Strengthening the Structure Before the Renovation Begins
The Challenge
We first met Ben in the spring of 2024 at the Edmonton Home and Garden Show. He had noticed cracks in his foundation and additional cracks appearing in the drywall upstairs. Ben was planning to renovate the basement, but he knew the foundation issues had to be addressed first.
Our Approach
Wes met with Ben at his home to inspect the property and talk through what was happening with the structure. After reviewing the foundation and the signs of movement, Wes recommended a structural assessment with an engineer was recommended. Once the assessment was complete, engineered plans were provided to underpin the house to re-instate the structural integrity of the foundation.
Because the home would be fully excavated during the underpinning process, we recommended taking advantage of the open excavation to complete a full exterior waterproofing system and replace the existing weeping tile. Ben agreed that addressing everything in one project was the most effective long-term solution.
Moving out during construction wasn’t an option for Ben and his young family, so the home remained occupied throughout the project. This meant careful planning was essential. Clear communication, tidy work areas, and maintaining safe access for the family were priorities every step of the way.
Timeline and project progression are always important. We know that as fun as our crew is to have around, construction is disruptive, and as days go by everyone looks forward to completion. Our goal is always to do the job right, first and foremost, while also working efficiently to stay on schedule and complete the work as smoothly as possible. Ben’s project was no exception. From day one it was all hands on deck to work hard and complete the project properly and on time.
The Results
Ben’s home was successfully underpinned and fully waterproofed on time and on budget. The foundation was stabilized, protected from future water intrusion, and the basement was ready for development. A solid foundation for this family and for the next step in their home improvement journey.
Client Perspective
“I first met Wes at the Edmonton home show and right from the first meeting at the show Lety felt like a great fit. Wes answered many of my questions but put no pressure on me to sign up for the job until the timing was right.
The office and crew were fantastic. I had some financial challenges to work through at the time, but due to the quickly approaching winter season, the timing was right to start the project. Rachelle and the office crew helped me figure out what was required and offered flexible payment options and great advice, again with no pressure to work with them until I was comfortable with the process.
The actual work crew were amazing. Although the job was expensive due to the scope of works, I’ve never felt that a crew of workers and company were more deserving of what they charged. There was a tonne of work to do, and they completed it step by step till it was done within the timelines that they promised with minimum disruption to my daily life as my two kids and I lived in the house while they worked. They were friendly, explained each stage of the job as they worked and helped me numerous times with additional projects that I was trying to complete in the basement during the job, frequently lending me their tools, equipment and their wealth of experience with solid advice along the way.
The foundation walls had four cracks opposite each other through to the footings, and due to the change in seasons, things were shifting in the house, creating cracks in the drywall upstairs. An engineer was consulted and underpinning was decided to be the solution, along with installing weeping tile, waterproofing and installing a sump pump. While preparing for the job, we found that past water leakage had caused substantial damage and rot to the framing and exterior walls surrounding the basement. Much of that had to be removed and replaced, which they carried out while repairing the foundation walls. They went over and above, helping me remove old windows in preparation for new ones coming later that month and building a new deck out the back to replace the old rotted-out one. They even replaced an interior load-bearing wall that had a water-damaged base plate.
It was just a staggering amount of work to do, but they completed it all step by step in record time, just before the snow arrived.
I can’t say enough good things about the Lety Construction crew and office staff. They were a pleasure to work with. I can now renovate the interior of the basement with confidence that I’ll now have a dry and stable basement for many decades to come and a substantially improved resale value on the house if I was ever to sell the place in the future.”
-Ben, Edmonton AB
