The Crackman Podcast - serving MA, RI, NH, & CT

Rich went to a structural engineering conference recently and lally columns were a particular point of concern. In this episode, he tells us about the primary lally column issues afflicting homes today.

One of our favorite subjects in the Crackman's arsenal of experiences is when he talks about DIY disasters. In this episode, Rich shares 4 horror stories to share with our listeners regarding basement waterproofing.

In our last episode, we discussed how you fix cracks in floating floors. But what if the homeowner discovers a concrete floor that has cracked and the concrete has started to sink?

In our last episode we discussed 3 different types of floor cracks homeowners face. Today, we are going to discuss the first of these types of cracks and that's the type of crack you find on a floating floor.

Floor cracks can range is size and style. In this episode, the Crackman talks about the 3 basic styles of cracks and how you get them. It is the first in a 4-part mini-series on this subject.

In this episode the Crackman talks about what parging is when dealing with stone foundations and they types of situations he faces to get parged foundations looking good again.

In this episode, the Crackman covers the top reasons why a homeowner would need a dehumidifier in their basement.

The Crackman has covered a lot of DIY disasters in this podcast series and he has a new one that is just...really...hard to believe. This time it deals with the lally columns or piers that hold up the support beams in homes.

If you are a DIYer and installing a sump pump and liner/basin, it's crucial to get the size right. In this episode, the Crackman explains how to properly size them.

We're heading into thunderstorm season so the Crackman thought this might be a good time to remind people what to do to keep their basement from flooding when a major rain storm approaches. Close

It's Spring! It's a great time of the year: mild weather, flowers, tree leaves filling in...and it's also the busiest time of the year for landscaping. People often embark on these great projects to redo flower beds or plant trees and shrubs around the house. In this episode the Crackman offers best practices when it comes to landscaping and avoiding basement water issues as a result.

Lally columns are one of those hidden "gotchas" found by home inspectors all the time. In this episode, Rich talks about what home inspectors are looking for so your home sale won't be unnecessarily delayed.

We've done a lot of podcasts where the Crackman has covered extensively how often he serves the real estate market for both real estate agents and homeowners. In this episode he discusses how a wet basement can lower the value of a home and make it tough to sell.

As Spring Showers increase the amount of ground water around houses, homeowners are likely to spot leaks in their basements. And as many of them do, they'll decide to fix it themselves with home remedies they find in stores like Lowes and Home Depot. And what happens when they get there? They grab the guy walking the aisle and ask his opinion of what will work. He points to the caulk or the cement or...gasp...the Flexseal and the homeowner gives it the old college try. Before they do that, they should listen to this podcast.

Yes, homeowners procrastinate when it comes to fixing problems, even when it comes to basement water problems. In this episode, the Crackman offers his top 4 reasons for fixing basement cracks right away.

After a period of heavy snow, winter is giving way to warmer weather, which means melting snow can be a real problem for homeowners with basements. In this episode, the Crackman discusses 3 ways to keep water out of your basement during snow melt.

Imagine that you are a homeowner or real estate agent about to close on the sale of a house and your deal dies a horrible death all because of a tiny basement crack that has suddenly sprung a leak. In this episode, the Crackman shares sage advice on how to keep that from happening to you.

As we've discussed many times before, homeowners are likely to try DIY methods before calling a pro for most crack problems. Hydraulic cement is one of those do-it-yourself methods the Crackman runs into quite a bit. In this episode, he shares a humorous story about one such incident and why hydraulic cement isn't a permanent fix.

During his many years in the field, The Crackman has run into some pretty interesting solutions for lally columns. Many of the DIY solutions for lally columns he has found fail to pass home inspection. Listen in to see what you should and should not use for lally columns.

It can be horrifying to descend into your basement and find it flooded. In this episode, the Crackman shares a 7-step process for what to do when you have a flooded basement.

We just checked the weather report and it looks like the Northeast is going to get pounded with a blizzard. If you're a homeowner, you need to get stepping and make sure you're ready for it. In this episode, the Crackman shares 5 essential tips that will ensure the basement isn't the first casualty of a major storm.

As we celebrate the 100th episode of the Crackman Podcast, the Crackman recounts the story of a seemingly possessed sump pump and the unlikely source of the problem

So, you're about to spend a bundle on refinishing your basement. You may be thinking that if you're hiring a professional builder, it's going to be LIKE NEW and you shouldn't expect to see any water issues for a long, long time. Well...maybe you should listen t this podcast to avoid a few common mistakes.

Here is another Crackman case study that is a great example of how he helps real estate agents and homeowners make their closing date by diagnosing and fixing basement water problems at the 11th hour.

We posted a blog a few weeks ago with an amazing video captured by a customer of water literally squirting out of the foundation wall. In this episode, the Crackman tells us all about it and what he did to plug the multiple squirting holes.

