Job Stories

This homeowner bought a 90-year-old home that had some serious foundation issues, like sagging joists. Their structural engineer came up with a plan and urged them to call HomeSpec to implement the plan because we do the best work. The floor needed to be lifted and new beams needed to be installed. To fix the problem, our crew installed dozens of new beams and a new support post, and the floors were lifted. The homeowner is glad he doesn't have to worry about the structural integrity of his beautiful old home!

Some concrete problems only affect certain people. Like if your driveway is uneven or cracked, it only affects you and your family because you're the only ones who use it. On the other hand, uneven and sinking sidewalks affect way more people - anyone can walk along the sidewalk. Two slabs of the concrete sidewalk in front of this Dryden home had dipped to create a " V" shape. In the summer, their kids would trip over it while playing. In the winter, it would fill with snow and ice - creating a very slippery hazard. The family wanted it repaired to keep everyone safe, so they called HomeSpec to PolyLevel it.  PolyLevel is a minimally-invasive two-part polymer that is injected below the slabs to fill in the gaps between the soil and the concrete. It is also waterproof and safe for the environment. As is expands, the slab is raised and leveled with those around it. Now the homeowners don't have to worry about people tripping or slipping in the divot that was caused by soil erosion - our crew sealed the joints between the slabs to prevent more washout. 

This homeowner had been wanting to repair his cracked and sunken driveway for years. It was something he always put off and said he would do eventually. He told HomeSpec he thought it would be a huge, overwhelming project which is why he was afraid to undertake it on his own. A friend told him about HomeSpec, and how easy it was to fix his own concrete. The homeowner was so surprised, he immediately contacted us.  Our concrete specialist went out to Leonard to inspect the driveway and provide a free estimate. The next week, our crew went back to do the repairs. The sunken slabs were lifted with PolyLevel, and all of the joints/cracks were sealed. This helps prevent more soil from being washed out from under the concrete. The concrete was then covered with our SealantPro protectant to extend the driveway's life by 3-5 years. Within a few hours, the driveway was usable again. The homeowner was so happy that this project he dreaded for years was easier and quicker than he expected. 

These homeowners contacted HomeSpec because a wall in the basement of their old home was severely bowing. They wanted to fix up the home and eventually sell it, and they knew they had to start with the structural problems. With issues like this, the value of their home had taken a plummet. No one wants to buy a home with foundation issues.  Our crew ultimately installed braces to the wall to stabilize it. These braces are made of steel I-beams that are secured to the joists above the wall with steel brackets. This makes the braces easily adjustable to potentially straighten the wall to its original position. Afterward, the homeowners were easily able to finish the basement. The next homeowners will be very thankful! 

These young homeowners recently moved into a brand new home in Leonard, Michigan. The home was only about 10 years old, so naturally they didn’t think it would need any serious repairs any time soon. Until one day when they discovered a damp spot on their basement carpet. It just so happened to be after a heavy rainfall.  Upon inspection, our foundation expert found where the water was coming from. It was a narrow crack in the foundation wall. That same day, we repaired the crack by sealing it and completely waterproofing it. New homes are not safe from cracks - as the foundation naturally shrinks or settles, cracks occur. Luckily these are quick to repair and don’t signify serious issues.  

A Gagetown, Mi resident reached out to HomeSpec to help level the concrete comprising their back porch. One of the slabs near the back entrance had sunken a few inches over the years and was continually tripping up the homeowner.This was an easy fix with our PolyLevel System! Polyurethane foam is injected to fill the void underneath the slab, allowing it to expand as it cures, easily pushing and lifting the slab back to its proper level. We also used our NexusPro joint sealant to ensure a long-lasting waterproof seal. Doing so would prevent water from seeping through and starting the problem over again!  

A home in Gagetown, Mi had slowly been settling over the years, sinking into the ground. This can often occur due to the shifting of unstable soil below a foundation. It's wise to address these issues sooner rather than later, because any foundation issue has potential to evolve into a major problem.Slab piers are push piers designed specifically to stabilize and (in some cases) raise slabs that have settled. This type of pier is driven into the soil in the settlement area, deep enough to connect the slab to stable, load-bearing soil or bedrock. The helical blades anchor to the soil as the pier is essentially screwed into the ground. This solution can extend to great depths to contact stable soil or bedrock, while being completely hidden after installation holes are filled for a clean finish!

This homeowner had a bowing basement wall, bending inwards. At first, they thought they could ignore the problem; that is until the problem decided to demand the owner’s attention by cracking the walls over time and starting to let water in during the rain seasons.Our crew would seal the cracks with high pressure injections, before installing the EverBrace System to address the foundation repair issue. EverBrace permanently stabilizes even extreme failing foundation walls with its power steel-I beams and steel corrugated panels. A specialized rigid foam is also injected behind the steel panels, filling voids, and transferring the load from the failing wall to the new support!Always address foundation repair needs as soon as you are able, they can quickly snowball out of control and require more work to rectify. Thankfully, HomeSpec is always prepared!  

This homeowner needed his long driveway slab lifted because it was sinking and uneven, so he contacted HomeSpec.  Our team used our innovative PolyLevel system to solve this problem. The expanding polyurethane foam was injected under the concrete slab, and as it expanded, the slab was raised and leveled back into place. The PolyLevel installation is a quick and non-invasive process too. 

A family in Attica, Mi had questions concerning recent problems with a well pump located in their crawl space beneath their cellar. They also had concerns with the accumulated damage to their foundation over time, which was beginning to crumble due to wear and tear over time. The foundation damage had reached the point where water was starting to leak through into the crawl space below. Being business owners themselves, they were always cautious about their property value, and knew the importance of addressing these serious issues. To that end, they began searching for a foundation repair contractor nearby, who specialized in crawl spaces as well. Which led them to contacting HomeSpec Basementfix.We quickly sent out project manager Tom See, to meet with the family and discuss their concerns in detail. Tom was sure to explain each step of his inspection process, before providing a detailed estimate on how best to address the situation. Being specialized in crawl spaces, Tom noted in his inspection that water damage had deteriorated the main supports of the crawl space foundation over time. It appeared that rot had set in, and that it would be best to replace the support beams, add supplemental supports, and utilize a proper foundation support system. The other issue was the water itself, which would require proper waterproofing in the crawl space to prevent future similar scenarios.Our crew would begin by removing debris within the crawl space to secure a safe and secure worksite. We would then begin installing supplemental beams and provide additional support with our SmartJack Crawl Space Support Jacks. The SmartJack solution set, is capable of supporting loads over 60,000 lbs. and is engineered with galvanized steel and a special zinc-coating to ensure it is reliable, powerful, and resistant to erosion and wood rot. These weatherproof supports are capable of being adjusted year-round, to ensure adaptability to any change in the problem over time. Next, we would have to address any future possible crawl space water problems. To solve this, our crew would install the SmartPump crawl space sump pump system. The SmartPump is specifically designed to fit crawl spaces while being powerful enough to pump out up to 2500 gallons of water.With both their foundation repair and crawl space waterproofing needs met, these homeowners could continue on with a renewed sense of peace in their homes. The restoration of their property value was a key factor that was very important for them.