Job Stories

A wall was buckling in a 1960s ranch home and needed to be stabilized. Our crew stabilized the wall and installed an interior drainage system to prevent future water issues and protect the structural integrity of the home.   

A homeowner in Adrian, MI was planning on finishing their basement in order to convert it into a room for the family to spend time in. While clearing out the space for renovations, they noticed some of the walls cracking and the doors had trouble opening and closing, common signs of foundation settlement. Understanding they needed to address the root of the problem to restore property value, the homeowner took action and searched for the best foundation repair companies nearby. The search led them to contact HomeSpec BasementFix as the repair contractor of choice.Erik, who specialized in foundation-related repairs, was sent to the home to discuss concerns with the homeowner and provide a free inspection. After consulting with the homeowner, Erik explained that over time, soils beneath the foundation can shift; this can occur when the soil dug up for the construction of the foundation is too dry, so it shrinks, or the soil becomes wet with excess moisture, causing it to wash out or become heavier. The foundation settles into this void, causing the walls in the basement to crack and the doors to become unlevel. If left unaddressed, the structural integrity of the foundation can ultimately fail and pose a serious danger to the house. This is why Erik proposed a custom solution for this homeowner that involved installing our Helical Support System to bring structural integrity back into the foundation and raise it back to level.The Helical Support System gets its name from the helical plates that are welded to the shaft of the pier; these galvanized steel plates are then screwed into the ground and attached with brackets to the foundation. To prevent further shifting, the piers are advanced to more competent load bearing soils that allow the weight of the foundation to be transferred, through the piers to newer soils, or even bedrock. This ideal solution addresses the root cause of foundation settlement by providing stability and integrity to prevent further damage to the home caused by a sinking foundation. Helical Piers are designed to reestablish the foundations strength while providing quality of life improvements and restoring the property value.With their foundation successfully stabilized and the homeowners fears put to rest, they could begin remodeling their basement without the fear of foundation settlement affecting their property value. 

As the Vice President of the Lenawee Historical Museum, it was their responsibility to oversee the inspection and waterproofing project in the museum's historic Carnegie Library building located in Adrian, MI. With a keen focus on preserving the rich heritage of the museum and ensuring its structural integrity, They worked diligently to address the challenges posed by a possible brick or stone foundation and the need for waterproofing and drainage installation. Built in 1909, the Carnegie Library building had stood as a symbol of knowledge and community for over a century. However, the passage of time had taken its toll, and the museum now faced issues related to water intrusion and damage to both the below-grade and above-grade exterior walls. The Vice President knew that addressing these concerns was crucial not only for the preservation of the museum's collections but also to maintain a safe and inviting environment for visitors. To tackle the water intrusion problem, they embarked on a comprehensive inspection process. Working closely with our team of expert contractors, engineers, and architects, they explored various solutions to identify and eliminate the sources of water. When our Project Manager, who had experience in waterproofing, arrived, he began the multi point inspection of the affected area and kept the Vice President in the loop the entire time. The inspection revealed the need for waterproofing and sealing of the below-grade exterior walls and the installation of drainage tiles where necessary. Additionally, above-grade areas with water intrusion issues required immediate waterproofing measures in order to stop the damage from progressing any further. After thorough research and consultation, our Project Manager decided to employ the CleanSpace Wall System, an effective long-term solution for waterproofing and moisture control. Furthermore, the Vice President recognized that once the sources of water were eliminated and the waterproofing measures were in place, it would be necessary to restore the areas affected by long-term water damage. Understanding the financial constraints of the museum, They sought cost estimates to enable the application for grants. By presenting accurate and detailed information on the project's scope, including the use of the CleanSpace Wall System and exterior waterproofing, the Vice President aimed to secure the necessary funding to undertake the repairs and restoration of the interior surfaces. The Lenawee Historical Museum played a vital role in preserving and sharing the rich history around Adrian. The Vice President's dedication to ensuring the structural integrity of the museum's historic building and the preservation of its collections drove them to take on this challenging project. With the successful implementation of the CleanSpace Wall System and the associated waterproofing measures, they had achieved their goal of keeping the museum a pillar in the community's history.

Water was flooding into this homeowner's basement so HomeSpec installed an interior drainage system and a sump pump to solve the problem. 

