Before & After Photos

After noticing large cracks in his basement walls, Don became concerned about his foundation and rightfully so.  The stair step cracks running below the window of the before photo are one of a few key signs that a basement wall is bowing inward from pressure. This type of structural problem can mean the destruction of a home’s foundation if it isn’t properly and timely addressed. So when Don gave us a call, we rushed over to help him out.

The beams in the after photo, along with the tightening bracket used to connect them to the floor joists, make up the PowerBrace Wall Repair System. Tightening the bracket will push back on the walls and put a stop to the inward pressure. With any luck, the PowerBrace beams won’t only stop Don’s walls from bowing, they may actually push them back to their original position, as well. 

One look at this wall in a Holland, MI basement, and you know that something isn’t right. This slanting wall is also known as a bowed wall and is usually the result of hydrostatic pressure—when the soil around the foundation changes causing pressure to build and press against the foundation. Bowed walls can get worse over time, but with PowerBraces, they can actually get better.  These zinc-coated beams were installed along the wall, and will be tightened over time, gradually improving the condition of the wall and returning it back to the right place.

Dale had many buildings that had sinking concrete in the front so he called our team for help. We installed PolyLevel, a system designed to fix concrete slabs that have sunk. It uses a new product to lift the concrete slabs back to their original level. The new product used is a polyurethane foam that expands and has a high density in order to raise the concrete. The process is quite simple and is done by drilling small holes into the concrete and then inserting the foam into the holes. Also, the PolyLevel system is waterproof and long-lasting. 

Larry T. called us because he was concerned that his home had settled a bit and wanted to see about getting it lifted back up. The foundation is made of block and there was no issue with sticking doors or windows but he did have sagging floors. We took a look at the issue up front and had the perfect solution.

Our trained specialists installed helical piers to stabilize this home once and for all. Helical piers are designed to permanently stabilize your structure regardless of the weight. They can be used for an entire house or for even a lighter structure such as a deck. The overall goal with these piers is to bring your home back to its original position. 

Cracks in a brick wall can be unsightly, but also a sign of something worse. This basement brick wall is clearly experiencing pressure, causing the wall to side and crack. Our Foreman Evan inspected the surrounding area and found unstable soil to be the culprit. The solution Evan used involved installing a Geo-Lock Ancor on the cracked area. 

The ground around the crack wall is dug up, and the base of the system is anchored deep into the ground, avoiding the weak soil. Within the basement, opposite the side where the anchors are placed, a metal plate is secured to the wall and attached to the anchor. The bolt connecting the apparatus is tightened, creating a constant source of pressure to not only correct the wall but also prevent new cracks.