Haslett, MI Certified Basement Waterproofing and Foundation Repair

Greg G. had water entering his basement through the cove joint and he was looking for an effective waterproofing solution to protect his home from intruding water.

The WaterGuard system was first installed to gather and discard water entering the home where the wall met the floor. Flooring at the base of each wall was excavated to place specialized drainage pipes that collected intruding water, rather than allowing it to flow out onto the floor. Water that was collected in the pipes was directed to the sump pump and then pumped outside of the home. We also made sure to install inspection ports that give us access to the system if needed since it is located underneath the flooring.

The SuperSump sump pump system was installed next to ensure water from the WaterGuard system was efficiently pumped outside of the home. This system included a powerful Zoeller pump, a sturdy liner and an airtight lid that prevented water in the sump pump from evaporating into the basement, which would further contribute to the unwanted moisture issue.

An additional discharge line was also installed to give exiting water a direct pathway outside of the home. During the wintertime, drainage pipes can freeze, which prevents water in the sump pump from exiting the home. If water is unable to exit, it will re-enter the home and potentially cause the basement to flood. The IceGuard system was installed on the line to help water exit the lines through specialized holes, even if the pipes are frozen. A LawnScape outlet was installed on the end of the discharge line to guide water away from the home and prevent it from flowing back toward the basement walls.

Rose H. had stair step cracking in her basement and she wanted to know what her options were to handle the issue. She noted that you can see light entering through the cracks from across the room and she was worried that the crack was only getting bigger over time. Our team of experts visited the home and found that in addition to the cracking, the wall was also bowing inward.

To save the failing wall we installed the Geo-Lock wall anchor system and the PowerBrace system.

The wall anchors were installed by excavating the ground outside of the foundation wall to place steel earth anchors in stable soil that would be able to hold the weight of the wall. The earth anchors were then connected to the inside of the wall with steel wall anchors and secured in place with steel rods. We tightened the system, which immediately stabilized the wall and the landscaping outside was restored.

The PowerBrace system was also installed for extra protection against pressure on the home that could cause further problems for the wall. For this installation we removed a small section of the flooring at each brace location to place a steel column. The column was installed directly on the failing wall and connected to the joists above the wall with steel brackets to hold them in place. Once the system was tightened into place, the wall was stabilized and unable to shift any further. We also reinforced the joists in the home to alleviate some of the pressure that was being put on the wall.

The slab on one side of this homeowner’s house had shifted down a few inches and he wanted to know what the best option was for fixing the settlement.

For this project we installed push piers to permanently fix the settlement issue. We first excavated sections of soil at the base of the home where the slab was settling. The piers were installed at the footing of the home, attached with steel brackets and driven down into the ground far enough to reach stable soil. Once the system was tightened into place, the home was fully lifted and stabilized and the excavated landscaping was restored.

This homeowner had a small part of his cement slab walkaway to his home that had settled and he wanted a permanent fix that would cause little disruption to his landscaping.

The PolyLevel system was the perfect option for this homeowner’s problem because is addressed the root cause of the settlement and provided a solution that would level the slab in an efficient and effective manner. For this installation we first needed to drill small, penny-sized holes into the sunken slab. Next we injected the holes with a specialized polymer material that expanded to lift the slab back to its original position. The slab originally settled because the soil underneath was not strong enough to hold the cement any longer. Because the polymers are so dense and lightweight, they combat the weak soils to permanently level the slab without having to worry about the problem reoccurring. The polymers are also waterproof and eco-friendly, so that’s a bonus!

Ralph's addition was about 14 years old and was supported by wood posts, however, the structure had seen some water damage and the wood supports were no longer doing their job all that well. Upon inspection, we determined that the structure would be best supported using helical piers. Our crew dug down to the footing and drilled a series of helical piers deep into the ground along the addition until they reached competent soil. The piers were able to lift the addition towards its original position as many times these piers are able to to. The additon will now be permanently supported and settlement concerns will be a distant memory.