Lansing, MI's Basement Waterproofing, Crawl Space Encapsulation & Foundation Repair Contractor

While a wet basement may seem like a fairly straightforward problem, that's rarely the case. There are usually underlying issues that contribute to the issue. Learn more about the common basement water problems Lansing homeowners experience and the signs to look for below.

Wet Basement Problems & Their Signs

• Basement Wall Cracks: Cracked basement walls are one of the most obvious signs of a wet basement problem. That said, cracks and other damage from water leaks in a finished basement can be less easy to spot. With a layer of plaster or drywall to cover the leak, it may not be evident until a water stain appears on the wall. Even then, you'll likely need to remove the wall and, in some cases, the carpet surrounding it, to get a clear look at the problem.
• Water Stains on Basement Floors & Walls: Just as with basement wall cracks, water stains are a clear indication of basement water seepage. They typically appear after the water has dried, taking on a blotchy, discolored appearance in the basement walls or carpet of a finished basement. Water stains in an unfinished basement will appear in a similar way, showing up as a semi-uniform, discolored area on concrete basement floors and walls.
• Basement Flooding: Standing water in your basement after heavy rainfall or even in the absence of a weather event is a serious problem. The best way to prevent a flooded basement is with a high-quality, proven basement waterproofing solution.
• Mold Growth: A wet basement is a breeding ground for mold and other fungi. Basement mold can show up as black patches, white or yellow powders, and a wide range of other shapes and colors. Mold growth typically occurs where walls and floor meet, underneath floor coverings, around window frames, and around anywhere leaks can be found.
• Leaky Basement Egress Windows: Windows in below-grade spaces are susceptible to water damage that can cause them to leak, rot, and eventually fail altogether. Basement windows with wooden frames are particularly vulnerable to water damage that leads to mold growth and general deterioration. Signs of window failure include crumbling wood, peeling paint, soft wooden components, and material discoloration.

Ayers Basement Systems has been the Lansing area's local basement waterproofing expert for more than 40 years. In that time, we've helped countless Michigan homeowners identify and repair a wide range of wet basement problems. As part of the leading Basement Systems network, our experts are trained to quickly and accurately diagnose the problem with your basement and provide an effective solution that aligns with your home and budget. Our basement waterproofing products are backed by industry-leading warranties to ensure long-term protection and satisfaction.

We offer a comprehensive line of basement waterproofing solutions, including drainage systems, vapor barriers, sump pumps, and wall insulation components. If you want to waterproof the basement in your home, get in touch with our team. One of our basement waterproofing specialists will identify the issue during a thorough on-site inspection. With a clearer picture of the problem, we can recommend the ideal basement waterproofing solution for your needs.

Everybody loves to save a little money on home improvement projects, and while you could DIY your basement waterproofing, we don't recommend it. Preserving the long-term value, health, and safety of your home is essential, which is why it's important to leave basement waterproofing to the professionals.

A basement can be wet for a variety of reasons. Hiring a professional basement waterproofing company will save you from having to play a guessing game or perform a process of elimination to pinpoint the problem. They'll have the expertise to identify and resolve the issue quickly and efficiently. Not only that, but they have the proper training and access to high-quality basement waterproofing products and can ensure the work is completed safely and correctly the first time around.

Last but not least? Hiring a professional basement waterproofer can actually save you money down the road. Although it's a more significant investment upfront, improperly installed waterproofing solutions can leave your basement in worse shape than before. You're better off hiring a professional first and avoiding the costly repairs that come with a faulty waterproofing system.

While many Lansing homes have a crawl space, most homeowners don't give them much thought. After all, unlike a basement, it's not an area of the home where they spend much time. However, both spaces are equally important to the structural integrity of the home, and keeping them in good condition is essential. Unfortunately, crawl spaces are vulnerable to a variety of problems that affect your entire home.

