Job Stories

A family in Attica, Mi had recently moved into a home and had questions concerning 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. 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 as soon as possible. To that end, they began searching for a foundation repair contractor nearby, who specialized in crawl spaces as well. Which led them to contact HomeSpec Basementfix who is experienced in foundation repair, crawl spaces, and basement waterproofing.We quickly sent out project manager Tom, 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 very experienced in crawl spaces, Tom noticed 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 crawl space waterproofing to prevent future similar scenarios.Our crew would begin by removing debris within the crawl space to ensure a safe worksite was secured. We would then begin installing supplemental beams, and provide additional support with the 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 rust. These weatherproof supports are capable of being adjusted throughout the year, to ensure adaptability to any change in the foundation 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 per hour.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.

This family in Pigeon, Mi reached out to HomeSpec Basementfix for help addressing their buckling, leaning basement walls. Basement walls are constantly resisting external forces caused by hydrostatic pressure. Hydrostatic pressure is the force created from saturated soils, often the weakened backfill surrounding the homes foundation during construction which water seeks out during rains. To help them solve their problem, our crew team would implement the use of the PowerBrace system. Steel I-beams are secured to the joists above the wall with steel brackets. This system is easily adjustable, allowing for tightening of the brace to attempt to raise the wall back to its original position. A fast, effective and nondisruptive solution that left this family relieved to be able to safely use their basement again!  

This homeowner needed help realigning a few sunken concrete slabs that comprised their sidewalk. The stability of any concrete surface is dependent on the soils beneath it. The weight of concrete and what it supports, combined with natural soil erosion, can lead to sunken and uneven concrete surfaces.Our experienced crew was able to quickly tackle this problem head on with our PolyLevel solution. A special expanding polyurethane foam that fills the voids underneath concrete, causing them to settle, with a lifting force that can be adjusted by fine-tuning the chemical reaction that causes the foam to expand. A waterproof solution that won't wash away, while being far more resilient and reliable than traditional mudjacking or caulking. The homeowner was happy to have their property value restored with this concrete leveling solution.  

This property owner had a concrete staircase that was starting to lean in on itself as it began sinking due to foundation settlement. A notable concern for any property owner, and a clear detractor from overall value as well, not to mention the obvious safety hazards this problem would propose.Our crew helped lift the foundation back into place with the use of powerful helical piers. Owing their names to the helical plates that screw into the ground, these plates help to pull the pier into the soil during installation and provide anchoring strength as the weight of the foundation or structural element is transferred to the pier. Additional sections can be added to the pier until it reaches the necessary depth. These piers effectively realigned the staircase to a safe reliable position, and helped restore the property value, and build a sense of security again.  

These Hamtramck homeowners bought an old fixer upper as their first home. Before the renovations, they had to address any structural problems with the bones of the home. They thought they were prepared for anything to happen, until an inspection revealed major water issues in the basement. There were signs of water damage that showed the basement had flooded often in the past - including paint bubbling on the brick walls, rotting wood flooring, and rusted support posts.  The HomeSpec team had to address each and every problem. First, the basement obviously needed a sump pump considering the amount of water that needed to be handled. Secondly, there needed to be an interior drainage system to collect the water from around the perimeter and deposit it into the sump basin. Thirdly, the walls needed a vapor barrier installed over them. This would prevent water vapor and moisture from entering the basement, and instead direct it down into the drainage system. Lastly, the homeowners wanted a dehumidifier installed to control the moisture in the air and prevent mold growth. These 4 things work seamlessly together to tackle wet basements.  The waterproofing was done quickly, and the homeowners were able to continue their renovations without having to worry about the water issues any longer. 

A resident of Kingston, Mi reached out to HomeSpec for help with getting their shifting sidewalk properly aligned and level. Originally, they were considering concrete replacement, but heard that we could offer a solution without the ugly patchwork effect of replacement.That solution was using our PolyLevel system, which injects a powerful polyurethane foam underneath the concrete, that’s so light it barely adds any weight to supporting soils. Instead, the foam will expand as it cures to help lift and level the concrete slabs back into place and are ready to be used again in just a few minutes.  

A family in Kingston, Mi was becoming very uncomfortable with the hollow yet bouncy feeling of their sagging floors. They worried that one day the floor may give way to the crawl space below without warning.To restore their peace of mind, we helped address this foundation repair/ foundation support issue by installing our SmartJack crawl space support system. Helping distribute the weight of the home by creating a solid base of engineered fill, it’s galvanized steel columns are able to support over 60,000 lbs! The homeowners were worried and concerned it couldn’t handle sudden changes but were relieved when they learned the SmartJacks are easily adjustable with quick installation.The family was happy to walk in their own home without serious concern again  

In Kingston, Mi a family needed help to fix their failing foundation, as their house started leaning to one side, sinking.Our crew addressed this problem with the use of Push Piers. Installed under the foundation on the sinking perimeter to help lift and correct the leveling issue. Push piers are installed next to the footings and attached with a heavy-duty steel bracket. Soil is backfilled around the piers once stabilization and lifting is complete to finish the installation  

This homeowner contacted HomeSpec because she had several worsening stair-step cracks in her basement (as shown in the photos below). This problem is common with block foundation walls.  Our crew solved her problem by installing a carbon fiber system to stabilize the walls and prevent further cracking. This system is installed from the interior and installs quickly! 

This commercial property in Clifford, Mi had two different areas where slabs were settling in their chip bay, creating an unsafe environment. Settled slabs can create more cracks, fractures, and general tripping hazards if left unattended. This is often caused by the voids left by the shifting and settling of soil over time, meaning the concrete above would settle, creating a hazardous surface.   Project Manager AJ's inspection would lead him to discover that the slab itself and some of the surrounding shifted concrete had begun to crack and spread by this point. There were two basic needs here, concrete leveling to get the slabs back to level for the foreseeable future, and concrete crack repair to address the problem before it continued to spread. The combination solution set of PolyLevel and NexusPro crack repair would be implemented by our crew to directly resolve the issues as quickly as possible. PolyLevel lifts and levels concrete slabs with powerful polyurethane foam. Basically, pea-sized holes are drilled into the slab and the foam is injected to fill the void underneath. The installation technique allows the foam to expand as it cures, perfectly, lifting the slab back up into place. The NexusPro crack repair system is a far longer lasting and reliable solution to concrete cracks than traditional caulking. It's UV-resistant and pliable nature allows it to persist through time and changing weather without breaking its bond or compromising its fresh appearance.