A1 Foundation Crack Repair Blog

There are plenty of homes out there with leaky basements. Many homeowners just assume their basement will be dark and damp. Maybe the concrete floor has a crack, or the foundation leaks a bit, or perhaps there is a leak where the pipes go through the basement walls. Through a towel on that, clean that right up and you’re all set right? Wrong.

Even if you don’t have a finished basement, even if the water doesn’t bother anything at all, you should take basement leaks seriously. Here's why:

Insects - There are many insects that seek out dark and damp areas including termites, cockroaches and spiders. We aren’t just talking about not liking bugs here. Termites and wood boring beetles, can damage your home. But insects can also cause health problems and they very challenging to get rid of without taking serious steps that involve harsh chemicals.

Health Problems - Mold and mildew dark and damp places, and damp basements are the perfect habitat. Mold can have serious effects on your family’s health, especially if there are asthma or allergies involved. Mold can increase the asthma attacks and itchy, watery eyes.

Integrity of your Foundation - A small wall or floor crack may seem harmless. But that crack may be hiding something bigger that you just can’t see.  If your doors aren’t shutting right floors are starting to warp this could be a result of the leak in your basement.

Resale value – Adding a basement to the list of amenities of your home when you  go to sell is a huge advantage. However, listing a home that has water damage in the basement is a big red flag. With all the homes on the market, and all the choices buyers have today, your home needs to be as enticing as ever to attract buyers.

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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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In order to know how to waterproof a basement, you need to know how water enters the basement. There are many different ways water can enter the basement:  floor / wall joint, floor or wall crack, or through the bulkhead, to name a few.

Here we are going to talk about how water enters through the floor/wall joint.

The floor/wall joint is the most common entry source of water entering the basement. This is where the foundation wall meets the floor. The water comes in from the outside over the footing under the foundation wall and through where the foundation wall and floor converge. This is seen mostly when it rains. Water may seep in from other locations, but the most heavy water intrusion will be from the floor/wall joint.

When one concrete structure is poured (the floor) and another concrete structure is poured on it or next to it (the wall), a seam is created between the two concrete structures. Each concrete structure (the footing, the wall and the floor) is poured separately. There is a seam between each of these three structures. This allows the potential for water to come into the basement. There are four potential points of entry now: over the foundation footing, between the foundation walls, underneath the foundation and up through the seams between the foundation footing and the floor. This floor/wall joint seepage is very common and is a predominant reason for basement flooding.

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If basement water problems can be solved, you can gain some valuable storage or living space.  There are two ways to go about approaching water issues. The first is to address the leak from the outside of the foundation and the second is to deal with the problem from the inside. From both directions, there are waterproofing techniques designed to seal water out, and others that are designed to divert water from the foundation.

Waterproofing techniques and supplies that are generally used by do-it-yourselfers to seal water out of the basement include spray on sealants, membranes, and injection expanding epoxy waterproofing supplies designed to fill and seal cracks in solid concrete foundation walls. These are some of the least reliable methods of keeping water out because over time, they all succumb deteriorate.

There are also waterproofing supplies and techniques for diverting water on the exterior of the home. Dirt fill can be used along foundation to make the ground slope away from the house. This allows for water to runoff away from the home.

Regardless of the method you choose, exterior repair work is messy and expensive. The installation of anything on the exterior of the foundation will require excavation to expose the wall.

On the interior, the A-1 method of sealing out water from concrete floor cracks is with the gravity fed system. A polymer is used to create a bond between the concrete cracks and fills the entire void through to the bottom. The A-1 preferred method for foundation wall pipe penetration leaks is to inject the gap around the pipe with high-viscosity polyurethane. This polymer can be used on both wet and dry materials, and it can work its way into small hairline cracks to make a more powerful bond.

A-1 Foundation Crack Repair, Inc. was founded after more and more house builders requested the A-1 Method to solve problems that otherwise would have been cost prohibitive or simply too invasive. In fact, the A-1 Method not only repairs your existing cracks, but also helps prevent future ones!

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Mold problems might occur with home basement dampness or flooding. Mold is a living organism that thrives in wet or damp environments. Usually, the food source for mold is cellulose such as the paper on drywall, wood products or paint on concrete. It can even appear on the surface of metal in the right conditions.
 
