Ryan Loop

This Harsens Island homeowner wanted to build over his old garage and renovate it, but he had a problem. The interior and exterior block walls were covered in stair-step cracks and the structure was in bad shape. He wanted these repaired, so he called the experts at HomeSpec.

Our foundation specialists took a road trip (and then a ferry) up to Harsens Island to inspect the problem and provide a proposal. They ended up discovering that the cracks were a result of something more serious - foundation sinking. The problem would only get worse, and only fixing the cosmetic issues wouldn't solve anything. 

This happened because the soil under the foundation was too unstable/loose to support it. Helical piers were needed to stabilize the structure. The piers are screwed deep into stronger, more competent soil. They anchor into the ground and the weight of the foundation is transferred to prevent further sinking. They can even lift the foundation to its original position!

Now that the garage is stabilized, the homeowner is excited to continue with his renovations! 

Ruth in Grosse Ile, Michigan reached out to HomeSpec to repair her damaged foundation walls. The walls were cracked and bowing, allowing water to seep in. Ruth was worried about the large project and didn't know what to do, but HomeSpec reassured her that we would solve her issues permanently before they worsen. 

Our project manager Mark Buhr first conducted the inspection to develop a repair plan. Foreman Ryan Loop and his crew then got to work. They excavated the foundation wall to push the wall back to it's original position, then waterproofed the exterior. Inside, the PowerBrace Wall Repair System and Carbon Fiber Straps were used to stabilize the walls and stop them from moving. They were even able to straighten the bowing wall. Lastly, all cracks were sealed and new glass block windows replaced the old ones. 

Ruth no longer needs to stress about her foundation. The walls are not only stabilized, but waterproofed as well. 

HomeSpec already had to repair damaged walls in this Saint Clair Shores, Michigan basement back in 2020 because they were severely cracked and bowing. Recently though, the homeowner Stephanie and her dad were removing wall panels from another room in the basement and found the same exact issues – bad water damage, bowing walls and large cracks in the blocks. 

Foundation repair expert Ryan Loop and waterproofing foreman Jerry Blevins lead the crew to complete this repair. They stabilized and braced the foundation walls with the PowerBrace Wall Repair System and Carbon Fiber Straps. A WaterGuard Perimeter Drainage System (aka French Drain) was installed to curb the water intrusion. Sections of the walls were covered with our BrightWall Vapor Barrier Panels to insulate and direct water into the drainage system. 

Stephanie and her father were once again very happy with the results of their newly repaired basement! They don't have to worry anymore about losing property value because of the damage or worry about the issues worsening. 

These homeowners contacted HomeSpec about repairing the failing foundation of their 100-year-old home. 

HomeSpec rebuilt some of the deteriorated blocks, then lifted the foundation and installed helical piers to stabilize the home. 

This homeowner contacted HomeSpec because the structural support in her crawl space was failing severely - causing the floors above to sag and creating a hazard. No one wants to live with bouncy floors!

To solve this problem, our crew installed SmartJack support posts throughout the crawl space. We also installed supplemental beams, replaced and sistered the joists, and replaced the old shims with steel plate shims. Then we encapsulated the crawl space with the CleanSpace vapor barrier and vent covers. 

Beams were installed to stabilize basement walls that were cracked. 

Our team installed a new egress window and vinyl window in Dundee.

This homeowner contacted HomeSpec after she bought a home with severe foundation issues, including a wall that was cracked from top to bottom and bowing - and ultimately at risk of collapsing. 

Our team of experts straightened the wall and pushed it back into place. It was waterproofed from the outside, and the cracks were repaired with our polyurethane sealant then reinforced by power grids on the inside. The walls were permanently stabilized by a carbon fiber system and a power brace system to prevent movement in the future. 

This homeowner is now so happy and ready to enjoy her new home knowing her basement is stable and dry. 

Jenny W. from Birmingham, Michigan contacted HomeSpec after finding water leaking into her basement after a bad storm through the floor/wall joint and cracks in the walls. 

