House Foundation Repair & Basement Waterproofing in Grand Rapids, MI

A wet basement is never just a wet basement. Damp walls are caused by one issue, while flooding, floor cracks, and other such issues each result from different sets of factors that emerge in any basement over time. So what are the most common problems, and how do you spot them?

Common Wet Basement Issues and Signs

• Cracks in basement walls: Cracks can be quite obvious and easy to spot. In unfinished basements, visible concrete will show its distress openly. In finished basements, cracks and the resulting damages from leaks can be more difficult to identify. Often times a crack in a finished basement wall beneath plaster or drywall finishing will give itself away by causing water marks or other signs of distress on the drywall, and can only be seen in full after removing the walls or carpets to see the root problem.
• Water marks on basement floors and walls: Like cracks, water marks are an obvious sign of distress. These marks are usually left by water which has entered the space and dried, and will take the shape of blotched, off-colored segments of carpets or plaster walls in finished basements. Unfinished basements will show water marks in a similar fashion - look for discoloration in a semi-uniform area on concrete basement walls or floors.
• Standing water on basement floors, with or without recent rainfall: If you have an issue with flooding, then you already know what you're looking for. Standing water after heavy rains, or even in the absence of weather events, is a plainly visible and concerning sight. If you have standing water in your basement, a waterproofing solution is required immediately.
• Mold growth on floors or walls: Mold has a variety of appearances depending on the type of mold growth that occurs. Mold and other fungi which thrive in dark, cold, damp environments (like wet basements) can look like black blotches, white or yellow powders, and a variety of other shapes and colors. Look for it in the areas where walls and floors meet, around known areas of water infiltration, under old carpet, and around window frames.
• Moldy, rotten, or otherwise failing basement windows: Basement windows, particularly those with wooden frames, are susceptible to rot and decay over time. Moisture entering through the gaps between window and frame can linger on the surface of the frame, potentially leading to mold growth, rot, and general degradation of the structure. Look for peeling paint, crumbling woods, squishy wooden components, and discoloration from mold.

With more than 30 years of experience in the basement waterproofing business, we know that every basement is different and every issue unique. Our experts are trained in diagnosing problems and providing the proper solution to fit your needs, and we've got the products and expertise to get the job done. We install sump pumps and perimeter drainage systems to combat significant leaks or flooding. Have you got consistently wet walls? We can install drainage systems, vapor barriers, and wall insulation components to permanently remedy your wet basement problems. If you've ever thought about exploring basement waterproofing options, give us a call! We will send one of our experts to diagnose your issues and tell you exactly how we can fix your issues and ease your mind.

At Ayers Basement Systems, we can appreciate the “do it yourself” spirit possessed by the people of Michigan. Everybody wants to do what they can on their own, but when it comes to the long-term health and value of your home, it's best to call in a professional. Take sump pump installation, for example. Your basement flooded during the last rain, and you want to make sure that any future water that finds its way into your basement during a storm quickly sees itself out. Now you've got a problem, and you need a solution. Self-installation of a drainage system and sump pump can be accomplished, but it's time-consuming, will involve specialized equipment and machinery, and could possibly cause damages to your home that would require another, separate repair in the future. It has nothing to do with you - basement waterproofing is a tough job, and takes years to master! Furthermore, the quality of the products installed can present issues down the line should - installing a sump pump necessitates future maintenance of the system, which you will have to do on your own. With a basement waterproofing expert like Ayers Basement Systems, we handle the entire process from top to bottom. Our products are top-tier, and our teams are specially trained to do the job in a manner that is both efficient and lasting. With a basement waterproofing expert, your problems are fixed in one shot - we handle the setup, installation, and maintenance all in one.

In Michigan, we've got a lot of crawl spaces. Unlike with basements, crawl spaces aren't a place that many homeowners like to spend much time. However, both crawl spaces and basements are very important to the structural integrity of your home, and can be susceptible to damages over time.

Water Damage

Without a doubt, the leading cause of crawl space issues is water. Water can find its way into a crawlspace through a variety of means, whether it be flooding, pressure on concrete slabs from the surrounding soil, or poor ventilation. Whatever way it gets in, excess water, if left untreated, can cause lots of damage to your home. Poor ventilation can lead to moisture condensation on your crawl space floors, walls, and structural components, weakening the structure and causing mold growth. Flood water or damages from water seepage can appear in the form of collapsing crawl space ceilings (which cause floors in the living space to sag), rotten wooden structural components, mold growth and pest issues, and more.

