Job Stories

Vertical cracks were letting water into the basement of this South Lyon, Mi homeowner. With a nice lounge area setup in his basement, the homeowner found himself increasingly frustrated with the idea of this crack causing water damage to his belongings. He wanted the problem solved as quickly and effectively as possible. A short google of who the best contractors for basement crack repair near South Lyon, Mi led him quickly to contacting HomeSpec BasementFix.   Dave Kingsley made sure to meet the understandably frustrated homeowner the same day. It was a quick discussion of the problem that led to the inspection process, where Dave made sure to determine there wasn't any additional hidden grievances waiting, and to better examine the crack in question to see what the best way was to handle it. After locating the crack, Dave recommended removing a small section of dry wall for a closer inspection of the problem area. This vertical crack was a bit more severe than originally anticipated, and Dave also discovered nearby rod holes in the same area that would also need attention.   The rod holes were a consequence of when the house was first built. Rod holes were formed when the foundation of the basement was originally poured during construction of the home; metal rods were used to hold the forms together until the concrete had cured. At which point the rods were removed, leaving holes to be filled with balls of hydraulic cement. These fillings, however, are prone to wear and tear, and often can lead to leaks during rainy weather over time.   Our crew used a high-pressure Urethane crack injection to seal up the original crack, and a series of carbon fiber corner straps to ensure more damage wouldn't spread, and to add better support as well. Our crew would use a hydrophobic polyurethane grout made from materials that absorb and repel water, before filling the gaps with Seal-Boss foam as well, and another grout to top it off flush against the walls surface. Finally, surface bonding material is smoothly applied to give the whole project a cosmetically appealing finish. Finally, the drywall was replaced and sealed with NexusPro joint sealant for a long-lasting, and durable finish.   This homeowner was happy to have his problem answered in such an effective and efficient manner, finally able to enjoy his lounge again in his leisure time without worry.

A couple in South Lyon, Mi bought a condo with known settlement issues earlier this year, which was originally built in 1998. They were still noticing the settlement issues to a concerning degree, months into acquiring the property. They didn’t have any immediate plans to move again, and were concerned that if this foundation settlement problem wasn’t addressed, it could grow into a more “catastrophic” situation. In order to prevent that, and recover peace of mind in their own home, they began looking for a foundation repair contractor nearby. Ultimately, they were referred to HomeSpec BasementFix by a friend who recently had some basement waterproofing done.AJ, a Project Manager who is also experienced in foundation settlement repair, was sent to the property to inspect and discuss the matter with the couple. The homeowners brought up concerns of uneven floors, which alerted AJ to the possibility of a foundation settlement problem. Foundation Settlement happens when the disturbed layers of soil dug up to build the foundation can no longer support the weight of the foundation. Although common, ignoring a settlement issue can lead to “catastrophic” damage to the support structure of the home and therefore should be addressed as soon as possible. Foundation settlement does not happen overnight; it is a slow process that takes time and is only noticed once the living space becomes affected; drywall cracks, hard to open or close, and even cracks in the floor are telltale signs of foundation settlement. Once this was explained to the homeowners, AJ completed his detailed inspection and recommended a Helical Pier Support System, complete with basement waterproofing to bring the structure back to its original integrity.We would propose the use of the Helical Pier Support System to handle these foundation issues. These piers utilize helical plates welded to the shaft of the pier to provide anchoring support in the soil. As the weight of the foundation is transferred to new load bearing soils, the stress level on the foundation is lowered and the support system acts as an effective medium for stronger support. Due to its permanent nature, additional sections can be added to the pier to ensure the proper level of depth and support is customized to the homeowners needs. With the foundation successfully supported, and the floors level once more, the homeowners were delighted to receive a small referral discount and more than happy to recommend HomeSpec BasementFix to friends and family in need of future foundation settlement repair.

Our crew was hired to fix a basement so a homeowner could finish it. The homeowner said the previous owners said the basement had flooded several years prior. We installed an interior drainage system. We also put a stabilization system on walls in the basement. 

