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Home»Foundation Repair»Photo Gallery»Settling Cloquet, MN Cabin Restored for Generations to Come

Foundation Repair Photo Album: Settling Cloquet, MN Cabin Restored for Generations to Come

This family cabin in Cloquet, MN had a wet and musty crawl space. In order to protect the space for future generations, the owners contacted DBS for some expert advice on how to best proceed with the crawl space. DBS Design Specialist Henry Jungbauer is an expert in our Dr. Energy Saver® service and did a thorough inspection of the dirt crawl space. During his estimate, he noticed significant movement in the block foundation. Henry designed a plan to eliminate musty conditions in the crawl space, as well as stabilize the foundation. DBS Foreman Trevor Ingle and his foundation crew installed 14 PowerBrace beams around the shifting block foundation, pouring a concrete footing at each beam site. PowerBrace beams can be tightened over time to fully correct the bowing wall.Next, our Crawl Space Encapsulation team will install a crawl space sump pump, TerraBlock™ insulation, and a CleanSpace® vapor barrier. This encapsulation system will prevent moldy, musty conditions, leading to cleaner air and eliminating the threat of wood rot to the crawl space joists and structural supports.

Moisture from Crawl Space on Joists in Cloquet, MN

A wet dirt crawl space is troublesome for any organic material. Here, the joists have been absorbing water, and this can eventually lead to mold and rot.

Northeast Corner Pooling Water

Our Design Specialist assessed the crawl space and found several areas that were especially wet.

Block Sheering in Cloquet, MN Foundation

This block foundation is sheering, meaning the bottom portion has separated from the rest of the blocks and is traveling inwards.

Sheering Continues Along the West Wall in Cloquet, MN

Here, the top portion of this foundation wall is being pushed inwards.

Shifting and Settling Block Foundation in Cloquet, MN

Our Design Specialist measured the foundation movement with a laser level along the perimeter.

Existing Sump Pump Constantly Runs

Our team will install a crawl space encapsulation system to include proper drainage and a stronger sump pump to keep up with moist conditions.

Crawl Space Access in Cabin

Our crews accessed the crawl space from inside the cabin, and carefully fed materials in through this space.

Concrete Footings Support PowerBrace

Our team poured a concrete footing at each of the PowerBrace sites.

PowerBrace Beam and Bracket

You can see the PowerBrace beam is installed here and attached to the crawl space joist with a steel bracket.

Bolt is Tightened Over Time to Straighten the Wall

This Cloquet, MN cabin has 14 PowerBraces in total along the shifting foundation. The large, heavy-duty bolt seen here is tightened over time to return the wall to its original position.