HomeSpec had a solution for her wet basement woes: a waterproofing system. This includes a WaterGuard Drainage System that installs around the perimeter to collect water before it leaks into the basement. This then deposits water into the TripleSafe Sump Pump (with 3 pumps for triple the protection) which funnels water away from the home. 

We also installed our Foamax Basement Wall Panels to hide the unsightly foundation walls, brighten up the space, and drain any water leaks into the drainage system.  

The basement's transformation was astounding and Jenny couldn't be any happier with the results! 

Jacks were installed to reinforce the foundation in the crawl space. 

These customers contacted us about water coming up through their basement floor tiles. Upon inspection though, shearing and bowed walls were discovered.

Our crew rebuilt the sheared wall, then installed a wall stabilization system to prevent future water issues and protect the structural integrity of the home. 

Scott A. from Waterford, Michigan called HomeSpec to repair his sinking garage. The garage's foundation was settling into the soil which was causing separation from the home and severe cracking. Scott also wanted some concrete repaired while we were there. 

Project Manager Keith Brown knew we could combat this issue by installing Helical Piers below the foundation. Foreman Ryan Loop and his crew got to work installing the piers to stabilize the foundation and stop the sinking. They were also able to lift the foundation back to its original position. Crack Tech Ryan Bonacorsi was then able to permanently seal the cracks in the walls. 

At the same time, Concrete Specialists Devin Parker and Alex Lofgren were working on repairing Scott's concrete. They used the PolyLevel method, a cost-effective and less-abrasive method for leveling concrete. This works by injecting polyurethane rigid foam below the concrete slabs. As the foam expands, the concrete is lifted into place. It was a quick and easy installation! 

This homeowner contacted HomeSpec because a block wall in his crawl space was deteriorating. 

This can danger the structural integrity of the home, so our crew rebuilt the severely damaged wall, and then encapsulated the entire crawl space with our CleanSpace vapor barrier to waterproof it. 

These Ann Arbor, Michigan homeowners purchased a home with many crawl space and foundation issues, so they called HomeSpec to take care of everything! A general inspection found that there was mold in the crawl space due to moisture, and the joists/band board were rotting badly as a result. 

On top of that, one corner of the home was sinking, also know as settling, into the soil and pulling apart from the rest of the home – resulting in severe cracking in the crawl space and outside the home. 

HomeSpec combatted the sinking issue by installing Helical Piers. These anchor deep into stronger soils and literally hold the home up, preventing the structure from sinking any further and even lifting it back to its original position. 

The rotting, moldy joists in the crawl space were replaced and sistered to make sure the floors above won't sag and the support won't give way. The cracks in the crawl space block walls were also sealed to prevent moisture from seeping in. The support in the crawl space is crucial to the home, which is why it's important to keep crawl spaces dry or else moisture will wreak havoc!! 

The foundation of this home in Ann Arbor, Michigan was in pretty bad shape – the crawl space walls were cracked, bowing and moving – allowing moisture into the crawl space. The foundation was also settling and sinking into the soil causing many of these issues. 

Foundation & pier expert Ryan Loop took on this challenge with his experienced crew. They pushed the foundation walls back into place and braced them with straps. Then they installed Helical Piers below the foundation to stop the sinking and stabilize the foundation. These piers anchor deep into stronger soils to hold the foundation in place and stop it from moving. While the exterior walls were exposed, the crew waterproofed them. 

This home is no longer "on the move" and these homeowners no longer need to worry!

This basement flooded after a bad storm because the homeowner's sump pump failed. Sadly, this is a common problem. Old sump pumps simply cannot handle high amounts of water.

After removing the damaged drywall, several cracked and damaged walls were discovered as well. The walls were deflecting inward and there was some shearing. This homeowner wanted to repair her basement and never have to worry about it again. 