Therefore a home and its contents are a food source for mold. Many people believe that molds can be cleaned with household bleach. When you clean mold with bleach you will see the mold disappear. But the underlying root system of them mold is unaffected by the bleach, and the molds will reappear within a few days.

You can't clean mold; it must be removed from your home. In the case of mold-infested drywall, paneling and acoustical ceiling tiles, the damaged areas should be cut out and discarded. You do not often see mold on older homes with plastered walls, but it will appear on the paint on the plaster. When this happens, the paint should be scraped off to remove the root system before repainting.

Mold usually does not appear on fabrics, but they can carry mold that can be transferred to cellulose and wood products in your house. So, wet or damp carpeting should be removed to allow the wood-floor surface to dry. Vinyl floor coverings also must be removed if you notice dark spots forming under the finished surface of the vinyl.

If you have a large mold problem in your home, it should be professionally mitigated and the humidity in your home should be controlled with a dehumidifier. Cracks in the basement concrete floor and/or foundation that allow in water need to be repaired. Continuous water damage or moisture in your home exacerbates the mold problem and may lead to issues with the structural integrity of your home or foundation.  The most important control for mold in any home is humidity control. Keep the area dry, because without moisture, though molds may be present, it cannot thrive.

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Sometimes, no matter what, when you live in a flood zone,  your house will flood in heavy rain. I have a friend who lives on a street called Water Row Lane, and last year their neighborhood had to collectively rent the Boston Duck Boats for 2 weeks to transport them from their homes to their cars in a nearby parking lot.

Water, might be good for flowers, plants, and trees, but it’s not so good for houses.

Live in a flood zone?

If you live in an area that has a high flood risk, elevate the furnace, water heater, electric panel, washer and dryer in your home at least 12 inches above the projected flood elevation.

You should have check valves installed in your home to prevent flood water from backing up your drains.

Have a sump pump installed,  and if you have a sump pump, make sure it’s working and install a battery-operated backup, in case the power goes out.

Clean debris from your gutters and downspouts.

After a flood

Check outside for loose power lines, gas leaks, foundation cracks or other damage. Make sure your porch roofs and overhangs still have their supports. Check your home’s and your out building’s foundations for settling, cracking or undermining. If you see damage, get a building inspector or contractor to check the home before you go inside.

Turn off all electrical switches, even if the power is out.

While the electricity is off, hose down the house to remove any health hazards left by floodwater and mud.

If your furnace or water heater floods, have a technician check them before turning them on.

If your basement is flooded, pump the water out in stages.

Dry out appliances such as washers and dryers before using them. They might need several days to dry.
 
Mold

Mold can produce allergens, and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances that can make you sick, so you need to ensure your home is as mold-free as possible.

Water damage should be taken care of within 48 hours after the incident or mold growth (or worse, bacteria and viruses) will occur.

The best way to prevent mold is to remove wet contents from your home immediately.

Wet items should be cleaned with a pine-oil cleanser and bleach, completely dried, and monitored for several days for any fungal growth and odors.

Dry out damaged rooms by opening windows and using high-pressure fans. If your carpets are damaged, you should strongly consider installing new ones.

Keep the indoor humidity low, ideally from 30 percent to 50 percent. Make sure places of high humidity, such as bathrooms, are well-ventilated. Use a dehumidifier whenever necessary.

Even if you remove the mold, if the water problem (i.e. a leaky pipe or cracked foundation) is not fixed, the mold will come back.
 
Hiring a Contractor

Do the research. Ask friends and neighbors and read reviews. Make sure the contractor can do the type of work needed, foundation and basement crack repair . And check the contractor’s current references.

Check withe the Better Business Bureau, A1 Foundation Crack Repair has an A+ Rating.

Contractors can’t collect more than one-third of payment up-front unless the job requires materials that must be specially ordered. They also cannot demand any payment before the contract is signed.

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A leaky basement can be a nightmare. Regular dampness can cause mold growth and musty smells, stored items can be ruined, and the foundation of your home can even be damaged by regular water.  If you have moisture, drips, seepage, or other water related issues in your basement, you need to get it sealed and dried out fast, before bigger problems develop.

The first step to eliminating the moisture problems in your basement is to identify the source of the water. Once you have located where the water is entering the building, you can resolve the problem.

