Job Stories

This homeowner in Livonia, Mi, would constantly get an extremely strong unpleasant odor spreading throughout their entire house whenever their central air would turn on. They had a solid understanding of the contributing factors an unsecured crawl space could have in causing the problem, from having worked in home construction in the past. They also understood that even when inquiring about a crawl space dehumidifier, it was best to have the crawl space professionally inspected by a reliable contractor in the area. Unsatisfied with past service from the competition, he reached out to HomeSpec Basementfix to address the problem.                           Project manager Jesse explored the crawl space to confirm the homeowner's concerns and agreed that the current condition of the crawl space was the most likely culprit of the awful smell spreading through the house. While a crawl space dehumidifier could help improve their general health and quality of life, to properly address the problem at the root would require crawl space encapsulation.                                Our crew would follow the outlined plan, as agreed to by the homeowner. First, removing debris, leveling the area somewhat, and treating the worksite with proper disinfectant. Next would come the crawl space encapsulation proper via the CleanSpace system; a 20 mil-thick-liner manufactured in 7 layers consisting of a mix of both low- and high-density polyethylene blends for both durability and flexibility. With its antimicrobial additive woven into the material, it ensures no new mold growth and less pests. Our team was careful to ensure support piers were properly wrapped in the area, and sealed airtight, leaving the crawl space with a healthy vibrant white finish. Finally, the Sani-Dry Sedona crawl space dehumidifier was added in, with its "Duet" filter which efficiently removes mold spores, dust mite droppings (the number 1 allergen cause), dust and other particulates from the air with a large MERV 8 filter with carbon for the odor reduction the homeowner wanted.                                         With the combination of the Dehumidifier and Encapsulation, the homeowner's immediate concerns were handled as well as futureproofed to ensure long lasting comfort.

A homeowner in Livonia, MI had always prided themselves in their ability to handle most of the household repairs on their own. So when they noticed water pooling on the floor of the basement bathroom, they immediately sprang into action. At first, they thought it might be a leaky sink or toilet, so they removed both fixtures and carefully inspected the pipes beneath them. But even after hours of investigation, they couldn't seem to pinpoint the source of the problem. Frustrated and worried about the damage the water could be causing, they decided to seek professional help. They started by reaching out to a few different contractors in the area, but none of them seemed to be able to provide a clear solution. Some suggested they replace the entire plumbing system in the basement, while others recommended expensive excavation work to repair the foundation. Feeling overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next, the homeowner stumbled upon our company's website. After reading through some of our case studies and reviews, they decided to give us a call and see if we could provide a viable solution. When our Project Manager arrived at the home, he immediately got to work inspecting the basement and the bathroom. During the inspection he made sure to pay close attention to any areas where water seemed to be pooling or seeping in. After carefully examining all of the plumbing fixtures and pipes, he noticed that the water was actually coming in through a small crack in the foundation wall. After explaining his findings to the homeowner, he recommended installing our WaterGuard Drainage System and CleanSpace Wall to prevent any further leaks from forming. The WaterGuard system would effectively capture any water that entered the basement and channel it into a sump pump, which would then pump the water outside of the house. The CleanSpace Wall would act as a vapor barrier, preventing any moisture from seeping through the walls and causing further damage. Our crew got to work immediately, carefully installing the drainage system and CleanSpace wall. The entire process took just a few days, and they made sure to clean up after themselves and leave the basement in better condition than they had found it. When they finished installing the systems, they made sure to show the homeowner how to maintain the WaterGuard system to ensure that it continued working efficiently.  The homeowner was relieved that they no longer had to worry about water leaking anywhere in their basement. They made sure to thank us for our hard work and professionalism and promised to recommend our company to anyone they knew who was experiencing similar issues.

A homeowner in Livonia, MI had been experiencing water seeping in where the floor and wall met, causing them great concern. To exacerbate matters, their daughter had discovered a small crack on the basement floor and expressed worries about the potential growth of black mold. Determined to address these problems promptly, the homeowner sought our assistance. Upon receiving a call from the homeowner, our Project Manager made arrangements to visit the property. His primary goal was to diagnose the root cause of the water infiltration issue and provide a lasting solution. After assessing the homeowners basement, he determined the source of the water infiltration was hydrostatic pressure. This pressure had been forcing the water into the basement through the vulnerable joint between the floor and the wall. Realizing the urgency of the situation and the homeowner's concern about mold growth, he devised a comprehensive solution to tackle their problem once and for all. He recommended they have the WaterGuard Drainage System installed as well as the TripleSafe Sump Pump for added protection. When our crew arrived and began the work, they carefully excavated a shallow trench along the perimeter of the basement's interior walls, then they placed the specially engineered WaterGuard drainage channel into the trench, securely attaching it to the foundation walls. Our crew made sure the WaterGuard system was sloped towards a designated collection point, where they would later install a sump pump to discharge the captured water. To address the homeowners concerns about mold, they installed the TripleSafe Sump Pump, a powerful pumping system capable of handling high volumes of water. The TripleSafe Sump Pump consists of three separate pumps, each with a unique function. The primary pump discharges the water collected by the WaterGuard system, while the secondary pump acts as a reliable backup in case of power outages or primary pump failure. Additionally, the third pump is equipped with a battery backup system, guaranteeing continuous operation even during power outages. With both systems successfully installed, the homeowner was relieved to learn they no longer had to worry about black mold growth or water damage affecting their health or the home.

