Leading Basement Waterproofing & Concrete Repair in Saint Clair Shores

An aging couple in Saint Clair Shores, MI had been living in their charming house for decades. Over the years, they've cherished countless memories within its walls. However, recently, their home has been facing a distressing issue - water infiltrating through the chimney cleanout. The situation has become increasingly worrisome, as a crack has manifested at the base of the chimney, exacerbating their concerns. The couple's frustration had grown to a point where they realized they needed to make a change, having to constantly battle the persistent water intrusion was no longer ideal for them. The process of cleaning up the water and constantly changing soaked towels has become a cumbersome chore. As they've aged, they find it difficult to manage this ongoing task, and the stress of having to constantly check the situation has taken a toll on their peace of mind. The looming fear of the problem escalating into something more severe has cast a cloud of unease over their otherwise normal days. Twenty years ago, they had the side of their home excavated and treated to combat a similar issue. The passage of time has seen those efforts wane in efficacy, leaving the couple with a sense of urgency to address the current predicament.

Understanding the gravity of their situation, our team at HomeSpec stepped in to offer a comprehensive solution that would restore the couples comfort and tranquility. Through our professional expertise, we recommended a multi-faceted approach combining exterior waterproofing and the installation of a curtain drain.

To tackle the exterior waterproofing, our crew embarked on the waterproofing process with precision. They assessed the couples home, identifying vulnerable points and potential entryways for water. Our selected waterproofing products were applied to the exterior surface of the house. These specialized products create an impermeable barrier that repels water, ensuring that moisture does not infiltrate the home's structure. By sealing off the porous surfaces, we assured the couple that their home would be guarded against the intrusion of water. Recognizing the importance of directing water away from the house, we devised a solution tailored to the couples specific needs. Our crew installed a curtain drain system. This involved the placement of a perforated pipe surrounded by gravel along the perimeter of the house. This drain system redirects excess water away from the foundation, preventing it from seeping into the ground and potentially causing harm to the structure. By effectively managing the water flow, we ensured that the couples home would remain dry and secure.

As we concluded the project, we took the time to explain the features and benefits of our chosen products to the elderly couple. We emphasized that the combination of exterior waterproofing and a curtain drain not only addresses their current concerns but also serves as a lasting solution that aligns with their desire for lasting peace of mind.

A homeowner in Saint Clair Shores, MI had built a porch to increase the property's value and give the family some extra living space. However, after enjoying the new addition for some time, they started to notice it slowly shifting away from the house. Worried this gap was a sign of future foundation problems for the home, they consulted some friends who recently had basement waterproofing done by HomeSpec BasmentFix. This recommendation led them to contact us for foundation repair.

One of our experienced Project Managers, Sidney, was sent to the home to provide a free, detailed inspection and get eyes on the widening gap. After meeting with the homeowners and discussing their concerns in more detail, Sidney explained that new additions to the home can sometimes damage the home itself while also causing damage to the existing foundation when not installed/constructed correctly. When the soil was dug up for the new addition, this caused the untouched soil to lose some of its integrity. Because of the proximity to a large body of water, the soil underneath the foundation is prone to wash out, creating a void that the porch sinks into. When the foundation settles into the weaker soil, this creates a gap between the home and the porch, which if left unaddressed, can lead to further foundation problems. With the homeowners fully informed of the situation, Sidney proposed a custom solution that involved our Helical Pier support system to bring the porch back to level with the rest of the house and close the gap.

The Helical Pier Support System is an ideal solution for this family’s sinking porch because it provides long term peace of mind and stability for the home. Helical Piers work by digging out the soil around the foundation and then screwing the helical plates that are welded to the shaft of the piers to reach load-bearing soils, or even bedrock. This stability allows the weight of the foundation to be transferred to the newer soils through the piers without disrupting the weaker soils above. The proven solution addresses the root cause of the settlement by utilizing the foundation pier system to lift and level the addition to the rest of the house.

With the new addition restored to its original condition and the family’s fears put to rest, they were excited to receive a referral discount from HomeSpec BasementFix.

