Job Stories

A Home Inspector referred this new Bloomfield Hills, Mi homeowner to HomeSpec once they found water or moisture getting in along each side of the fireplace in the basement. Project manager Mark, conducting a secondary inspection, found the problems source to be a bit complicated to track down. The roof of the house had several valleys that would come together at a point where water was collecting. The water would then run down the walls along the fireplace until it would become apparent in the basement. The inspection, and some testing would turn up the cause to be that their current sump pump was failing and couldn’t keep up during rainfall when it was needed the most. The failing sump pump couldn’t handle the water coming in, which was leading to a myriad of wet basement issues. Having just recently bought the home recently and having had many terrible experiences involving wet basements and water damage in their previous home, the homeowner wanted to ensure a proper basement waterproofing solution before settling in.   The first step would be to install a new sump pump. The homeowners opted for the Ultra Sump with its battery backup system. Since severe weather can easily knock power out, it's important to have a backup plan for basement waterproofing is your home is prone to water leakage or flooding. In the event of a power loss, the battery backup will automatically kick in and begin removing water from your basement, preventing a flood. The UltraSump® system can pump out in excess of 11,500 gallons of water on a fully charged battery, which is enough water to fill a small swimming pool! We extended a new exterior sump discharge with freeze prevention, to direct the flow of water to a basin further away from the home as a precaution. Finally, a basement dehumidifier was installed with 20' of additional drainage tube to ensure basement longevity and an overall better homeowner experience. The SaniDry Sedona is small enough to be used as a crawl space dehumidifier, if need be, while powerful enough to be considered “the most effective and energy-efficient flow-through dehumidifier in the world. With the dehumidifier's automatic drainage, and the sump pumps backup battery system, the homeowner could set these two solutions and enjoy their days without worry of constant monitoring.   After a series of terrible wet basement situations in their previous homes, the new homeowner was overjoyed and relieved to finally have a set of reliable solutions.

A family recently moved into a new home in Sterling Heights, Mi. Over the coming months, they had begun multiple renovations on the property to the best of their ability. One issue that they weren’t fully sure how to fix was the crack along the foundation floor, and the additional cracks spreading from the ground up towards the ceiling. They were due to have a glass door put in, but grew worried about how more installations could possibly affect the current damage. Understanding this was a foundation repair issue, they began searching for the best foundation repair contractor nearby. A family friend who had recent work done by us, referred them to HomeSpec Basementfix as their foundation support specialist of choice.Once an appointment was set with the homeowners, a qualified project manager was sent out to the property. Elon, one of our foundation repair specialists, took a look at the crack in the wall and came to the conclusion that they would need immediate repair in order to prevent the crack from spreading and causing excess damage. While completing his detailed investigation of the property, Elon found a crack in the floor that may have resulted from the foundation shifting and causing damage to the floors and living space. While the homeowners expressed concern about the age of the home, Elon reassured them that this repair would restore structural integrity and put their fears to rest. Due to the groundwater present around the foundation of the home, even the smallest crack can cause a larger one to develop. If a larger crack develops in the wall, groundwater is likely to seep in and cause water damage on top of the current issues. The first step in providing a solution to the couple's problem would be to fill the cracks with high pressure urethane crack injection and having the crack-filled and carbon plates which prevent the crack from spreading be placed. This high pressure urethane crack injection ensures that no water leaks in through the crack. The next step in the process would be to insert a helical pier repair system. Helical Piers extend through the soil in order to reach a stable Foundation. The weight of the old Foundation is then transferred to the helical Pier by utilizing steel brackets which are affixed to the home. This successfully levels out the living space and ensures the structural integrity of the walls and the foundation remain intact. With the needs of the homeowners met and the repair successfully completed, our crew received wonderful reviews about their professionalism, cleanliness and timeliness. Homespec prides itself in providing a solution that will last a lifetime with quality products and quality service. 

A homeowner had water in her basement after a window well failed.  Our team installed a new window well. We also put an interior drainage system in the basement to prevent future water issues. 