Common Crawl Space Problems

• Humidity & Moisture: Water intrusion is one of the leading causes of crawl space problems. There are many ways water can enter the crawl space, including heavy rainfall, high humidity, poor ventilation, and pressure on concrete slabs from the surrounding soil. When left untreated, crawl space moisture and condensation put your home in jeopardy. Wood rot caused by water seepage can weaken the structural integrity of the crawl space, causing mold growth, pest infestations, and poor indoor air quality. A flooded crawl space can cause the crawl space ceiling to collapse, resulting in sagging, uneven floors in the living space above.
• Mold & Musty Odors: Mold, mildew, and other allergens thrive in damp environments, making a wet crawl space an ideal breeding ground. While they make their home in the crawl space, that doesn't mean the rest of your home is safe. As time goes on, you may start to notice musty odors throughout the home or experience health issues brought on by a reduction in air quality, such as asthma flare-ups.
• Wood Rot & Rust: The crawl space houses many of the important structural components in your Lansing home, including many of the wood beams that support the home. Excess moisture eats away at these structures, causing wood rot to occur. This crawl space problem is one of the most serious because it weakens the structural integrity of large areas of your home, leading to expensive — but preventable — damage such as sagging floors, foundation wall cracks, and more.
• Higher Utility Bills: Increased humidity inside the home causes your air conditioner to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature inside. Your HVAC will run longer, leading to higher utility costs, because it has to work harder to keep the air in your living spaces cool.
• Pests: A dark, damp crawl space is appealing to all sorts of pests, including termites, spiders, mice and rats, carpenter ants, dust mites, snakes, and other critters. Unwanted pests making their nest in your crawl space can damage structural areas, create unhealthy living conditions, and even invade other parts of your home.

Have you noticed unlevel or bouncy floors in your home? If so, there's a good chance there is a structural problem with your crawl space. Located below the home, the crawl space is critical in supporting the weight of the structure, which it bears through the foundation walls and crawl space supports. Problems with the floor above the crawl space are just one symptom of crawl space failure. Other signs include cracks in interior drywall, uneven door and window frames, and tilting or sinking crawl space supports.

What Causes a Sinking Crawl Space?

There are many reasons your Lansing crawl space may experience structural problems. In most cases, the issue can be traced back to any of the following problems.

• Rotting floor joists
• Inadequately structural design
• Sinking crawl space supports
• Foundation failure
• Moisture and water seepage

So, how do you stabilize a sinking crawl space? Your best bet is to hire a professional. Ayers Basement Systems is a local expert in crawl space repair in Lansing, MI and nearby. We can permanently restore the structural integrity of your home and eliminate the symptoms associated with a sagging crawl space with the SmartJack® Crawl Space Stabilizer.

The SmartJack system is installed below the beam that supports the crawl space joists to provide supplemental support to the structure. In addition to stopping the downward movement of your floor, the SmartJack® can be adjusted to attempt to lift the floor above back to its original position. The SmartJack system is also compatible with crawl space encapsulation systems, making it possible to address structural problems while also eliminating water issues and improving your home's energy efficiency.

A dirty, damp crawl space is a liability. It puts your home at risk for a variety of problems, including mold and mildew, poor indoor air quality, reduced energy efficiency, and structural problems. These issues aren't just a headache to deal with; they also impact your home's value. The best way to guarantee the health, safety, and value of your home is with professional crawl space encapsulation.

Crawl space encapsulation seals off the crawl space from the outside world, eliminating moisture that contributes to mold, odors, pest infestations, and structural problems. This multi-step process uses specialized crawl space repair products to transform a problem crawl space into a clean, dry, and usable area of your home.