A family in Saint Clair Shores, MI decided to add a patio to their home to increase the property value and provide some extra space to relax. After the construction and some more renovations over time, the family noticed one side of the patio was sinking. Due to the property being near water, the homeowners feared the problem could get worse. With no concrete plans to move from the home, they still wanted to address the issue as soon as possible because even if they did decide to sell the home, they wouldn't be able to sell it in good conscience knowing there was a foundation repair need. This led them to contact HomeSpec BasementFix as their foundation repair contractor of choice.

One of our Project Managers, experienced in foundation settlement repair was sent to the home to discuss the families concerns and conduct a detailed inspection. During the conversation, fears that the concrete slab would crumble were mentioned and our Project Manager explained that over time the water can cause the soil to soften or wash out completely. This leaves the foundation susceptible to settlement and can cause it to sink in order to fill the void. Understanding the urgency of their request, our project manager proposed a custom solution that involved installing our Helical Pier foundation support system. 

To solve the problem of this family's foundation settlement. Helical piers are installed to the appropriate depth and adjusted to meet the requirements of the home, in order to transfer the weight of the home to deeper, load-bearing soils. The Helical Pier Support System gets its name from the Helical plates welded to the shaft that act as an anchor, supporting the pier in strenuous conditions. Due to this, the piers won't add weight to unstable soils, providing support and long term durability. After the foundation has been lifted, the Helical Piers stabilize the foundation, preventing further settlement. This situation required our crew to address the root cause of the problem and the Helical Pier Support System was more than capable of providing a permanent below ground solution. 

After the homeowners' fears had been put to rest, the foundation restored, and the family pleased with the professional work done by our crew, they were more than happy to leave a review and recommend HomeSpec BasementFix to neighbors in need of home repair.

A homeowner in Saint Clair Shores, Mi was going to be moving to Florida next year for a job transfer. However, over their time living in their current home, they noticed the porch seemed to be sinking, and both doors and windows were not closing properly, and previous inspections had suggested this was an active settlement issue. To ensure property value was maintained for when he’d sell the home, and establish a sense of security in his current living arrangements, the homeowner began looking for a foundation repair contractor nearby. They were introduced to HomeSpec Basementfix by a friend who had basement waterproofing done recently.

AJ, a foundation expert, was sent to the property to discuss the concerns with the homeowner and complete a detailed inspection of the property. While discussing the concerns with the owner, they confirmed that some of the windows and doors in the house would not close properly. AJ understood this was a settlement issue and if not dealt with correctly, could continue to cause damage to the windows, and doors as well as the foundation of the home. Foundation settlement is caused when one of the layers of the soil under the foundation fails to support the weight of the home and begins to sink. This happens over time and is not noticed immediately, which if left unaddressed, can cause the foundation of your home to structurally fail. After explaining this further to the homeowner, he also noticed cracks in foundation walls during his inspection, which led him to believe this was a long term issue that had not been dealt with before.

The first step outlined in our custom proposal for fixing this sinking foundation would be to add support systems in order to raise it back to level conditions. This is where the Helical Pier System would come in. Welded helical plates to the shaft allow it to secure the pier within the soil acting as an anchor. The Helical Pier System shifts weight from the foundation and transfers it to the pier itself, which reduces stress on the foundation. This system can be adjusted to meet the needs of the home over time, which makes it a permanent solution for foundation repair. Once the weight is transferred to the pier system, the foundation can then be lifted back to its original position. Thereby, addressing the problem and providing a lifelong solution.

After the work was completed, and the homeowners porch restored to its original position, they were pleased with the recommendation given to them and were more than happy to recommend HomeSpec BasementFix to anyone in need. 

This homeowner reached out to HomeSpec after discovering mold and moisture in their crawl space. The mold was causing health issues for their family and they were very concerned. After removing the mold, they wanted to encapsulate the crawl space to ensure this wouldn't happen again. 

HomeSpec was able to encapsulate the crawl space by sealing the walls and floor with a CleanSpace Vapor Barrier. This blocks moisture and water vapor from entering. Then a SaniDry Dehumidifier was installed to drain into the sump pump. This conditions the air and makes sure the relative humidity does not surpass 55% – preventing mold growth. 

This was extremely reassuring to the homeowner who was worried about the safety of their family inside their own home. Now their crawl space is dry and healthy!

A homeowner contacted HomeSpec about a broken joist, as well as bowing support beams in his crawl space.

Our team replaced the broken joist. We also added a crawl space support system to restore stability.