These homeowners contacted HomeSpec concerning leaking rod holes and vertical cracks in their poured basement walls (as shown in the photo).  Our crew combated this issue by sealing the rod holes and injecting the cracks with our innovative polyurethane sealant, ensuring a waterproof seal. 

This homeowner in Sterling Heights, Michigan contacted HomeSpec to repair their basement which doubles as a living space. The walls would leak every time it rained, which would soak the carpet and drywall – causing expensive damage. Since the basement serves as a bedroom, living room, laundry room and storage room, the family was desperate to get the space repaired and waterproofed permanently.  HomeSpec saved the day by installed an interior drainage system (French Drain) around the perimeter of the basement. Then a Sump Pump was installed to pump the water far away from the home. To prevent costly water damage repairs in the future, we also installed our ThermalDry® Elite Plank Flooring - a faux-wood waterproof flooring that looks great and protects the basement. Lastly, the walls were sealed with a CleanSpace Vapor Barrier to direct leaks down into the drainage system, and block vapor and moisture from entering.  

A Sterling Heights, Mi homeowner had a leak from an unknown source causing regular wet basement problems. The idea of coming home constantly to water in the basement, is understandably upsetting. Try as he might, he just couldn't find the cause of the leak. He reached out to HomeSpec for help understanding his situation.   Ben Gabowitz was happy to hear out all of his concerns and conduct a thorough inspection into the cause. After removing a small amount of dry wall and running a small experiment, where he let a hose run outside for a few minutes, Ben noticed that water was flowing out from behind a stud. From there it was simple for Ben to find the rod holes causing the problem.   Rod holes are 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.   The homeowner was a bit of a handyman himself, so Ben was happy to sit down and explain in detail how best to address the situation within his own personal means.   The homeowner was struck by Ben's authenticity in handling his problem of having his basement crack and rod holes leaking water behind the walls, that he would go on to review:     “I never wrote a review before but today I felt like I had to. We had a water leak in our basement that we couldn't find where it was coming from. Ben Gabowitz came just to evaluate the situation. Not only did he find the leak, he explained how to fix it and took the time to make sure I was satisfied. He was very professional, friendly, knowledgeable and honest. I am definitely keeping his card for any future problems and will be giving his name to friends and family.”

  A longtime homeowner in Sterling Heights, Mi, had been left incredibly frustrated by what they thought were 2 cracks they sealed themselves last year, which have since turned into 3 leaking cracks. The basement water damage had devastated their carpet over time, to the point it was affecting their air quality and general health.   Looking for a reliable basement crack repair contractor near Sterling Heights to properly handle the problem once and for all. Dave, met with the homeowner and examined the previous cracks as well as the newly formed one. During his home inspection process, Dave discovered that the water leaking into the basement wasn't just caused by the cracks, but also to a couple of rod holes at a different end of the basement. Our crew got to work addressing the known cracks first. These 3 cracks were filled with a high-pressure urethane crack injection, and a carbon fiber power grid was installed in slits along the cracks to ensure they wouldn't continue to spread in the future. Next, our crew tended to the discovered leaking rod holes by first plugging the holes using hydrophobic polyurethane grout, a material that would expand and repel water. The holes were then filled with a special water stop foam injection before another application of the grout was used to ensure an air-tight seal. The entire job was neatly finished and cleaned to ensure a visually appealing repair job.   However, the job didn’t stop there. We needed to ensure the family’s long-term well-being and comfort. So, after a discussion and explaining the benefits of a basement humidifier with the homeowner, our crew finished by installing the Sanidry-Sedona basement humidifier. An incredibly powerful resource for any home and compact enough to double as a crawl space humidifier if needed. With high energy efficiency and automatic drainage, this was a set-it-and-forget-it solution that brought peace of mind to the homeowner, who was ecstatic to quickly see the health benefits.