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    Remodeling a home has many benefits, including, increasing the property value, improving the quality of life for the homeowners and even retaining peace of mind knowing the home is in good shape. That's exactly what these homeowners in South Rockwood, MI had in mind when they renovated their property a few years ago. The amount of time and money put into renovating the home was in jeopardy when they had begun to notice the drywall splitting in the center of their home. Not wanting to waste any time and risk further damage, these homeowners decided they needed to address the problem head-on. After consulting with friends and family about possible causes of splitting drywall, they were recommended to HomeSpec BasementFix, by a friend who recently had basement waterproofing done, as one of the best foundation repair companies nearby. Our Project Manager, who understood the homeowners situation and had experience in foundation repair, was sent to the South Rockwood property to provide a free detailed inspection. When discussing the homeowners concerns, it was brought to our attention that the crawl space was damp and had been showing signs of mold. Understanding this to be a weakened support post-issue, our project manager recommended the SmartJack Support System to restore integrity to the crawl space and level out the floors, preventing any further cracks from forming in the walls. Over time, due to humid conditions in the crawl space, traditional wooden support joists can be subject to mold, pest damage, and wood rot. This failing structural support system can cause long term damage and create future concerns for the homeowner. The SmartJack Support System solves this structural integrity problem by installing a base of crushed gravel to support the jacks and prevent them from sinking into the soil, and galvanized steel beams that are adjustable year-round to prevent mold, and pest damage. The SmartJack Support System is capable of supporting loads of up to 60,000 lbs., ensuring these homeowners retain long term peace of mind with this ideal solution.With the crawl space successfully supported and the homeowners thankful the money and effort they put into the renovations didn't go to waste over a failing support system, they were more than happy to receive a small referral discount from HomeSpec BasementFix for the services provided.

A homeowner in South Rockwood, MI was getting increasingly concerned with their home when they began to see water seeping into their unfinished basement. They feared that the water would cause damage to their foundation, create mold, and lower the air quality of their home if this issue was left unaddressed. They were also worried about the high cost of repairs if the damage was taken care of in a timely manner. After reaching out to us for a solution, we appointed a Project Manager to help solve their problem. When our Project Manager arrived at the property to perform the detailed inspection, he had discovered cracks along the wall of the basement that converged where the floor meets the wall, allowing water to leak through the foundation. In order to successfully stop the leaking, he proposed a solution that involved the installation of the WaterGuard Drainage System and the SuperSump Sump Pump, which would collect the water that was leaking from the walls and drain away from the house. Our crew arrived at the property once a date and time were set for the installation. They started by breaking out a section of the concrete floor around the perimeter of the basement to install the WaterGuard Drainage System. The WaterGuard Drainage System is a patented, sub-floor system designed to capture water seepage from walls and floors. It is made of high-density polyethylene which is also installed in a bed of drainage stone along the foundation walls, and covered with cement to ensure that it is flush with the basement floor. Then, our crew started on connecting the WaterGuard Drainage System to the SuperSump Plus, a powerful sump pump system that is equipped with a reliable cast iron pump, a WaterWatch alarm system, and a battery backup system to ensure that it continues to function even when the power goes out. The homeowner was grateful that our crew could restore their peace of mind at home with the excellent work they did and was happy to leave a review stating how efficient, clean and knowledgeable our crew was.

Chris in Clayton, Michigan contacted HomeSpec because he had several vertical cracks in his poured concrete foundation walls. HomeSpec quickly sent our crack tech to fill the cracks and seal them permanently – to prevent water leakage and to prevent them from worsening. Chris was very thankful for the quick service! 

Amanda in Clayton, Michigan contacted HomeSpec to install an egress window and replace several other leaky windows in her basement.  HomeSpec installed the egress window with a window well and cover. We made sure to install proper drainage in the window well to prevent water from pooling and leaking into the basement. The cover will keep out pests, debris, and water as well.  Amanda loves her new windows, and they keep water out of her basement! 

Keith in Clayton, Michigan contacted HomeSpec because his block basement walls were cracked horizontally and bowing inward. His home was very old, and the foundation was only worsening over time. He finally decided to have it fixed after finding water pooling on the floor constantly after heavy rains.  HomeSpec straightened and stabilized the bowing basement walls with the PowerBrace Wall Repair System – steel beams that prevent the wall from moving or worsening. We also sealed all cracks permanently to prevent water seepage. Lastly, Keith wanted an interior drainage system installed to prevent water from leaking into the basement.  Keith now has a dry and healthy basement, and no more foundation worries!!