Jerry Yoder has years of construction and remodeling experience. It was through his work that he noticed a need among homeowners that he knew he could provide.
It’s a service that you often don’t know you need until it’s too late.
“Homeowners can have foundation cracks and water coming in,” Yoder said. “There are all kinds of things that can happen. I discovered it’s not uncommon for companies to come in and fix something, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I looked at the process and thought, ‘I can do this.’”
He earned his certifications and launched Yoder Home Services in 2015 with the goal of helping homeowners with basement waterproofing, foundation repairs, mold remediation and more.
Perhaps more importantly, his goal is doing the job once and doing it correctly. The family-owned business has built a reputation for quality craftsmanship and reliability. Yoder said one of their main services is repairing projects that weren’t done right, making ethics and experience stand out in the industry.
The years of experience, along with expertise in construction and the structure of homes, has been a bonus as he works through the more difficult or unique challenges a home can present.
“I’m not a structural engineer but I have structural engineers calling me and asking for advice about repairs,” Yoder said.
It’s frustrating when Yoder and his crew see something that not only was done incorrectly, but also caused more harm than good for the homeowner.
“We often see someone has done the easy fix,” he said. “Another company might redirect the water coming through the crack in the foundation and never fix the crack itself. We’ll stitch it back together to its original strength, and we want to stop the water, not just redirect it.”
Another misconception is dehumidification versus negative air systems. A negative air system is cheaper and replaces the air in the home 25 times a day. It’s conditioned air or heated air, and it can create condensation and further damage to the home.
“Condensation forms and it’s actually caused more mold than anything else I’ve ever seen,” Yoder said. “I’ve seen people have to throw most of their stuff out from the basement because the entire thing had to be gutted. Then the system has to be reinstalled properly with a dehumidifier.”
Yoder actually created a short YouTube video on the subject after a tough day on the job and watching homeowners respond to the damage caused by others. On his website he’s posted several educational videos, sharing tips on what a homeowner should be watching for and what Yoder Home Services can do for you.
Though Yoder Home Services often repairs damage, it does proactive work too.
“We see proactive work in new homes or remodels often – things like going into the crawlspace to encapsulate it and seal it off,” Yoder said. “We can set that up so the new homeowner doesn’t have to worry about anything.”
It never hurts to prepare the home, versus experiencing a major and expensive issue down the road.
They also offer the shotcrete process. It’s a high-velocity concrete, perfect for projects ranging from foundation repair to building retention walls, specifically in Michigan basements. The Michigan basement is likely found in older homes with distinct structural characteristics.
“We specialize in Michigan basement repair, often applied with shotcrete,” Yoder said. “We do a lot of foundation replacements or repairs.”
The crew at Yoder Home Services hopes to go above and beyond on every project, helping each homeowner repair or prepare their home for many years to come.