Whenever the Crackman gets a call about a basement water problem there is a little bit of sleuthing that goes into figuring out where the water is coming from. This podcast is dedicated to the most common source.

Should foundation crack repairs be fixed from the inside or the outside? The Crackman sets the record straight.

The Crackman shares a case study in this episode that parallels with a disastrous cave-in he read about where someone fell through their porch barely avoiding death.

In this episode, the Crackman recounts a recent job where a large building firm in Utah contacted him to solve a problem at a recycling plant construction project.

Is the Crackman doing palm and psychic readings as a side business or are DIYers so predictable that Rich knows all the common home crack repair techniques that usually fail? Tune in to find out.

When it comes to Basement Waterproofing paints, it's a case of pros and cons. In this episode, the Crackman reveals when he WOULD and when he WOULD NOT use basement waterproofing paints and why.

Stone foundations...what are they and what happens when natural aging causes the mortar holding them together breaks down. The Crackman covers the issues and when to repoint the fieldstones.

We've talked about waterproofing paint in the past and, well...let's just say it's not what you want to use for fixing cracks. But in this episode we want to cover the pros and cons of waterproofing paint.

How the heck does a basement flood in the middle of a drought? Don't you need to have, you know, water to flood? In this episode the Crackman analyzes this unusual phenomenon.

Typically, the Crackman's stories describe the terrors of finding a flooded basement but this episode is like something right out of a horror movie. Rich talks about this invasion of mice and what he did to prevent the varmints from coming back in.

We've talked about the "fool proof" waterproofing/leak stopping method known as Flexseal before and the Crackman keeps calling out issues whenever he sees it. Here is another sad story of a homeowner trying to fix a problem with Flexseal.

So you are thinking about finishing your basement to improve the resale value of your house. Is that a wise investment? The Crackman reveals some interesting facts and statistics that just may surprise you.

The Crackman answers definitively this burning question: Should a foundation crack be fixed before listing a house?

The Crackman was called into a job recently that you won't believe. He had to help someone who was trying to dig out their own basement.

So you notice a little puddle of water on your basement floor. Should you pack up the family and get the heck outta Dodge or could it be something less worrisome? Listen and find out.

One of the most important tenets of selling your home is curb appeal, and if your house's foundation on the exterior looks pitted and cracked, it can kill a sale very quickly. In this episode, The Crackman talks about how to deal with this issue and increase the value of your home.

In this episode, the Crackman explains how basements can become damp and humid, and covers 4 common sense do-it-yourself tips on how to prevent it.

Most people have a bit of the DIY spirit in them and hope to defray maintenance costs by doing as much as they can before hiring a pro. In this episode, the Crackman shares his 4 best tips a homeowner can do to prevent basement water.

Let's say you go downstairs to your basement and find the beginnings of your own personal water park. Obviously, the first thing that comes out of your mouth is a swear word. Then, you're going to have to call a pro to solve the problem, but you need to figure out how all that water got there. What's the first thing you look for?

This is a very interesting case study about how an incorrectly installed lally column woke a homeowner at night and almost totaled his home.

Believe it or not, having a gap where one's sidewalk meets the foundation is a common problem that is certainly an issue but easily fixed. This episode discusses how to remedy the situation.

Some small concrete repair jobs can be done by DIYers, others are best left to the pros. In this podcast, the Crackman discusses both situations and when it's best to bring in the big guns.

This episode discusses what types of lally columns will home inspectors be be looking at, what problems home inspectors will identify with lally columns, and how you fix them.

Some homeowners are sealing up their basement bulkheads, walk-outs, and windows, but they've been running into issues where the do-it-yourselfers have had some pretty serious leaks associated with novice work. In this episode, The Crackman talks about what he's seeing in the field and how he's helping homeowners solve their DIY messes.

So you've got a quote from a crack repair company and it seems a little high so you're thinking about doing it yourself. Listen to this episode before you do.

Imagine walking down to your basement and finding a lake. You've got 2 options: grab a fishing pole or start taking care of the problem. What would you do? Tune in to find out what to do first.

We've been talking about basement cracks for quite a while now on this podcast. In this episode, the Crackman reveals the most common cracks he sees and how he fixes them.

The most common basement cracks come from shrinkage and settling. How do you tell the difference between the two types and how do you fix them? Listen in to find out.

Putting a band-aid fix on a problem is never a really good idea. You're much better off getting it fixed properly as evidenced in this month's DIY disaster.

In this episode, horizontal cracks are explained along with what to do if you have one in your basement.

Let's say you have a large crack in a basement wall but only the bottom part of it is leaking. That's really all you need to fix right? The leaky part? Or do you need to fix the entire crack?