A homeowner in Sterling Heights, MI had noticed that a large puddle in their basement was not draining. This concerned them about the potential damage this would cause to their property, and their belongings they had been storing in the basement. After some contemplation and research, they decided to seek the assistance of HomeSpec BasementFix. The first thing we did was assign a Project manager to assess the property and maintain open contact with the homeowner to discuss their concerns. When the time came for the free inspection, our Project Manager found that the current sump pump in the basement was allowing water to leak into the space, which was causing the pooling that the homeowner had noticed. The Project Manager recommended installing the TripleSafe Sump Pump, a high-quality and reliable sump pump system that is specifically designed to handle high water volume and prevent basements from flooding. The TripleSafe Sump Pump system is equipped with three pumps, which provide multiple layers of protection against water intrusion. The first pump is designed to handle normal levels of water, while the second pump kicks in if the first pump fails or cannot keep up with the volume of water. The third pump is a battery backup system that provides an additional layer of protection in the event of a power outage. After the Project Manager explained the capabilities of the TripleSafe Sump Pump system to the homeowner, emphasizing how it would help drain the water away and prevent further damage to the walls and belongings in the basement, This homeowner was ready to set a date for installation. Once our crew was dispatched to the homeowner's property to install the TripleSafe Sump Pump system, they began by digging a hole in the basement floor to create a sump pit, which would house the pump. Then, they installed the TripleSafe Sump Pump system, which included a primary pump, a secondary pump, and a battery backup system. Our crew ensured that the system was installed correctly, with all necessary piping and electrical connections in place to provide this homeowner with the peace of mind they needed. They also tested the system to ensure that it was functioning correctly and that the water was being properly drained away from the property. Once the installation was complete, our crew cleaned up the area and left the basement looking better than it had before. The homeowner was thankful for the quick work and happy to have finally found a solution to the water leaking in their basement.

A Family in Sterling Heights, MI was looking to create a safe and healthy environment for the children in their home. However, there was one persistent issue that continued to worry them immensely- water seeping in through the basement walls. Their main concern was the potential for mold growth due to the constant water flow creating a damp environment. They wanted their children to grow up in a healthy environment, and the thought of leaving behind a home that could foster mold-related health risks troubled them. To make matters worse,​​ they also felt a sense of disappointment and frustration towards the builders who constructed their home, as they believed the builders had neglected taking proper waterproofing measures to ensure their safety. After extensive research and reading numerous positive reviews, they contacted us to help solve their basement waterproofing needs.   Upon scheduling the appointment, we sent a Project Manager with experience in basement waterproofing to assess the situation and propose a custom solution tailored to the homeowners needs. He understood the family’s concerns and explained that the potential consequences of leaving the issue unaddressed could lead to more trouble down the line. To tackle the water infiltration at the source, he recommended the WaterGuard Drainage System. Next, he turned his attention to the basement walls, where he recommended the EverLast Wall Restoration and the CleanSpace Wall. Finally, to complete the basement waterproofing project he recommended they install the SaniDry XP.    With this plan in place, our crew began their work. To install the WaterGuard System, they excavated a narrow trench along the perimeter of the basement, this allowed the WaterGuard pipes to fit flush with the wall and sit on top of the foundation footing. They also made sure to dig the trench at a slope so the water would naturally flow towards the sump pump. Next came the installation of the basement wall systems, The EverLast is designed to restore the walls by covering the existing damage and the CleanSpace is installed over it to create a vapor barrier that prevents moisture from entering the space and thereby reducing the risk of mold growth. Finally to address the air quality and add an extra layer of protection against mold, our crew installed the SaniDry XP. This dehumidifier would ensure the family’s basement remains dry and the air was at an optimum humidity level.    Upon completion of the project, the homeowner was happy to have taken a proactive step towards securing a healthy future for their children. This project had not only restored their peace of mind, but it solved their immediate concerns and also laid the foundation for a worry-free future

A homeowner needed help after his attempt to repair a crack in his basement did not work. He said water was leaking in two spots. Our team fixed the crack. We also installed a stabilization system to prevent wall movement.