How We Encapsulate Your Lansing Crawl Space

• Install Airtight Doors & Vent Covers: The first step to crawl space encapsulation is to stop the cycle of cold, humidity, and moisture from outside air by sealing your crawl space doors and vents. However, water can still enter the crawl space through other sources.
• Eliminate Sources of Standing Water: The next step is to remove any sources of flooding by installing a crawl space drain and sump pump system. Although they will prevent water from flooding the crawl space, moisture can still enter through the porous concrete walls and floors, usually in the form of water vapor that turns into condensation.
• Make Structural Repairs: A wet crawl space is prone to wood rot and mold that eats away at the structure and weakens its structural integrity. If the crawl space is damaged, the next step is to install crawl space support jacks to repair and strengthen the structure.
• Encapsulate & Insulate the Crawl Space: Next, a durable crawl space vapor barrier is installed to stop moisture and humidity from passing through the floor and concrete walls.
• Install a Crawl Space Dehumidifier: The last step is to install an energy-efficient, self-draining dehumidifier to keep the crawl space cool and dry.

Ayers Basement Systems offers a lifetime, transferable warranty for our crawl space encapsulation services. That means you can rest easy knowing your Lansing crawl space will remain clean and dry for a lifetime.

While some foundation problems are easy to spot, others may not be quite as obvious. Clear indicators could be foundation wall cracks or a chimney that has started to separate from the home. More subtle signs, such as a door or window that constantly sticks, are easier to dismiss — especially in older homes or areas with high humidity. When it comes to protecting your home from costly structural damage, it's essential to understand the various types of foundation problems and their warning signs.

Signs of Common Foundation Problems

• Ceiling, floor, and wall cracks
• Heaving or sinking floors
• Leaning chimneys
• Sticking windows and doors
• Street creep
• Buckling, bowing walls
• A wet or flooded basement

If you've noticed any signs of a failing foundation, don't hesitate to give the foundation repair pros at Ayers Basement Systems a call. We have decades of experience in identifying and eliminating all kinds of foundation problems and can restore the structural integrity of your home.

While some foundation problems are easy to spot, others may not be quite as obvious. Clear indicators could be foundation wall cracks or a chimney that has started to separate from the home. More subtle signs, such as a door or window that constantly sticks, are easier to dismiss — especially in older homes or areas with high humidity. When it comes to protecting your home from costly structural damage, it's essential to understand the various types of foundation problems and their warning signs.

Signs of Common Foundation Problems

• Ceiling, floor, and wall cracks
• Heaving or sinking floors
• Leaning chimneys
• Sticking windows and doors
• Street creep
• Buckling, bowing walls
• A wet or flooded basement

If you've noticed any signs of a failing foundation, don't hesitate to give the foundation repair pros at Ayers Basement Systems a call. We have decades of experience in identifying and eliminating all kinds of foundation problems and can restore the structural integrity of your home.

Foundation Problems & Solutions

Knowing the signs of foundation failure is just the start. Determining the proper repair solution means understanding the common types of foundation problems and how to solve them. Here's what you need to know:

Foundation Wall Problems

• Foundation Wall Cracks: Cracks in foundation walls let moisture and water seep into the basement, leading to mold growth, wood rot, musty odors, and more. Foundation wall cracks can vary in severity. Hairline or narrow cracks caused by normal foundation settlement or curing concrete are less serious than others. Stair-step cracks, horizontal cracks, cracks that are leaking, or cracks combined with bowing or bulging are signs of a serious foundation problem and should be addressed sooner rather than later.
• Bowing Foundation Walls: Horizontal and diagonal cracks occur when pressure is exerted by a poured concrete foundation wall that has started to tilt or lean. When that happens, the wall may begin to bulge inward at the top.
• Leaking Basement Walls: Below-grade spaces are susceptible to moisture and water intrusion because they're at ground level. Porus concrete and small cracks allow water to seep inside, creating a damp environment, facilitating mold growth, and leading to other potentially serious problems.

Foundation Wall Solutions

No matter the foundation problem, Ayers Basement Systems has a solution. We offer top-tier foundation repair solutions throughout Lansing and Greater Michigan. Our experts can repair bowing foundation walls using GeoLock® Wall Anchors, which secures the wall to stable soils beyond the home. This restores the wall to its original position and prevents future bowing. Helical foundation piers are used to repair and prevent cracks caused by settling soils. Our experts will drive the helical piers deep into the ground to find stable load-bearing soils that support the weight of the home. We also offer the state-of-the-art PowerBrace™ Wall Repair System to stabilize failing foundation walls, including those that are bowing, buckling, or tilting inwards.

