Job Stories

A family recently purchased a home in Ira, MI and noticed the back basement wall leaking, putting the issue in the back of their mind. A few weeks later they heard a loud sound coming from the basement. More specifically, the basement floor now had a large crack running down the middle, causing the kitchen above to become unlevel and the sliding glass door to have a gap. After realizing it was time to address the situation, the family reached out to neighbors and friends for the best foundation repair companies nearby. They were referred to HomeSpec BasementFix by a neighbor who recently had basement waterproofing done by us.Robert, who was experienced in foundation repair, was sent to the family’s home to provide a detailed inspection and discuss their concerns. After explaining that over time, hydrostatic pressure can build up around the foundation walls causing it to bow and crack, he performed his inspection. During the inspection process, Robert noted how the large crack running through the basement was likely due to foundation settlement. While settlement doesn't happen overnight, if left for long periods of time, it can cause the foundation to sink and the basement floor to develop cracks. The leaking walls were likely due to the pressure from expansive soils building up around the foundation and causing the walls to crack and let in water. Proposing a solution for this family that involved Helical Piers, High Pressure Crack Injection and PolyLevel was the best way to solve this foundation settlement problem. In order to solve the cracks in the basement, the first step is to lift the foundation back to its original level. When the soils below can no longer support the weight of the foundation, it causes a void that the foundation settles into. The Helical Pier Support System solves this by stabilizing the foundation from further settlement and transferring the weight of the foundation from weaker soils, to competent load bearing soils through the piers. The helical plates welded to the shaft of the pier act as a screw, advancing deeper into the ground providing structural support and peace of mind for the homeowner. The next step in this family’s foundation repair was for our crew to apply High Pressure Urethane Crack Injection to seal the cracks in the foundation wall and PolyLevel, a polyurethane foam injection, to level the concrete floors in the basement. With the foundation restored to its original structural integrity, this family was pleased to receive a referral discount for the foundation repair and happy to recommend HomeSpec BasementFix to friends in need of home repair. 

This homeowner contacted HomeSpec because his crawl space was damp, moldy, and making his house smell musty.  Our crew encapsulated the crawl space to solve this issue. That involves covering it with a vapor barrier and sealing off the area from water and air leaks. 

This Casco home is very close to Lake St. Clair and the area experiences a high water table. This means the water in the ground is above the level of below-grade spaces in the area - so many people there deal with wet basements and crawl spaces. (The same goes for homes near rivers and marshes, or areas with heavy rainfall.) The difference is, this homeowner called HomeSpec to solve their water problems.  Our team installed an interior drainage system, sump pump, vapor barrier, and dehumidifier. These 4 things are the pillars of a dry basement. The anti-microbial vapor barrier holds back water vapor from passing through the walls and directs it to the drainage system. The drainage system is installed around the perimeter of the foundation on top of the footer. It collects water from under the floor, but also from the walls. The water is then deposited into the sump pump, which then funnels the water away from the home through the discharge line. The dehumidifier will filter the air and control the moisture to prevent humidity and mold.   

The crawl space under this Casco home flooded after a heavy storm knocked out both of the sump pumps. The city is near a lot of water, so the neighbors have also dealt with this problem. They all recommended HomeSpec to these homeowners. We replaced the outdated sump pumps with TripleSafe sump pumps. These have 3 powerful pumps to ensure a flood doesn't occur, no matter the amount of water. We also installed a SmartPipe perimeter drainage system for the crawl space. Then the crawl space was encapsulated to seal it. This creates a vapor barrier and prevents water vapor and ground water from getting in.  Lastly, we installed a powerful, very efficient dehumidifier to remove the moisture out of the air and ensure the humidity doesn't exceed 55%. 

A homeowner contacted us looking for a permanent solution to a wet crawl space. While there wasn't water in the crawl space when they contacted our team, they said it has been an issue. Our crew encapsulated the crawl space and added an interior drainage system. 

This homeowner contacted HomeSpec because her sump pump stopped working and her basement flooded. To prevent this from happening again, HomeSpec replaced the old, outdated sump pump with a brand new TripleSafe.  This sump pump is much more powerful and reliable, with the ability to pump out 2,000 gallons of water every hour. The water is funneled away from the home through the discharge line.  The homeowner is very pleased with her new sump pump, and hasn't had any water issues since! 

Tim H. in Avoca, Michigan contacted HomeSpec because after heavy rains all weekend – he found puddles of water in his basement. Our inspector Chris Baltovich found that the water was seeping in from the joint where the floor and the wall meet. There is a gap there and this is one of the most common ways water enters basements.  To solve this problem, HomeSpec simply had to install a discreet below-floor drain around the perimeter of the basement. We connected this to Tim's sump pump – so the drainage system can collect the water and deposit it into the sump pump, which will then direct the water away from the home.  The sump pump discharge line was extended (and buried) farther away from the home so the water coming out of it wouldn't seep into the soil and leak back into the basement. 

These homeowners live in Harsens Island near a canal and like many other homes in the area, their crawl space was wet and muddy at all times. Also like many other homes in the area, the crawl space was only equipped with an old sump pump that didn't always work. This led to a musty smell and humidity seeping into the home.  HomeSpec deals with this problem on a weekly basis- the crawl space needed to be waterproofed and encapsulated. A more powerful sump pump was needed to deal with the high amounts of water. A vapor barrier was also installed to seal the walls and the ground off from moisture. Lastly, a dehumidifier was installed to control the relative humidity.  The homeowners noticed an immediate difference in the smells of their home, as well as the temperature. They are very pleased with their dry, healthy crawl space! 

We were called out to assist a family in Deckerville, Mi, with their concrete lifting needs. They had their driveway overgrown from vegetation that was separating and further shifting the concrete slabs. Leaving concrete settlement, joint, or crack issues unattended for a prolonged period of time can promote vegetation growth as water seeps in, this will continue to force the concrete apart, compounding the issue. They needed to have their slabs leveled to a balanced standing again, and their joints properly sealed.The ideal combination to solve this issue was the PolyLevel System, and NexusPro sealant solution. The powerful polyurethane foam would expand underneath to fill out the voids causing the slab to sink and help push it back into its proper place. The NexusPro sealant solution is proven to be far more reliable than traditional caulking, with a longer-lasting, fully waterproof seal.

This homeowner needed foundation repair to help restore integrity to their bowing basement walls. A notable jagged, staircase-like crack pattern was becoming clearly visible the more the walls pushed inwards.The ideal solution to permanently stabilize block foundation walls was to have our crew install the CarbonArmor system. This system is comprised of fiber-reinforced polymers many times stronger than steel but flexible enough to contour to the walls. Combining it with brackets and straps helps prevent leaning in at the top of the wall and any further inward movement. Adhered with a high-strength epoxy resin, allows the system to adhere to the wall with deep, long-lasting penetration.