"Thank you so much for coming to my rescue in a time of need! My basement was flooding, water coming in through the foundation, and I was exhausted from trying to keep up with it. You guys realized the importance of prioritizing me, and put in a sump pump to save the day. You are the best!" - Joanne Lipsy

"We've used A-1 a couple of times and are always pleased. All the cracks that have been repaired have held up beautifully and we are now enjoying a newly finished basement with no concerns about water due to the cracks!" - Brendan Kenahan

"Rich was very professional and sent his technician Andrew to do the work. Wasted no time, just stayed with it. He was very knowledgeable and indicated if there was any problems they would come back and fix them. No more leaks! It is good to know there are still companies that care and deal with the issues." - Rich B.

"A couple of weeks ago we had A1 out to do some work on the bulkhead at our home in Woodstock Valley, CT. So far we are extremely pleased with the performance of the injection, I'd say 2 days after the work we had 4 inches of rain in one evening, not a drop came in. I can sleep easier now about the decision we made last month to finish our basement, we love having the extra, dry, living space." - Ron Sanderson

Rich is a reputable and responsible businessman who we have worked with several times. His response to us is always prompt and professional. He is able to schedule appointments and provides pricing in advance of performing his service and there is no up-selling involved. We would use Rich and A-1 again and we refer him often with our complete confidence

I cannot thank you enough. What an incredible company you have. It's comforting to know that if there's another problem in the future, I know who to call!! - Barbara Salzman

"I would have to say your company is " A 1", in my book. I will see you again in the spring." - Valerie Curley

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Damp proofing vs Waterproofing

Joseph Coupal - Saturday, August 21, 2010

Diverting runoff is core to keeping water out of your home, however, but by no means is the final step in protecting your home.  Today we will educate you on two common water preventions methods...."damp-proofing" and "waterproofing".

Many builders spray on a thin coating of asphalt, which meets the minimum building code regulations.

Damp-proofing is what most builders apply to homes as a minimal cost initiative to meet building code regulations. It is a simple thin spray-on coating of asphalt, but as you might guess, with settling and shifting of the home, this thin layer of protection quickly cracks and ceases to protect.  Those who seek long-term protection of their house will have it waterproofed.   

Waterproofing is a mix of asphalt AND rubber. The rubber works by continuing to cover even when basement walls develop small cracks due to settlement and shifting. The rubber's elasticity keeps it from being rigid, so when the material in the foundation expands, contracts or breaks, the waterproofing compound stays sealed.

There are myriads of waterproofing compounds. Some use plastic, some synthetic rubber, and some use bentonite, a natural clay that can absorb 20 times its own weight in water. Waterproofing your foundation will not only keep your basement dry, it will preserve the foundation, resulting in fewer repairs and less overall long term maintenance.

Waterproofing your foundation keeps the wet out, but the water still needs to have a place to go. Drain tile installation around the foundation solves a lot of problems right from the start, as it channels water away from your house before it has the chance to do any damage.

Many builders install the drain tile on the top of the foundation. This method isn't nearly as smart as installing the drain tile alongside the foundation instead. (Editors Note:  Care to guess which installation method is cheaper and faster?)  Think about it: if the pipe runs along on top of the foundation, the water level has to be several inches higher before the pipe can start collecting the water. Getting that drain tile right into the ground means that the water will be diverted from the time it starts hitting the ground: you won't have to wait for it to increase six inches in depth before it drains away.

If you live in a place where the soil becomes very dry, your builder can install drain tile with an extra pipe that rises just above the ground in a "T" fitting. Keep the pipe capped except when you are using it to add water to your foundation. When the weather is very dry, you can take a hose and irrigate the drain pipe, which will send a controlled amount of water around the foundation and stabilize the soil, preventing your foundation cracking. Let the hose run on low overnight once a week as long as the weather is dry.

Keep in mind that leaks happen everyday and some are unnoticeable. A good inspection of your home or business is always recommended. Call A-1 today to ensure the best possible solution for all your leak and foundation needs.

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