Job Stories

In the realm of home improvement, there are stories of homeowners facing challenges and seeking solutions to enhance their living spaces. This story narrates the journey of a homeowner in Superior Twp, MI, with an unfinished basement and water intrusion issues. The homeowner's desire to finish the basement while addressing the water problem serves as the central focus of this story. We will explore how the use of WaterGuard, CleanSpace Wall, and TripleSafe helped resolve these issues, making the basement a safe and comfortable area for the homeowner's family.   The homeowner had an unfinished basement with a unique challenge: water infiltration through a vertical crack and the intersection of the floor and wall, primarily on the garage side of the house. This prevented them from utilizing the basement in the way they wanted to. The looming threat of mold growth compounded their concerns, as they planned to stay in the home for only three more years. Their ultimate goal was to finish the basement and create a functional living space that could be enjoyed without the constant worry of water damage and mold.   1. WaterGuard: A Barrier Against Water To address the water intrusion issue, our homeowner opted for the recommended WaterGuard system. WaterGuard is an unobtrusive interior drainage system designed to capture and redirect water away from the basement. It sits below the floor and along the foundation walls, preventing water from seeping through cracks.   2. CleanSpace Wall: Moisture-Resistant and Mold-Preventing To combat the concern of mold growth, we recommended the CleanSpace Wall for them. CleanSpace is a durable and moisture-resistant wall system that acts as a vapor barrier. It effectively seals off the basement walls, preventing moisture from entering and discouraging mold formation.   3. TripleSafe: Sump Pump Protection To further bolster the basement's defense against water intrusion, the homeowner invested in the TripleSafe sump pump system. The TripleSafe sump pump is equipped with three pumps, ensuring operation even in the most challenging conditions.   In the quest to transform their unfinished and water-troubled basement into a functional living space, our homeowner found success through the use of WaterGuard, CleanSpace Wall, and TripleSafe. These solutions mitigated the water issues, prevented mold growth, and ensured a safe and comfortable environment. With these improvements in place, our homeowner can now work towards finishing the basement, enhancing the value of their home, and enjoying their newfound space without the worry of water damage.

After heavy rainfall in Ypsilanti, MI, a homeowner was shocked to find muddy water seeping into their crawl space. Having installed a “rat wall”, which is just a thin barrier of either steel or concrete around the foundation, a leaking crawl space should not be a worry for the homeowner. As this required some expert knowledge to find the leak, they contacted HomeSpec BasementFix for the crawl space repair. Project manager Chris was sent out for this crawl space repair due to his many years of related experience in encapsulation. While inspecting the property he noticed that there wasn't sufficient support in the crawl space and this could lead to further problems with the floors down the line. Like many crawl spaces, they were using stacks of old cinderblocks for support which deteriorated over time. As he explained his findings, Chris recommended a crawl space encapsulation to prevent further water damage to the crawl space, as well as a SmartJack Support System to replace the damaged supports he found in the crawl space.For this project, the best way to prevent further water damage would be to use our CleanSpace Encapsulation System. CleanSpace utilizes a vapor barrier that is made from a 20 millimeter reinforced polymer liner to prevent water from seeping into the crawl space and causing problems for the support systems. With a 25 year warranty on the liner, the crawl space is insured to keep the area dry, and moisture free. The next step would be to install our SmartJack Support System, with the ability to support upwards of 60,000 lbs., the SmartJack can withstand the weight of the floors easily. Made of galvanized steel, our support systems are rust resistant, pest resistant, and easily adjustable year-round to meet the needs of the home over time. With both of these systems in place, water damage to the crawl space is rarely going to cause concern for the homeowner. With the crawl space repair complete and the support system fully installed, the homeowners fears of a water-filled crawl space were put to rest. They were happy with the quick and efficient installation.

This homeowner's downspouts were not extended away from the home whatsoever, and water from the gutter was pooling around the foundation after heavy rainfall and snow melts. This water was then leaking into his basement, so he called HomeSpec.  Our crew extended the downspouts by 10 feet (at least 5 feet is recommended, but the further, the better). We also buried them to prevent tripping hazards and unsightly pipes getting in the way.  The homeowner reported that water had stopped pooling around his home near the downspouts, and his basement was no longer leaking! Problem = solved! 