Foundation Floor Problems

Unevenness and cracking are two of the most common floor issues caused by a failing foundation. Over time, the soil below your home will begin to settle, making it difficult to support the weight of the structure. As the soil begins to compress and buckle, it puts immense strain on your foundation and causes it to sink. This foundation settlement leads to uneven, cracked floors throughout the structure.

Solutions for Sinking, Cracked Foundation Floors

Many foundation floor problems can be traced back to weak soils beneath the home. When it comes to lifting and stabilizing your Lansing foundation, helical piers are the ideal solution. This proven home foundation repair solution transfers the weight of your home downwards into deep, hard-packed soils, lifting it and creating a solid, supportive base. Once installed, the helical piers can be adjusted to return your foundation to its original position, closing cracks caused by settlement and restoring the long-term integrity of your foundation.

If you've got a foundation problem, Ayers Basement Systems can solve it. With over 40 years of experience, we are the local go-to for home foundation repair in Lansing, MI. We've partnered with Supportworks, an international network composed of the leading concrete and foundation repair contractors in North America. As an exclusive Supportworks dealer, we have access to state-of-the-art foundation repair products and technologies.

When you hire Ayers Basement Systems to repair your failing foundation, you'll have peace of mind that the job is done right the first time. In fact, your satisfaction is so important to us that we offer a transferable lifetime warranty for all of our products and services so you can feel confident that your home and foundation are protected long-term. When you're ready to make your foundation problems a thing of the past, our team of trusted home foundation repair experts will provide the highest level of service.

If your Lansing basement has old, outdated windows, it may be time for an upgrade. Basement egress windows bring your lower level up to code, providing a safe way to exit in case of emergency. They also have the potential to increase your home value while bringing ventilation and natural light to basement living spaces.

Benefits of Basement Egress Windows:

• Provides a safe, easy to navigate emergency exit
• Compliant with Michigan Residential Code
• Increases the livable space in your home
• Allows more natural light to enter basement living spaces
• Increases property value
• Enhances energy-efficiency
• Prevents mildew and mold growth
• Improves the style and comfort of your home

Don't let old, leaky basement windows continue to bring down your home's comfort, value, and aesthetic appeal. Ayers Basement Systems offers high-quality, good-looking basement egress windows and can bring your lower level up to code in no time at all. Contact us today to learn how our egress windows can improve the look, feel, and energy efficiency of your home!

Below is a list of some of the standard regulatory requirements for basement egress windows in Michigan, as outlined by the Michigan Residential Code.

To be code-compliant, basement egress windows must:

• Fully open to allow an individual to exit in case of emergency
• Have a minimum height and width of 36 inches, covering a total area of 9 square feet
• Include a built-in step system or permanently affixed ladder to allow for easy egress
• Have at least 48 inches of space between the top of the window well and the bottom of the deck or porch joists when located under a porch or deck

Installing basement egress windows is a much different process than installing windows in a first or second-floor bedroom. As a below-grade space, your basement is susceptible to moisture intrusion and water seepage. Improperly installed egress windows can result in costly water damage, pest infestations, and other issues. Working with a qualified, trustworthy egress window company is the best way to ensure the job is done right the first time.

When it comes to basement egress window installation in Lansing, Ayers Basement Systems has everything you need. We offer a proven, high-quality egress window system made with a durable composite polymer material in a single-piece construction to eliminate structural decay over time. Our egress window systems are IRC-compliant and include built-in steps, a beautiful stone finish, and long-lasting and attractive window well covers to prevent window leaks. When it's all said and done, you can rest assured knowing your new egress windows align with Michigan Residential Code and will keep you and your family safe when you need it.