The Basement Doctor of Cincinnati Before & After Photos

Do you have a wet crawl space like this one? Go with the leaders in all things crawl spaces. After we installed our CleanSpace vapor barrier and accessories on this crawl space, the owners could host a party down there! 

This home's foundation in Russellville, OH, was settling which caused cracks to form in the home's brick exterior. The biggest crack, (as seen in the before photo) started at the bottom left corner of the window and traveled downward in a stair step pattern toward the left. Stair step patterned cracks often appear in brick exteriors when the foundation starts to move. The mortar is usually the first thing to break because it is the weakest point in the wall. You’ll often see these cracks and gaps forming around windows and doors as well, since those openings create naturally weaker structural points that tend to show stress first when the foundation shifts. To stabilize the home, we installed our helical piers straight down underneath the foundation, and then we used our hydraulic device to lift the foundation back up to close the cracks. When we finished the project, we were able to guarantee to the homeowner that the home won't ever settle again where we installed our piers for the lifetime of the structure.

The floorboards above this crawl space were sagging and cracking because the concrete block columns supporting them were sinking into the soil. Prolonged dry weather had caused the soil to shrink, creating gaps that allowed the concrete blocks to settle further into the ground. With the blocks no longer able to hold the weight of the home's first floor, the structure began to fail.

The homeowners attempted a DIY fix, using a makeshift arrangement of 2x4s and cinder blocks. Unfortunately, this approach lacked the stability and strength needed to support the crawlspace or anchor securely to solid ground.

To solve the problem, we installed our SmartJack Crawl Space Support System. SmartJacks are designed to prevent sinking by distributing the load across their uniquely engineered, bulb-shaped foundation. They're also adjustable, ensuring that the floors remain level and supported over the long term. With SmartJacks in place, the homeowners can now rest assured that their floors will stay strong and stable for years to come.

In Jamestown, OH, a homeowner faced structural issues due to failing lally columns in their basement. The original steel columns showed rust and deterioration, contributing to uneven floors and minor wall cracks. To address this, we replaced them with our SmartJack posts, which are galvanized for corrosion resistance and engineered to support substantial loads. Unlike traditional lally columns, SmartJack posts are fully adjustable, allowing precise leveling and long-term stability. This upgrade not only stabilized the basement immediately but also gave the homeowner a durable, adaptable solution they can rely on for years to come.

This 1990’s home in Jamestown, OH, had a 2-foot-tall block foundation crawl space with no sump system in place. The space carried a musty odor, showing signs of excess moisture and possible hidden issues. We repaired the crawl space by encapsulating the space with CleanSpace liner and SilverGlo insulation, sealing out dampness and creating a clean, dry environment. Not pictured is the SaniDry Sedona dehumidifier, which helps keep humidity under control year-round. The musty smell is gone, and the home is now better protected against moisture, with improved air quality and long-term structural health.