Crawlspaces are a dark, cool, and often damp space - a perfect breeding ground for mold and other unsavory pests. Moisture in the air and latent humidity in your crawlspace are common issues, both of which are remediated by the installation of a dehumidifier. Dehumidifiers installed by Ayers Basement Systems offer the pinnacle of performance - specifically designed by Basement Systems for use in crawlspace temperatures and hard-to-reach areas, our dehumidifier products offer industry-leading moisture remediation capabilities. You can have a dry, odorless crawlspace in no time with a dehumidifier from Ayers!

We know that water in your crawl space can cause damage to structural components quickly, especially wood and concrete. These two materials are both highly absorbent, so much so that even water vapor can penetrate their surfaces and begin to cause problems. At Ayers Basement Systems, we're well-versed in crawl space sump pump installation and offer dehumidifiers specifically designed for crawl space operation, but the full-service, permanent crawl space moisture remediation solution is a crawl space encapsulation.

So, what is a crawl space encapsulation? Essentially, an encapsulation system functions as a vapor barrier between the outside world and the crawl space. We start by installing airtight doors and vent covers to end the cycle of cold, humidity, and moisture entering the space as they're carried by the outside air. Then, we remove any standing water sources and prevent future incursions by installing perimeter drains and a sump pump system, after which we will repair any of the damages the water had caused. Encapsulation is the next step. Moisture that enters the crawl space through its floor or porous concrete walls needs to be denied. We install a durable crawl space liner around the entirety of the space, which will act to keep moisture out of the structure permanently. Then, we finish the process by installing a dehumidifier. With all this said and done, your crawl space will be dry, repaired, and safe from future floods or moisture incursions for decades to come.

Now, let's talk about why you may desire a full encapsulation. A crawl space encapsulation job is your guarantee of crawl space health for the lifetime of your stay in the home, and even after that. Our jobs are all covered by a lifetime, transferable warranty that will extend to future owners of the home. We can ensure that your home remains healthy and on a strong foundation while simultaneously protecting the long-term value of the property. Moisture, mold, foul odors and water damage in your crawl space will be a thing of the past, permanently.

Foundation issues can show themselves in a variety of ways, not all of which are immediately obvious. Sometimes, it can be as clear as cracks in walls or a chimney separating from the home. Other times, it can be as subtle as a door that continuously gets stuck in its frame when you attempt to close it. Luckily for you, the pros at Ayers Basement Systems have spent decades identifying any and all foundation issues, and they have the proper solution for your home.

Common Foundation Problem Signs

• Sticking windows and doors
• Separating chimneys
• Cracks in ceilings, walls, and floors
• Sinking or settling areas of the home
• Street creep

Identifying a foundation issue is only one-half of the equation. Once you know the problem, how do you solve it? Let's take a look:

Problem: Foundation Wall Issues

Bowing walls, cracks in concrete walls, and collapsing retaining walls are all common issues, and are among the more clear-cut signs of a foundation issue. Of course, the causes of these structural damages are many. Bowing walls can result from hydrostatic pressure in the fill-in soil around your foundation walls. This fill-in soil is dug out to make way for the foundation and then filled back in after construction is complete, leaving an area of low-density soil around your home which affects drainage rates of water. Retaining walls, designed to resist the lateral pressure of the soils the wall retains, can succumb to bowing and movement over time as the soil it holds changes in weight and density due to rains, freezing, and other environmental pressures. Cracks can form in basement walls as water from the surrounding soil works its way into the porous concrete substrate, where it freezes and thaws as the seasons change. The water inside the concrete expands as it freezes, pressuring the surrounding concrete to expand in turn and leading to cracks over time. Cracks can also materialize from simple external soil pressures, or from sinking caused by settling soils. No matter the issue and regardless of its cause, we have the solution

Foundation Wall Solutions

Damaged foundation walls can be fixed using our top-tier technologies. For bowing walls, we install GeoLock® Wall Anchors, which secure the wall to stable soils further away from the home and prevent further bowing. Cracks caused by settling soils can be prevented by the use of helical foundation piers, which drive supporting beams deep into stronger load-bearing soils and prevent further settlement. Wall anchors and helical tiebacks are used to strengthen collapsing retaining walls, providing a level of support even greater than the original structure when it was at full health. Our teams know the problems, and we have the tools to make sure that your foundation woes will be a thing of the past.

Floor Issues

The most common floor issues caused by a failing foundation are unevenness and cracking. The former issue is most commonly caused by the settlement of the soil your foundation rests upon. If the soil beneath your home is struggling to bear the load of your home, it will slowly but surely compress and buckle, leading to strain on your foundation. This strain can lead to parts of your home sinking, causing cracks and uneven floors throughout the structure.

Solutions for Uneven and Cracked Floors

As the causes of uneven and cracked floors are often traced back to weak soils beneath your home, helical piers are a common and proven solution. Installation teams will integrate connection joints to your home's foundation and the foundation pier, which is then guided into the soil under your home until it reaches an area suited to bear the load of your home. The piers will not only level your home and relieve it of the stresses caused by settling soils, but ensure that no further sinking is possible in the future. This is a permanent solution!