Drainage Problems

Exterior drainage issues can be a major source of water in your basement; if water is brought away from your foundation, it can work its way inside. If you notice water flowing toward your house on rainy days, have blocked or malfunctioning gutters, or can see any signs of erosion, you likely have drainage problems. Some drainage problems are easy to fix: clean and repair your gutters if they aren't working. Pay special attention to downspouts, and be sure that they are directing water away from your house. Other drainage issues can be more difficult to fix. If it isn’t the gutters, you'll want to consult a professional basement waterproofing company. They will be able to identify problematic water patterns.
 
Basement Leaks

Water can also work its way into your basement through cracks or crevices in your foundation. This type of problem usually manifests itself as a visible break or fracture, a trickle of water, or a damp spot. Basement leaks can also be caused by porous foundations. There doesn't necessarily have to be a crack for water to be seeping in. You have a number of options for waterproofing your basement and A1 Foundation Crack Repair, waterproofing specialists, can provide professional basement sealing results.

Make sure you address water problems in your basement promptly; instead of assuming that they will go away on their own, foundation water problems frequently snowball into moisture and mold crises. Take the time to identify and resolve the source of the moisture-you won't regret it.

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Leaky, wet and damp basements can cause many different types of problems, from merely annoying to structural and health related problems. Water intrusion through poured concrete foundations is typically the result of:

• foundation wall cracks
• cold joints (where new concrete meets existing concrete)
• improperly sealed snap ties (Metal snap ties or tie rods are used to hold the forms of a foundation in place while it is being poured, snap ties can leak over time if the prep work is not done properly)
• water, well, sewer and electrical conduit pipe penetrations.

We are going to talk about pipe penetration wall leaks. Many do-it-your-selfers have tried over the years to fix these leaks. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t.

During the construction of a home, holes in the foundations are cored to allow for water, well, sewer and electrical conduits to penetrate through the foundation. For example, a typical sewer line is 4 inches around. The hole cored may be 5 inches or more, leaving a space between the outside of the sewer pipe and the concrete. Prior to backfilling the foundation, these spaces are usually filled with hydraulic cement. Sometimes, they're not sealed at all. These penetrations are one of the weakest links in the foundation walls when it comes to holding back groundwater, and it's very common for them to leak water. Improper preparation around pipe penetration can cause water intrusion.

For the best and surest way to stop this type of water leakage, and its ensuing problems, call A1 Foundation Crack Repair.

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In older homes, we expect basements to leak and have cracks. In general, damp basements seem like standard issue; especially concrete block foundations which seep and weep over time as they settle. Wet basement are just annoying aren’t they, nothing else? It’s something you can take care of later.

Unfortunately, not. The issues that arise with damp basements aren't always easy to recognize, and can create serious problems. Cracks in a solid concrete wall or floor are almost never only on the surface, it is practically a guarantee that the crack goes all the way through. This is a definite problem. Cracks create structural integrity issues, a chance for water to seep through the walls, and introduce the possibility of mold, not to mention pests.

Moisture can build up extremely fast. When these cracks are first detected, you need to take action immediately. Have them inspected and possibly repaired. Understand that putting some concrete on the front and cosmetically sealing the crack is not going to do the trick. It could actually do more damage if water leaks are present because sealing it at the surface could cause pressure to build. Concrete is porous and pressure build up will only cause the water to find another way through.

Hire a professional to take care of all you basements cracks and leaks. Your home is most likely the biggest investment you will ever make. A1 Foundation Crack Repair is the best solution for cracks and leaks in your home’s walls and foundation. Call us as soon as you detect a problem.

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Your foundation is the cornerstone of your home. It is the footing on which the rest of your house sits. When your foundation has problems, so does the rest of your house. Even well-made foundations can develop problems over time from soil settlement, heavy rains, ice, or other ground movement issues. Serious trouble can result from cracking, crumbling, and settling in your foundation. If these problems are not resolved quickly and correctly, foundation failure can create structural instability. Many homeowners who have never experienced water problems in their homes before are experiencing them now after this long hard winter and the recent rain. Contact A1 Foundation Crack Repair if you're concerned about your foundation.

There are many indicators of foundation settling, cracking, and bowing which can crop up both in and out of your home. A few common signs to watch for can include: bowing or leaning foundation walls, cracks in stair masonry, basement leaks or water stains, musty smells, windows and doors that are sticking and/or a leaning chimney.
 
If your home has any of these symptoms, have your house assessed by a professional water proofing and basement crack repair company.  Overtime, your home’s foundation will continue to deteriorate until it is repaired.

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