basement is dry and healthy! 

These homeowners contacted HomeSpec about a crack in their basement's foundation that was concerning them. Our crew sealed the crack with our innovative polyurethane sealant that flexes with the natural movement of your walls, and never dries out or cracks. 

Homeowners in Goodrich, MI had noticed some water entering through the basement window over the last year. But recently, they experienced a flood of water pouring in where the wall meets the floor and the water was pooling all over the basement. They had hoped to partially finish the basement but that was not a possibility until the flooding was fixed. The basement was to become a new office as the current office was being transformed into a nursery. They also wanted the basement to be a safe space for the baby to use as a play area. That meant no unexpected basement baths and no moisture or mold in the air that could make their family sick. The homeowners contacted HomeSpec Waterproofing and Foundation Repair for a free estimate. Chris, one of HomeSpec’s senior project managers, went out to the home to evaluate the severity of the situation. He took measurements both inside and outside to properly assess. He then returned to the homeowners to discuss a repair plan. Chris recommended an interior drainage system using WaterGuard®, a new sump pump, a new sump pump discharge, and CleanSpace® vapor barrier. These products would capture any intruding water and escort it out of the basement. The homeowners agreed to this plan and scheduled a crew to install them. The team was led by a foreman named Eleftherios. The homeowners were happy with the work provided and could rest easier knowing that their home was protected.

A Fairgrove, Mi resident needed their concrete leveled near their front porch. Primarily because their installed concrete handicap ramp had begun sinking slightly below the level edge of the porch, creating an unwelcome bump for their wheelchair bound family member. Our crew quickly lifted the concrete back into position with our PolyLevel system. PolyLevel is an expanding polyurethane foam that is injected beneath the concrete to fill the gaps caused by soil erosion and raise and stabilize the concrete surface.

This Fairgrove, Mi homeowner reached out to HomeSpec for in an issue involving foundation repair. Foundation walls not only support the weight of the home, but also must resist horizontal pressure from the soil outside created by the weight of water saturation over time. That’s what ultimately led to their walls bowing inward steadily over the years.Our crew would install the PowerBrace system to help permanently eliminate any further inward movement and even potentially reverse the effects of wall failure. This system can effectively stabilize block and poured concrete walls without the need for heavy equipment in its installation. It can also be tightened during dry seasons to help straighten the wall over time.