A small family in Huntington Woods, MI had recently finished their basement with drywall and were looking forward to spending many evenings enjoying family time and hosting gatherings with friends. However, recently they noticed a problem that was beginning to cause them distress: water was seeping into the basement through the joint where the floor and the walls met. Concerned about the integrity of their basement and the potential long term damage it could cause, this homeowner knew they needed to find a permanent solution as soon as possible. When our Project Manager arrived at their home, equipped with knowledge and an array of advanced tools, they conducted a thorough assessment of the basement, examining the walls, floors, and any other potential areas of concern. The homeowners shared their observations and concerns, explaining that the water intrusion was most prominent where the walls met the floor. After completing his inspection, the Project Manager proposed a comprehensive solution that would best resolve this family’s waterproofing problem. He recommended installing two key systems: the WaterGuard Drainage System and the SuperSump Plus. Our crew began the waterproofing process by excavating a trench along the perimeter of the basement's interior walls, right against the floor. This trench was carefully dug to ensure minimal disruption to the homeowners basement. Then, our crew cleaned the foundation walls to prepare them for the installation of the WaterGuard Drainage System. The french drain system, consisting of a pvc drain pipe, was carefully placed into the trench. This pipe would capture any water entering the basement and direct it towards the sump pump system for removal. Our crew made sure that the drain pipe was installed with a slight downward slope to facilitate the natural flow of water towards the pump. With the WaterGuard system in place, our crew turned their attention to the installation of the SuperSump Plus. This high-performance sump pump system would remove any water collected by the drain pipe and funnel it away from the basement. They first excavated a small sump pit in a low-lying area of the basement floor and positioned the SuperSump Plus within it. Then our crew connected the sump pump to the WaterGuard, ensuring a seamless flow of water from the basement to the pump. As time went on, the homeowners came to realize the investment in a professional waterproofing system was priceless and they were grateful for the peace of mind it brought them.

A family in Southfield, Mi, had been continually bothered by their sagging floors for quite some time. What made the problem worse was that the floors were even starting to feel colder, and their seasonal allergies felt a bit worse than usual this year as well. They knew that they couldn't keep living like this and had a feeling that if these problems continued to go unaddressed that they would compound and grow into a much worse situation. They decided to look into crawl space repair contractors near Southfield, Michigan. After comparing reviews and history, they decided the best crawl space foundation contractor would be HomeSpec BasementFix.We sent out one of our project managers to meet with the family and discuss their concerns in more detail before providing a free inspection and detailed estimate on a custom proposed solution. The crawl space in question had a clearance height of roughly 3 feet, but that wouldn't deter our team. The project manager would thoroughly conduct his inspection of the crawl space to determine the cause. It was discovered that this dirt crawl space was damp with signs of past water damage along many of the wooden supports which had begun to rot and give way. This was the likeliest explanation for the sagging floors right above. We wanted to address the problem in its entirety for the homeowners and took their descriptions of colder floors and worsening allergies into consideration as well. We proposed a solution set consisting of crawl space support jacks and a full crawl space encapsulation.Our crew would begin by sistering weakened joists and replacing the most damaged support beams all together. We would then utilize the SmartJack crawl space support jack system to help provide reliable support back to the floors and push them back to level. These crawl space support jacks are adjustable, ensuring they can be serviced or customized year-round to adapt to any related situation a home may require. Engineered with galvanized steel and a special zinc coating to prevent any degradation or erosion, ensuring that the problem wouldn't repeat itself, these powerful supports provide an ideal support solution.The dirt crawl space was recommended to be encapsulated with our CleanSpace system. Dirt crawl spaces carry a variety of threats to both the home and comfortability of those living there. A dirt crawl space can easily let water in and create dampness, which can in turn damage the supports throughout the foundation, as was seen in this situation. This damp environment is an easy breeding ground for mold and bacteria to spread throughout. This accompanied with evaporated groundwater contaminating the air, could be major factors in the homeowner's worsening health. Getting crawl space encapsulation helps seal off and separate the dirt from the ground to prevent these situations. CleanSpace is manufactured in a special 7-layered material consisting of both high and low-density polyethylene to ensure both durability and flexibility, while being treated with a special antimicrobial formula to prevent any bacteria or mold. This solution helps waterproof the area and prevents water leaking into the crawl space.After both hearing and seeing the benefits of these solutions firsthand, the homeowners were relieved to have both their peace of mind and some semblance of health back. By separating the dirt crawl space away from the home, they were also able to retain heat, prevent colder floors and save money on heating bills. A welcome surprise benefit that most don't realize at first!

