Before & After Photos
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Bowing, Shearing, Cracked Basement Wall in Marlette, MI Repaired Permanently
This Marlette, Michigan homeowner was very worried about the foundation wall in her basement. The wall was not only severely cracked and bowing inward, but also shearing at the bottom of the wall.
When a wall is bowing (and shearing) it's because the wall is under stress and being pushed inward, usually by hydrostatic pressure or expansive soils. If left alone, the wall could collapse and have to be completely rebuilt.
Fortunately, that didn't happen in this case. Foreman Ryan Loop and his crew were able to repair the wall with the PowerBrace™ Wall Repair System. This consists of steel I-beams that prevent further inward movement and can potentially straighten the wall since the braces can be tightened.
The horizontal and stair-step cracks in the mortar were filled, and the shearing was also repaired. The homeowner can now rest easy knowing her foundation is no longer at risk, and she's very happy with the results!
Full Foundation Wall Rebuilt and Permanently Waterproofed in Snover, MI
Water had been leaking into their 100-year-old home for years, but after discovering some major foundation problems, these homeowners urgently called HomeSpec.
There was paneling over the basement walls so the extent of the damage was unknown. After removing them, we saw that it was worse than anyone previously thought. The foundation walls were cracked and crumbling on the inside (and the outside), and the water damage was apparent after years of water intrusion. The homeowners were ready to permanently repair their basement before it got any worse - and caused them any more stress.
HomeSpec had to rebuild 2 of the foundation walls due to the severity of the damage. They were then waterproofed from the inside and the outside. Inside, the walls were sealed with the CleanSpace Vapor Barrier to block moisture. Then an interior drainage system and sump pump were installed to collect water seepage and funnel it away from the home. To stabilize the walls, the PowerBrace Wall Repair System was installed.
The homeowners were very pleased with the results of the work, and were happy to finally put their basement troubles behind them!
Rotting Tree Stump Holding up Foundation Is Replaced in Sandusky, MI
This old Sandusky home was built way back in 1890 with a fieldstone foundation - and it's new homeowners were very concerned over something they discovered in the basement!
A rotting tree stump was found to be acting as a support post, barely holding up a beam above. This is dangerous because the support in the basement is what holds the entire home up. The structural integrity of the home depends on these posts and beams. The homeowners called HomeSpec to take care of the problem.
Our crew was able to install two new support posts with a new beam and repair some of the joists to solve the issue. Now the homeowners can enjoy their new home without worrying about the structural integrity!
Foundation Settlement and Sagging Floors Stabilized in Port Austin, MI
A homeowner in Port Austin, MI wanted to fix up their home so they could pass it on to their child and grandchildren. Unfortunately, the floors on the main level were sagging and there were noticeable settlement issues within the foundation. Those problems needed to be addressed before other repairs and upgrades could be done. The homeowner called HomeSpec Waterproofing and Foundation Repair for a free inspection and estimate.
Erik, a senior project manager, explored the crawl space, basement, and outside of the home to thoroughly grasp the situation. He shared with the homeowner that the best solution would be to use a SmartJack® support system in the crawl space to lift and stabilize the main beam. Supporting the main beam in the proper spots would lift the sagging floors and maintain a level surface on the first floor. The homeowner agreed to let HomeSpec install the SmartJack® supports and was glad that they did. They were happy with the final results and were excited to resume other renovations.
Helical Piers Solve Sinking Foundation Problem in Harsens Island, MI
This Harsens Island homeowner wanted to build over his old garage and renovate it, but he had a problem. The interior and exterior block walls were covered in stair-step cracks and the structure was in bad shape. He wanted these repaired, so he called the experts at HomeSpec.
Our foundation specialists took a road trip (and then a ferry) up to Harsens Island to inspect the problem and provide a proposal. They ended up discovering that the cracks were a result of something more serious - foundation sinking. The problem would only get worse, and only fixing the cosmetic issues wouldn't solve anything.
This happened because the soil under the foundation was too unstable/loose to support it. Helical piers were needed to stabilize the structure. The piers are screwed deep into stronger, more competent soil. They anchor into the ground and the weight of the foundation is transferred to prevent further sinking. They can even lift the foundation to its original position!
Now that the garage is stabilized, the homeowner is excited to continue with his renovations!