So, you've got a foundation problem. Why choose Ayers Basement Systems? The answer is simple - we have the expertise, tools, and technologies to get the job done right, the first time. We're partnered with Supportworks, an international network comprised of the most reputable and experienced concrete & foundation repair contractors in North America. This partnership allows us to stay on the razor's edge of foundation repair products and services, guaranteeing your satisfaction and the long-term stability of your home's foundation. All of our products and services are backed by a transferrable lifetime warranty - once we've done our job, you can rest easy knowing that we've not only solved your foundation repair issue, but ensured that your home's value remains at its highest possible level for the duration of your stay, and well into the future.

While this list isn't all-inclusive, the following points are the standard regulatory guidelines for basement egress window installations in Michigan.

Basement Egress Windows Must:

• Allow the window to open fully
• Provide a minimum 36” width and length, covering a total area of 9 square-feet
• Offer a permanently affixed ladder or step system to allow for easy egress
• Should the egress window be located under a porch or deck, there must be at least 48 inches between the top of the window well and the bottom of the deck or porch joists

So you need egress windows installed in your basement. This is a different procedure than installing up-to-code windows in a first floor bedroom. You need a certified installer or basement egress window systems, and we've got just what you need. Our systems are constructed from a durable composite polymer material in a single-piece construction, which ensures no structural decay of the system over time. With built-in steps and a beautiful stone finish, these IRC-compliant egress window systems, complete with durable and attractive window well covers to prevent basement leaks, are your single-stop for regulatory compliance and home safety.

Outdoor concrete slabs, like those that make up sidewalks, patios, and driveways, are susceptible to sinking over time. Concrete is a heavy building material to begin with, and is constantly exerting downward pressure onto the soils it rests upon. Over time and with the right environmental conditions, the soils beneath the slab can begin to deteriorate and weaken. When the soil weakens, compresses, or erodes, it can result in a sinking, cracked concrete slab.

Erosion from high-water weather events are a familiar foe of the concrete slab. During periods of heavy rain or runoff during spring thaws, a small passage for water under a slab can quickly turn into a cavernous expanse that severely degrades the strength of the slab. Concrete requires equal support across the entire area of the construction. Otherwise it will weaken, sink, and eventually crack.

Michigan's weather can play an important role in slab deterioration. The southwestern part of the state, including Grand Rapids, is the wettest region in the state. The northeastern portion of the state receives the lowest amount of precipitation annually. On average, Michigan receives between 30 and 38 inches of precipitation annually. Temperatures get low during the winter, particularly in the more northern parts of the state. Swings in temperature and moisture levels play a large role in concrete slab deterioration, as the soil beneath the slab freezes and thaws with varying moisture content over time, expanding as it freezes and contracting as it thaws. This freeze-and-thaw cycle contributes to soil weakness, which in turn causes slabs to sink.

Our polymer injection process is a simple, cost-effective solution to sinking slab issues on your property. A sunken slab, or sunken portion of a slab, must be lifted back to its original position by some means. Traditional methods, like mudjacking, involve pouring a mortar mixture under the slab to fill the void and lift the concrete, but polymer leveling simplifies the process. Our technicians drill small holes into and through the slab, then fit an adapter into the hole to secure the injection nozzle in place. Then, the polymer is injected into the space beneath the slab until the void is filled and the slab is leveled.

The process is remarkably simple, but the benefits of PolyLevel don't stop there. The polymer material weighs only 4lbs. per cubic ft., compared to 120lbs. per cubic ft. for standard fill material. This means that little additional pressure will be exerted on soils beneath the slab. The material is waterproof, stable, and inert, meaning it will not wash away, degrade, or leech harmful chemicals into the soil. Furthermore, PolyLevel polymer injections are set and cured often within 20 minutes of the injection, meaning you can get on with your life in a hurry.

To repair or replace - that is the question. When concrete is severely damaged, whether from chipping, cracking, or sinking, it may seem fitting to replace the slab in its entirety rather than make a repair. The reality of the situation is this - replacing the concrete slab will yield a great result, but it will be expensive, time-consuming, and won't address the underlying issues that caused the deterioration in the first place. You'll have a bright and shiny sidewalk or patio, but over time, the same issues that ailed your old slab will remerge.

Repairing the concrete the wrong way won't help you either. Simply patching a crack doesn't solve the real issues, and the crack will continue to develop as soil and environmental conditions change. With PolyLevel, we can lift and level any concrete slab in a cost-effective, expedient manner, simultaneously providing you with a slab in an as-new condition while addressing the underlying issues that caused the damage in the first place.