HomeSpec was contacted by a new homeowner about water seeping through the basement walls. Our crew installed an interior drainage system and a dehumidifier to solve the wet basement issue.

A homeowner needed six slabs of concrete lifted near his home that had sunken and become uneven. HomeSpec injected our innovative expanding PolyLevel foam under the slabs to raise and stabilize them, preventing tripping hazards. 

This homeowner contact HomeSpec because her allergies were acting up and she suspected something was going on in her crawl space. Our crew discovered mold in the crawl space (shown in photos) and used our powerful mold stain remover to clean the contaminated surfaces. Then we sealed the crawl space (from air and water leaks) with our CleanSpace vapor barrier system. This prevents moisture from getting in and mold from growing back again. 

Water leaking into basements, is never ideal. A Southfield, Mi homeowner purchased her home over two years ago. In that time, she has been dealing with a basement that has water seeping up through the floor. The moisture damaged the carpeting and limited how she could use her basement. She wanted to originally convert the basement into a livable space and had basement waterproofing done by a third-party company. However, the third party's systems failed within a year and left her back to square one with water coming in around the floor, and walls. She needed a basement waterproofing contractor near Southfield that would prove to be credible and reliable to solve this wet basement problem once and for all.                                                 HomeSpec Basementfix’s Dave Kingsley was happy to be of service. Dave listened to her grievances about her previous problems and made sure to walk her through the entire inspection process to ensure all parties were educated and on the same page. With a proper understanding of the situation, Dave proposed two main installations, the WaterGuard drainage system, and the Sanidry Sedona Basement Dehumidifier.                                                          The WaterGuard drainage system would be the perfect fit solution for this problem. WaterGuard is a customizable piping system engineered specifically to solve basement water problems without worry of clogging. WaterGuard has a special wall flange that creates space between the floor and wall, allowing wall seepage to drain away seamlessly to the designated basin. Adjusting to the perimeter of the basement to tackle the problem at the source. The humidifier was for a quality-of-life finish. The SaniDry Sedona system, a size-efficient solution that is small enough to fit in as a crawlspace dehumidifier as well as basements, while being strong enough to dry large areas at a lower cost than other dehumidifiers on the market. The SaniDry system allows for automatic drainage - so there’s no need to empty the reservoir, and is capable of humidity sensing as well, meaning it’ll automatically shut off when desired levels are met, while filtering harmful irritants. The Sedona allows for a long-lasting, yet low maintenance solution.                                                 Following up with the homeowner two weeks later, we learned she was incredibly satisfied with her new basement waterproofing, and dehumidifier, and was planning to start renovating her basement the following month! Happy she chose the correct basement waterproofing, and crawl space repair contractor, this time, for a long-lasting ideal solution to all her problems.

In Southfield, MI there was a first time homeowner that was experiencing cracks in the walls and even larger cracks in their ceiling. They had begun to get increasingly concerned about the stability of the home and the potential for further damage. This led them to do some research into the best foundation repair companies nearby. HomeSpec BasementFix was recommended as the best fit for this family’s job.   Our Project Manager, Jesse, was sent to the home in order to evaluate the situation and conduct a free inspection. Upon arriving at the home, Jesse inspected the foundation and crawl space and determined that the cracks were likely due to settling and uneven weight distribution. He explained to the new homeowner that the SmartJack Support System could be installed over crushed gravel in the crawl space to completely and permanently address the issue.   The homeowner was pleased with the proposal and decided to move forward with the project. After a date for the repair had been agreed upon, our crew arrived on site and began the installation process. They first cleared the crawl space of any debris and spread a layer of crushed gravel evenly across the ground. Next, they installed the SmartJack Support System, which involved attaching adjustable steel support jacks to the floor joists and then leveling them to the desired height. The crew worked carefully and efficiently, ensuring that each column was securely in place and properly leveled. Once the installation was complete, Jesse conducted a final inspection to ensure that the SmartJack Support System was functioning as intended and wouldnt pose any further problems for this homeowner.    The homeowner was pleased to see that the cracks in the walls and ceiling had diminished significantly and that the crawl space was now stable and secure. They were also relieved to know that the home was now safe and secure, and could rest easy knowing that the SmartJack Support System would provide long-lasting protection against settling and foundation damage.