That's where HomeSpec comes in! Our team of experts curated a special solution to solve this problem. First, the basement needed to be waterproofed so we installed an interior drainage system with a sump pump. Our sumps can pump out thousands of gallons of water every hour - preventing this basement from flooding again. Next, the walls needed to be stabilized. We used the PowerBrace wall repair system and the carbon fiber system to prevent further damage and potentially straighten them.

The homeowner was looking for a long-term solution for keeping his basement dry after water started coming through the floor of his 100-year-old home.

This old Sandusky home was built way back in 1890 with a fieldstone foundation - and it's new homeowners were very concerned over something they discovered in the basement!

A rotting tree stump was found to be acting as a support post, barely holding up a beam above. This is dangerous because the support in the basement is what holds the entire home up. The structural integrity of the home depends on these posts and beams. The homeowners called HomeSpec to take care of the problem. 

Our crew was able to install two new support posts with a new beam and repair some of the joists to solve the issue. Now the homeowners can enjoy their new home without worrying about the structural integrity!

This Marlette, Michigan homeowner was very worried about the foundation wall in her basement. The wall was not only severely cracked and bowing inward, but also shearing at the bottom of the wall. 

When a wall is bowing (and shearing) it's because the wall is under stress and being pushed inward, usually by hydrostatic pressure or expansive soils. If left alone, the wall could collapse and have to be completely rebuilt. 

Fortunately, that didn't happen in this case. Foreman Ryan Loop and his crew were able to repair the wall with the PowerBrace™ Wall Repair System. This consists of steel I-beams that prevent further inward movement and can potentially straighten the wall since the braces can be tightened. 

The horizontal and stair-step cracks in the mortar were filled, and the shearing was also repaired. The homeowner can now rest easy knowing her foundation is no longer at risk, and she's very happy with the results! 

Water had been leaking into their 100-year-old home for years, but after discovering some major foundation problems, these homeowners urgently called HomeSpec. 

There was paneling over the basement walls so the extent of the damage was unknown. After removing them, we saw that it was worse than anyone previously thought. The foundation walls were cracked and crumbling on the inside (and the outside), and the water damage was apparent after years of water intrusion. The homeowners were ready to permanently repair their basement before it got any worse - and caused them any more stress. 

HomeSpec had to rebuild 2 of the foundation walls due to the severity of the damage. They were then waterproofed from the inside and the outside. Inside, the walls were sealed with the CleanSpace Vapor Barrier to block moisture. Then an interior drainage system and sump pump were installed to collect water seepage and funnel it away from the home. To stabilize the walls, the PowerBrace Wall Repair System was installed. 

The homeowners were very pleased with the results of the work, and were happy to finally put their basement troubles behind them! 

This homeowner was dealing with a cracked and bowing foundation wall, so he called HomeSpec to see what his options for repair were. Bowing walls occur when there's some sort of pressure pushing the wall inwards - usually because of hydrostatic pressure or expansive soils.

To solve this issue, HomeSpec had to excavate the wall and push the wall back into place. Then it was waterproofed from the outside and drainage was installed. On the inside, the PowerBrace Wall Repair System was installed to stabilize the walls and prevent further movement. The cracks were also filled and reinforced with Carbon Fiber Power Grids. 

Now the basement wall is secure and dry. The homeowner was SO happy with the results and spoke very highly of the crew that did his repairs! 

This homeowner is a past HomeSpec customer, and contacted us to install an egress window. 

Our crew installed the window with drainage, and window well with a cover to protect it from even the harshest elements. 

The HomeSpec crew ventured up to Caseville, sadly not for the famous Cheeseburger festival, but to repair some leaking cracks and rod holes. The homeowner wanted them permanently repaired, and wanted his basement waterproofed after experiencing water issues for many years. Living so close to the water, these issues are expected, but preventable. 

Our crew sealed the cracks and rod holes to prevent them from leaking again. This is a common problem with poured concrete walls and we repair walls like this all the time. Then we installed an interior drainage system connected to a sump pump to waterproof the basement.