A homeowner contacted HomeSpec because she had walls that were bowing. She said she another company did an exterior waterproofing of her basement several years prior to the walls bowing. Our team installed a stabilization system to the walls to prevent further movement. 

A homeowner contacted us because water was leaking into his basement when it rained. We installed an interior drainage system and sump pump to prevent future water issues. 

Foundation support problems can be a nuisance to deal with, the sloping floors; cracks in the walls, doors not opening or closing properly all affect how a homeowner sees their home and sticks with them. When this Homeowner in Grosse Pointe Park, MI was beginning to experience these side effects, they reached out to their neighbors for a possible solution to their problem. That's when HomeSpec BasementFix was recommended, by a neighbor who recently had basement waterproofing done, as the best fit for this project. In order to better address this homeowners' concerns, Mark, one of our Project Managers, was sent to provide a detailed inspection of the home. During the inspection, Mark noted how the floors were sloping in one direction and the walls were showing signs of cracks. This is what led him to recommend the Helical Pier Support System to permanently fix this homeowners sinking foundation. The Helical Pier Support System solves the underlying issue of foundation settlement by utilizing the helical plates welded to the shaft of the pier. These plates act as a screw, digging deep into newer load bearing soils that wont shift or settle over time. Once the foundation is lifted back to its original height, the homeowners fears of it sinking again can be put to rest. Happy that HomeSpec BasementFix was able to restore their peace of mind, this homeowner welcomed the referral discount and thanked their neighbor for the recommendation.

These Grosse Pointe Farms homeowners reached out to HomeSpec after something devastating happened – a city sewer backup caused their basement to flood and everything down there was destroyed. All paneling and carpet had to be torn up and thrown away. After the summer floods, this unfortunately happened to many families in Metro Detroit.  The homeowners were interested in waterproof flooring and wall products to prevent the devastating damage and costly repairs from occurring again. This is why HomeSpec installed our Everlast™ Finished Wall Restoration System – this replaces the bottom half of a finished wall. It is made of inorganic materials making it waterproof and difficult for water to damage. It even adds insulation to the basement while providing a timeless look! Next, our ThermalDry® Elite Plank Flooring was installed – these are faux-wood planks made of waterproof inorganic materials making the floor water and mold-resistant! These pair perfectly with the wall product to create a beautiful, waterproofed basement!  

A home in Grosse Pointe Woods has been owned by a family since 1995. It had been waterproofed before and had an interior drainage system installed in 2011. However, they never worked underneath the staircase in the basement or had a sump pump installed. These proved to be problematic for the homeowner when water began leaking again. Knowing they would be moving in a few weeks, they wanted to make sure it would not be an issue for the next tenant. The homeowner called HomeSpec Waterproofing & Foundation Repair to get a free estimate.   HomeSpec sent their inspector, Erik, to evaluate the damages and come up with solutions. The first step was to install a sump pump, specifically TripleSafe™ Sump Pump System. This would connect to a new interior drainage system made of WaterGuard®, and a sump discharge line. This combination is a HomeSpec specialty that ensures the basement stays dry and water leads away from the home. The homeowner approved of these suggestions and scheduled with HomeSpec to begin the work.   Foreman Vernon led the crew in waterproofing the basement. They dug a hole in one corner of the concrete as a space for the sump pump and trenches along the base of the walls for the interior drainage system. They also connected the sump discharge line through a wall so it would drain far into the yard outside. This line was buried so it was neither a tripping hazard nor an eyesore. With the work complete, the basement remains dry, clean, and visually appealing!

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. 

The homeowner, who is a returning customer, contacted HomeSpec because there was water seeping into the basement of one of his rental properties. Our crew installed an interior drainage system, which included a sump pump and discharge. The homeowner previously had HomeSpec repair a different property he owns and said he chose us again because of how well that job was performed. Read his full review here.