A1 Foundation Crack Repair Blog

Happy New year in advance to you from all of us at A-1 Foundation Crack Repair.  We hope you have a safe and relaxing New Year's break.  We also want you to know that when it comes to the health of safety of both you and your home, we never rest..  This is because we know the very clear and present dangers that a cracked foundation presents to you and your family.

So we'll make the focus of this final blog post calendar year 2011 to be a simple educational reminder of just what risks are introduced by ignoring the cracks in your foundation:   

• Home Foundation Bulkhead Cracks enlarge due to neglect (water enters crack and freezes, making the crack wider each cycle)
• Radon (can cause lung cancer, stomach cancer, fatigue, headaches, allergies, and rashes)
• Mold (can cause many health problems to list a few: nasal stuffiness, shortness of breath, loss of urinary control, diminished mental capabilities, asthma complications)
• Insects (carpenter ants, termites, infestation, wood decay)
• Humidity (which could lead to decay of wood and other material stored in basement)
  ODOR (uncomfortable conditions caused by decaying organic material from the soils on the exterior

For those of you who have not visited our "advice and tips" page, we invite you to visit the page where you will find some prudent things you can do to limit further damage to you home and more importantly, to take proactive measure to immediately protect yourself and your family from radon, mold, and other threats.

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink |

It happens to scores of people every year.  Your down in the basement pulling out the Holiday decorations and the bottom falls out of a few boxes.  Then you notice the water damage on the boxes.  It only takes a moment to trace the source back to the crack in your basement wall or floor.  

Well, don’t let it ruin your Holidays, but don’t delay taking action either.  Don’t be fooled that the frozen ground outside is doing you any favors.  Radiant heat from the house will ensure a steady stream of water continues to enter the house and potentially cause increasing damage.

A quick inspection from your crack investigative team  at A-1 Foundation Crack Repair will get you fully educated on the exact threat to your home and put your mind at ease.

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink |

When you buy your homeowners insurance policy, you may think you are covered when it comes to water damage. But there are many scenarios where insurance does not cover damage caused by water. With so many home insurance mold claims and water damage claims being denied, there is a lot of confusion about what types of water damage is covered by homeowners insurance.

Water damage is defined differently than flood damage in a policy. What types of water damage is covered under your homeowners insurance?

Homeowners insurance does not cover water damage caused by floods, but there are some kinds of water damage it does cover.
 
Generally, homeowners insurance pays for damage from rain coming through a hole in the roof or a damaged skylight or window, but only if that damage was caused by a storm.

If the hole or the window was damaged from neglect, then, no, the water damage is not covered. Water in your basements caused by floods is also NOT covered by your homeowners policy.

Many of our customers have water damage due to leaky pipes that causes water damage overtime. This is not covered, again neglect. When pipes freeze or break due to the cold, the resulting water damage is covered by your policy.

Most insurance companies cover all water damage inside the house (leaking of or damage to the washing machine, water heater, bath tub), including the basement. Essentially if the water damage was caused by damages from a storm, which is covered, then the water damage is covered; but remember, floods are different.  If the water damage is caused by lack of home maintenance, the water damage is not covered.  

If you are not sure what type of water damage is covered, review your policy or ask you insurance company. The best bet is to stop water before it enters you basement, contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair.

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink |

Realtors, if you have clients that are trying to sell homes that have had basement water problems, please advise them to address the issue.

This is the season when water problems can really begin. As the snow falls and builds up, and then we get rain or a sudden warm day, the ground does not as easily absorb water. Water takes the path of least resistance and often will end up where we don’t want it, in our basements.

If you are trying to sell a home, with these low home prices, you need to set your home apart from the others. As you know you need to disclose water issues, even if it has only happened “once or twice”.

By addressing the basement water problem, you have once again added your home to the “more desirable” list. What you spend in solving your basement water problems you will certainly more than make up for in the sale.

Contact A-1 Foundation Crack Repair for information.

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink |

Remember eighth grade science? Cold contracts matter and warm expands it. Well, cold weather can harm your  foundation when the weather turns warm again. Water travels through the soil through veins. In the winter, the cold closes those veins in the soil under our homes.  This causes voids alongside your home’s foundation where water can pool and cause flooded basements when the snow melts or when it rains.

There is no way to stop this from happening. Inevitably soil expands and contracts.  However, a properly installed and maintained interior water management system will prevent these voids from being a problem in your basement.

To prevent basement flooding when snow melts this winter, contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair.

Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0) | Permalink |