A1 Foundation Crack Repair Blog

As a homeowner, take care when hiring a basement waterproofing specialist. Be sure to hire a reputable contractor. If you have basement water problems, you need to be sure that the contractor addresses the situation in total. All source of moisture, humidity, mold and mildew must be eliminated in total. Otherwise, you will have more problems down the road.

Certainly, you will want to check references and the Better Business Bureau.

In order for a proper estimate to be done, the waterproofing specialist must go through a series of questions to assesss the situation. Estimates can be done over the phone. There may be basement water problems that are apparent to the specialist that you did not know exist.

Gutters, landscaping, and standing water all need to be addressed and a good waterproofing contractor can identify these problems.
 
Along with references, gather a couple of quotes. However, your decision should not be based on price alone.  It is important to use the best water proofing specialist for the job and for your home’s situation. Contact A-1 Foundation Crack Repair for a basement waterproofing quote.

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No one enjoys a flooded basement. It is one of the worst problems for homeowners to face. Regardless of if your house gets water regularly or if it happens once a year, there is never a good time for water in the basement. To prevent basement flooding you need to understand why it is happening in order to properly fix the problem and to prevent it from reoccurring.

Sometimes basement flooding is caused by a water main break or really severe, and uncommon weather. In these instances, maybe you will never again have water in your home. However, most of the time basement water is recurring and those who have it, have it often. There is a way to fix this.

If your home is located on a sloped piece of land then there is a very good chance that water on the property will drain towards you. Obviously this could result in water damage to your home.

Many times water damage will be a result of problems with your plumbing, or pipe penetration leaks in the foundation. Again, these are problems that can be avoided in the future. You should check the plumbing to ensure that there are no signs of leaks and be sure that the pipe fittings are tight.

Concrete floor cracks and foundation cracks result over time. It is very important to have these repaired correctly and quickly. Ignoring cracks could compromise the integrity of the structure.

Bulkhead leaks are another way that water enters the home. The seal between your home and your bulkhead moves during the winter and needs to be fixed.

Regardless of how the water enters your home, it can be avoided. It is important to have these issues taken care of professionally for the safety and security of your home as well as the ability to sell your home in the future.

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A leaky basement is a very undesirable situation. Quite often water penetrates your homes foundation. So it is urgent to address this dilemma ASAP. The source of your water leak needs to be repaired to preserve your homes foundation and to prevent serious structural damage to it. Nonetheless, even minor trickles should not be ignored as they can turn into nightmares.

You need to pay attention to where the leak originates. Even though a vast majority of basements are compromised with water infiltration causing damage, the leakage is in fact, concealed. While some of the leaks are hard to detect because they are underground, here are some of the more obvious causes: heavy rainfall, melting ice, gutters and downspouts with leaves and debris. Your gutters may need replaced and are actually directing water toward your house instead of away from it, reverse grading, tree roots, your property naturally slopes down toward your house. But, whatever the reason, you need to restore any loss of structural integrity. Once that is done, you must take all precautions to permanently prevent reoccurrence.

Water leaks can do more than just cause leaky basements. You should protect your personal property from dampness and mildew. Wood can rot causes your wood structures to bow and bend. Paneling can warp or buckle. Albert Einstein once said "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" so take that advice the next time you see any kind of leak in your basement. Be sure to contact us today to learn more about your home's foundation and how we can put the A-1 method to use for you.

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As the most important element of your home's infrastructure, your foundation must remain in flawless condition in order to provide the required amount of stability. For foundation repair, waterproofing, mold removal, and more, its best to contact a foundation specialist such as A-1.

Every building is built from the bottom up, which means the lowest level is always the major base for support. That's why it's important to keep both your foundation and basement in tip-top shape if you wish you to maintain a structurally sound building. If the condition of your foundation is damaged or weakened in any way, the stability of your entire home is put at risk. It's important to perform regular foundation waterproofing and repairs. It is also smart to ensure mold remediation and basement waterproofing, in order to keep your home from facing serious structural issues down the road.