A homeowner contacted us because there was water in her recently finished basement. Our team found and repaired leaking rod holes to prevent more water from entering the home. 

These homeowners contacted the professionals at HomeSpec because two walls in their basement were bowing, and they finally decided to reach out for an estimate. Their project manager described how serious bowing walls are - there's pressure pushing the wall inward and it won't stop until the wall completely caves in. A foundation problem like this needs to be fixed as soon as possible because the repair becomes more expensive and extensive the worse it gets.  The homeowners were on board with the proposal to fix their foundation and were relieved they could finally stop worrying about it in the back of their minds.  Our crew fixed the problem by installing the PowerBrace Wall Repair System to the walls to stabilize and potentially straighten them. This is done by the steel I-beams that are secured to the wall and the joists above with steel brackets. It also installs quickly with minimal disruption to the basement. With a newly stabilized foundation, these New Hudson homeowners now live worry-free. 

This homeowner contacted HomeSpec about her basement leaking where the floor and the wall meet, especially when it rains.  Our crew installed an interior drainage system to fix this problem, which redirects any water into the sump pump and prevents future water issues.

This past HomeSpec customer contacted us again because this time he wanted new flooring installed in his basement. The homeowner wanted to renovate his unfinished basement into an extra living space. While on our website, he saw that we also offer flooring and wall products. He decided on the ThermalDry® Elite Plank Flooring (faux-wood flooring) and BrightWall® Basement Wall Panels (white rigid plastic sheeting). Since he already had an interior drainage system and sump pump installed, he wanted to know how our flooring and wall panels worked with those products. We informed him that they both install easily over the waterproofing products, and they are both made of 100% inorganic materials - making them waterproof and mold-resistant. The wall panels specifically block water vapor from entering the basement, and direct the moisture down into the drainage system. Plus the bright white color provides a clean, fresh look in the basement. The flooring comes in four different colors, and this homeowner chose "dark walnut."  The homeowner and his family were so happy with the finished results - they now have a waterproofed AND finished basement thanks to HomeSpec. With double the living space, they have added way more value to their home! 

This homeowner was experiencing water pooling around their foundation. He was afraid that the water would eventually make its way into his basement after seeping down into the soil. He contacted HomeSpec, and our inspector saw that their downspouts were spitting water out right at the foundation. On top of that, the ground was pitched toward the foundation.  Our crew went out and installed The RainChute EZ® to all of the gutters and graded the ground to slope away from the foundation. After a heavy rainfall, the homeowner reported no water pooling around the foundation, and a dry basement! 

Water was leaking into this homeowners basement through old, rusted windows every time it rained. She attempted to seal the window with DIY hacks, but nothing worked. Another company tried to convince her that she needed a full waterproofing system, but it wasn't in her budget. Finally, she made the right decision and called HomeSpec. Although a full waterproofing system would completely prevent water issues, replacing the old windows were enough to solve the homeowners problem.  Luckily, HomeSpec has EverLast™ basement windows perfect for replacing old, leaky windows. They looked much nicer than the older ones, and they prevented water from entering the basement. The homeowner was so happy to save money and have a dry basement!

A new homeowner in Willis, MI had big plans for their unfinished basement. They wanted to transform it into a cozy TV lounge where they could entertain guests or just relax with the family. Unfortunately, their plans were put on hold when they discovered leaks in the basement walls. At first, they tried to ignore the problem, hoping it would go away on its own, but the leaks only seemed to get worse. Soon they realized it was time for professional help. They searched for a reliable contractor online and came across our company's website, where they found out we specialize in waterproofing and basement renovation. When our Project Manager visited the home to assess the situation and recommend the best solution, he found that the leaks were caused by hydrostatic pressure in the soil outside the basement, which was pushing water through the cracks in the walls. He immediately recommended a SuperSump Plus system, which is designed to collect water that enters the basement and pump it out of the house, preventing any further water damage. When our crew began installing the SuperSump Plus system, which included a sump pump, a drainage system, and a battery backup in case of a power outage, they also sealed the cracks in the walls to prevent any further water infiltration. After the installation, they made sure to test the system to ensure it was working properly. With the SuperSump Plus system in place, the homeowner was finally able to start their basement renovation project. They were grateful to finally begin renovations to turn the basement into the TV lounge they had been waiting for.