Job Stories

Tim H. in Avoca, Michigan contacted HomeSpec because after heavy rains all weekend – he found puddles of water in his basement. Our inspector Chris Baltovich found that the water was seeping in from the joint where the floor and the wall meet. There is a gap there and this is one of the most common ways water enters basements.  To solve this problem, HomeSpec simply had to install a discreet below-floor drain around the perimeter of the basement. We connected this to Tim's sump pump – so the drainage system can collect the water and deposit it into the sump pump, which will then direct the water away from the home.  The sump pump discharge line was extended (and buried) farther away from the home so the water coming out of it wouldn't seep into the soil and leak back into the basement. 

James and Holly F. needed egress windows installed in their finished basement so they called HomeSpec. They had a living space and a couple bedrooms down there so they needed an egress window not only to provide natural light, but to provide an escape in case of emergency.  HomeSpec installed the windows and windows well. The wells had proper drainage so water wouldn't be able to pool in the well and leak into the basement. A clear lid was also installed over the wells to prevent water and debris from getting in.  The homeowners are very pleased with their new basement windows! 

Animals like opossums and even skunks were constantly getting into this homeowner's crawl space through small openings that weren't sealed. Water would also get into the crawl space, causing damage to the insulation and the wood. The homeowner contacted HomeSpec to see what we could do for him.  Our crawl space specialist assured the homeowner that we can restore the value of his home with crawl space encapsulation. Not only will it seal the crawl off from the outside to deter pests and water, but it will protect what's inside. The vapor barrier prevents water vapor from coming up through the ground into the crawl space, and then into the home. The dehumidifier control the moisture levels to prevent mold and mildew. 

This Yale homeowner is a previous customer of HomeSpec and contacted us again to have a vapor barrier installed into the basement walls to go along with the interior drainage system they had installed the year prior. They were getting ready to sell their 60-year-old home, so they wanted to make sure the basement was completely waterproofed and taken care of.  Our crew installed the CleanSpace vapor barrier, which pairs perfectly with the drainage system. The liner will block water vapor from entering the basement, and instead direct it down into the drain. The drain will then filter the water into the sump pump, which pumps the water away from the home. With the bright white appearance, it adds a clean look to the basement. The next homeowners will be happy with the 25-year warranty too!

A family had just bought a new home in Yale, Michigan, that they had begun renovating. During the renovation process, they discovered their unfinished basement had water leaking in through an unknown source.HomeSpec quickly scheduled out Keith Brown to make an appearance, meeting with the family, answering questions and helping inspect the renovation process thus far.A series of small hairline cracks were observed throughout the basement allowing water to slowly leak through. Cracks were fixed using our innovative polyurethane sealant called FlexiSpan, which not only seals the cracks but can flex dynamically along with the natural movement of the wall to ensure a long-term waterproof seal.However, since the problem was left untreated for so long, the high humidity levels in the air became a concern going forward. High humidity being able to cause damage to stored items, wood rot, and affect indoor air quality of the entire home due to the stack effect. The stack effect relates to the fact that air flows from the bottom of a house, usually cold and damp, and flows out the top, spreading through the entirety of the house. Allowing damp air to continuously run through the house can also pose health risks, particularly when the house is undergoing changes such as renovations.To counter this problem, Keith suggested the installation of a proper dehumidifier for the basement. After a detailed discussion, the new homeowners decided to opt for the SaniDry Sedona system, a size-efficient solution that is small enough to fit crawlspaces 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.With all their needs met, and concerns handled, the family was able to continue renovations and eventually fully furnish the basement into an entertainment room without further worry of water damage.

Everyone has that project at home that they dread tackling and constantly put it off. This homeowner had a cracked and sinking concrete patio in his backyard that needed repairs. He wanted to get it fixed for years, especially since he and his wife often hosted parties for friends and family. Weeds would grow between the cracks and the whole thing was an eyesore.  The homeowner thought that the whole patio would have to be replaced and re-poured - and cost an arm and a leg. Until he discovered HomeSpec and the PolyLevel method.  Our concrete specialists raised and leveled the concrete with the PolyLevel system, filled the cracks and joints, and sealed the concrete with a waterproof protectant. It looked good as new! The project cost a fraction of what the homeowner predicted, and it was finished within a few hours. He was able to host a party that weekend, and everyone was impressed with how well the patio looked!

In the past, HomeSpec installed an interior drainage system for this customer as well as repairing crack and rod holes. We also installed an egress window and window well in the basement. Recently, she contacted us to install a Zoeller pump, high water alarm, and downspout extensions. The Zoeller pump is a secondary pump in the sump basin that can pump thousands of gallons of water out an hour. The high water alarm will alert you if water has risen past the point where the pumps should have turned on. These features are necessary for sump pumps that constantly deal with high volumes of water. 

Water was leaking into this homeowner's basement, so she contacted HomeSpec. Our team found that cracks and rod holes were the culprits, so our crew sealed them to prevent anymore leakage in the future. 

A two-story house in Columbiaville, MI, built in 1900, was purchased by a new homeowner. They were excited to remodel the home but knew it would need to be supported first. The telltale signs of needing support were sagging and sloping floors. They anticipated the home would need beams repaired or replaced as well as some form of jacking. So, they contacted HomeSpec Waterproofing and Foundation Repair to see what the home specifically needed. HomeSpec sent one of their senior project managers, Ted, for an inspection. After a thorough look around and taking measurements, he proposed the homeowner use a SmartJack® support system to provide the home with a substantial amount of support. Ted also shared that it was possible to perform a lift procedure. Not only would this stabilize the floor to prevent further sloping and sagging but also remedy the current issues. The homeowner was happy with this news and let HomeSpec move forward with these repairs. After the HomeSpec team, led by foreman Jon, installed the SmartJack®, the homeowner was even happier with the results.

This homeowner's garage consisted of concrete slabs, some of which had begun to settle over time due to unstable backfill soils. They were pulling away to the point that the floor was pulling away from the door a bit. They needed an experienced concrete leveling contractor to help provide a reliable solution.Our crew was able to use our non-invasive PolyLevel system to help raise the concrete slabs back into position. Using the polyurethane foam underneath, through tiny drilled holes, the foam will expand and lift the concrete. The foam can reach almost maximum rigidity within 30 minutes, allowing for a quick, clean, and long-lasting solution for most concrete lifting needs. The homeowner was delighted with how smooth the entire process was, allowing them to address their issues, have their peace of mind restored, as well as their garage's utility back all on the same day.