While it's important to perform regular foundation repairs, you shouldn't attempt to do them yourself. Given the solid, immovable quality of concrete foundations, working on a foundation repair is often very difficult if not done with the proper training and equipment. That's where our professional and experience team comes in handy. We have the extensive training and knowledge required to provide you with the fix-it work you need in order to patch up a hole or crack, and we can even perform foundation waterproofing to protect against water damage and erosion.  Our experienced A-1 team will be able to perform all necessary maintenance work and ensure the continued stability of your foundation.

So whether you need foundation work, a cure for a wet basement, or professional mold removal, hiring A-1 Foundation Crack Repair is the only way to ensure success. If you're ready to stabilize your home with a solid foundation, feel free to contact us today and we'll be happy to help.

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When do most homeowners find out that their sump pump has failed? When it is too late! It is raining cats and dogs, rain water is contributing to the ground water and the water table is rising quickly. As the ground water level reaches the float activation set point. Regularly the sump pump will kick on and keep the water level below the basement slab, thereby alleviating the hydrostatic pressure below the basement floor.

Sadly, many homeowners find out the hard way that their sump pump is not working properly. The water table rises beyond a controllable level and hydrostatic pressure begins forcing water through floor cracks and floor/wall joints. The outcome is increased moisture levels inside the basement, which can lead to poor indoor air quality conditions, and in severe cases can lead to standing water filling up inside the basement causing havoc and misery.

The most important thing homeowners with basement waterproofing systems (sump pumps, basement drainage, etc.) can do is complete regular factory recommended maintenance. Regular maintenance should include removal of debris and obstructions from the sump liner and any cleaning of filters or screens that are attached to the sump pump. It is recommended that drains and sump pump systems are flushed with hot water regularly. This ensures that any debris or iron bacteria colonies do not build up and become obstructions to the flow of water. Do not run any type of hazardous cleaning chemicals (bleach, ammonia, detergents, etc.) through any drain or sump pump systems.

A-1 is a fully registered home improvement contractor. Contact us today to talk to a knowledgeable, master waterproofing professional should you have any leaking problems and we'll be happy to help.

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Sometimes its hard to know when you need to waterproof your basement. Yes its true, some people go down into their basement, see that it is fine and go about their merry business but what they don’t realize is that basement mold and water damage accumulates silently and then spreads like wildfire and it becomes a hassle to get rid of. So when you first move into your new home make sure you check the waterproofing of your basement. Then below are two popular times to waterproof your basement once again.

Before the rainy season

A wet basement is easy to ignore during dry weather. But when a major storm hits, the amount of water that comes in can be hard to predict. Homeowners that previously only had a small leak once or twice a year can be shocked and disappointed to find that their basement has several inches-even feet- of water seemingly out of the blue. How serious a basement flood can be is sometimes hard to tell, and unless the investment is made in a basement waterproofing system, the risk of such a flood is always present. If you know stormy weather is ahead, then it's a great idea to deal with the problem before it gets out of hand.

Before selling the home

If you're looking to sell your home, a wet basement can be a deal breaker. Home buyers are not looking to purchase someone else's problem, and if they find out that the basement floods, they will often back out of the deal. Home inspectors are trained to find the signs of wet basements, and they will make finding these signs a top priority.

In fact, 10% of the home's market value is lost with a wet basement. And because buyers will be reluctant to buy the home even at a discount, it will take much longer to sell it. In the end, fixing the basement properly with a sump pump and perimeter waterproofing system is a fast process and it restores a great deal of value to your home.

Even if you are not planning on selling your home or it hasn’t rained in a while, it might be a good idea to check out your basement anyway and if you see any signs of leaks or water damage contact the professionals and let us apply our A-1 method to your home for a clean and quality look.

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Basement flooding is an difficult problem that many households face on a regular basis. Rather than dealing with it, however, many people hope the problem goes away on its own. Such an attitude can have grave consequences for your home in the long run. When your basement gets flooded, it is best to deal with the problem right away. To do this you will need at least some basic knowledge of the reasons why basements fill with water.

1. Unsuitable Locations for Your Home

One of the most typical causes of basement flooding is that the house has been constructed on an unsuitable site. Usually, houses are built on terrains that slope down away from them, allowing for any accumulated water to drain away. However, if your home has been built on the low part of your estate, chances are it will get flooded frequently, for waters flow from high to low areas. If this is the case, you may be happy to learn that land slopes are conspicuous targets for the elements, and in the course of time they tend to get leveled by erosion, a circumstance that will probably fix your problem.

2. Poor Floor and Wall Sealing

Another quite common reason for flooding is the poor floor and wall sealing. If the basement tiles have not been sealed properly during the construction of your house, water will easily seep through them, especially in the event of extreme weather conditions. If your basement often fills with water after heavy storms and downpours, you may want to check its sealing and, if necessary, take measures to fix it.

3. Blocked Gutter System

Yet another cause of flooding is the blocked gutter system. When the manifold connecting your house to the public sewer system gets plugged, it may cause floods on your premises. If such is the case, call the respective local authorities and the sooner, the better, for water levels may rapidly increase with disastrous results for the foundations of your home.
 
4. Improper Installation of the Drainage System

Similarly, a drainage system, which has been installed incorrectly or malfunctions, may lead to leakages in your basement. For example, if the downspouts of your house have been placed too close to the basement wall (i.e. within 6 feet), or if they drain towards, rather than away from it, they may overload the weeping tile and cause leakages in your basement. Ideally, the downspouts will drain towards the street or the backyard, and not towards your basement walls (or those of your neighbor).

5. Debris in the Eavestroughs

Also, eavestroughs filled with debris may overflow with rainwater right beside your basement and cause leakages in it. The solution is simple: all you have to do is climb on your roof and clean them. If, however, the eavestroughs of your house overflow even when they are cleaned, you should replace them with larger ones that fit the local climate better.

And finally, a word to the wise: if your house is equipped with a sump pit drainage system, it is advisable that you remove, thoroughly clean and test the sump pump at least once a year.

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If you remodel your basement into the type of dream room that you have always wanted then you will most likely be proud of your achievement ... if it's done right. But before you congratulate yourself, you need to make sure that your new space is mold-proof. It is a common mistake to finish basements that are not mold-proof which can end up turning the dream into a nightmare. In many instances finished basements actually make mold more likely to occur because it creates the conditions that this fungus loves.

Mold just requires a few basic conditions and it is good to go. For mold to prosper it needs some dead organic material and some moisture. These are things which can be commonly found in most basements. Remodeling your basement can add to the problem because all that wood paneling and floor boards you are adding are giving it more to grow on. If you install a poorly ventilated shower in your basement you may as well prepare for mold because that is what you are going to get. You may not even notice that you have mold because if moisture is coming from the outside behind your wood paneling or underneath your new floor boards then this mold can be growing where you can't even see it. Mold that you can't see is the worst type of mold because it could lead to all sorts of damage to your health and finances.

So what are you to do? Now that you know how the problem arises you can take steps to prevent it from happening. Prior to commencing any finished basements project you will need to first check to see if you have dampness anywhere. If you find moisture and you are not certain about whether it is coming from inside or outside the house there is a little test you can perform. Put some plastic sheeting on the wall where you feel the dampness and leave for a day or two. If the water is on the outside of the plastic then you know you have condensation problems while if it is inside then you have water from the outside. Whatever the cause, you will need to remedy the situation before beginning any work on finishing your basement.

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Reasons for Basement Waterproofing

Mold and Mildew - will only grow under moist, humid conditions. Waterproofing your basement from the outside will significantly reduce the area available to new mold and mildew growths. This is very important as mold and mildew can damage food, paper, walls, and even cause respiratory problems. Just as taxing is the effort to remove mold and mildew.  Preventing mold growth before it occurs is key for your property and your health.

Damaged Possessions - moisture eventually causes damage to items stored in basements. Obviously, a basement that can only store waterproofed items might not be a very useful basement. If you would like to keep food, books, or anything made out of paper in your basement, then a proper waterproofing strategy is a must.

Structural Damage/Pests - Allowing moisture into the walls of your basement can lead to serious structural damage over the long term. Wet wood is also much more vulnerable than dry wood to a wide variety of problems that will reduce your home's value and your safety to live there.  Termites require a great deal of moisture to thrive and can live happily in damp wood, causing a huge amount of damage to your home. Moist wood is much more vulnerable to ordinary rot as well. While you can try to solve these problems after they occur, you are much better off protecting the walls of your basement with exterior waterproofing.

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