Foundation issues are nothing to mess around with. As they say, a home is only as good as its foundation so catching foundation issues before they get too bad is just plain smart. In this episode the Crackman covers 5 ways to identify a potential foundation problems.

In this episode, the Crackman shares a case study where the homeowner used wine corks to plug holes in basement walls caused by leaking tie rods.

In this episode, we start with what a basement window well is exactly and then move on to why a basement window well fills up with water, what happens when it does, and how to resolve the problem.

Rich Comeras works with a lot of real estate agents who contract with him to help get homes ready for sale. In doing so, he has amassed a wealth of wisdom that will help homeowners get top dollar for their homes. In this episode, he covers his top 5 tips.

In this episode we discuss how the Crackman fixed a concrete sidewalk tripping hazard with Polyurethane. This technique can also be used to fix driveways that are bucking and heaving.

Are you going to be pouring concrete in the winter? This podcast covers key things you should be discussing with your concrete contractor.

So, you're in your basement and you see a water pipe penetration in your basement and the pipe has roots all over it. Do you rip them all off? Listen to this podcast before you do.

In this episode, the Crackman covers the 5 main considerations one must evaluate when purchasing and installing a sump pump in your basement.

Believe it or not, it's a common problem that occurs where people have always had dusty floors. The Crackman explains why it happens and what to do about it.

Do you live in a condo? Are you wondering if your basement wall crack repairs are coming out of your pocket or the condo association's? This episode is for you.

Is it really possible to stop a Stone Foundation from leaking with mortar and foam insulation? Not for long. This episode covers a real life example.

So let's say a homeowner walks down to his basement for a game of pool during a thunderstorm because there is nothing to do outside. Just as he walks over to the pool stick rack to pick out his favorite cue, he notices water pouring from the closed window. This episode talks about what he should do and how to fix it.

It sounds like a horror story right out of a Stephen King novel but people are report big problems with rats and mice this time of year. The Crackman provides some simple DIY tips for keeping the vermin out of the house.

In this episode, the Crackman shares what he is seeing in the field, the 3 types of foundations people tend to paint, and what he recommends.

This episode covers what a stone foundation is, sheds light on the issues you will run into if you try to solve a stone foundation water problem with skim coating, and finally talks about how to properly fix a stone foundation.

In this episode we, have a very interesting case study to share today about an apartment building that was built with ICFs and survived a gas explosion due to their ability to flex and absorb shock waves.

For homeowners, having attractive walkways and sidewalks speaks volumes about the pride they have in their property. But the cost of neglecting a dangerous sidewalk or walkway could be more costly that just the aesthetics. A lawsuit could be lurking.

Last winter we did a podcast about the ills of pouring concrete when it's too cold. Now that it's summer, it's a good idea to talk about issues that can occur when you pour concrete when it's too hot.

Imagine waking up one morning, walking down to the basement, and wondering why your basement smells worse than a waste treatment plant. In this episode we discuss 5 ways that can that happen, how to inspect the possible causes, and what you can do about it.

It seems like most basement water problems come from rain. So how do you end up with water in the corners of your basement or garage with no rain? In this episode we discover why and what you can do about it.

In this episode, the Crackman discusses an interesting case study with a stone foundation crack repair problem in Providence, Rhode Island.

Do you think it's time to replace your basement windows? This episode discusses what materials basement windows are made out of, the pros and cons of each, and which one the Crackman recommends over all others.

If you suffer from a dank, damp, and moldy basement, this episode could be just what you need to solve your basement water problems.

Self-healing concrete...it sounds too fantastic to be true. It sounds like something right out of a futuristic sci-fi movie, but it's real. The Crackman talks about how it works and whether it's the panacea it portends to be.

In this episode the Crackman discusses a new technology in building foundations called ICFs and gives his thoughts on the good, bad, and the ugly of their use.

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure so this podcast is all about doing the important things that will prevent your basement from turning into a swimming pool.

Why Flexseal Doesn't Work on basement water problems. The Crackman rescues another DIY disaster. This episode explains why DIY fixes with overhyped, off-the-shelf products most likely will not fix your basement water problem.

We've done a number of podcasts about sump pumps but we've never really talked about sump pump safety. In this episode we cover 3 basic but essential tips every homeowner should know and practice.

Do you have bulkhead frustration after this long, cold winter? In this episode, we cover the parts and pieces of the bulkhead that can leak, how to repair them, and how to determine if you need a new bulkhead door.

Let's say a homeowner wakes up to find a lake in their basement. After the initial panic and requisite swearing, what is the first thing they should do? In this episode, Rich covers 5 essential steps to getting your basement back.

We've had a ton of snow over the last couple months. That's not good for the basement. In this episode, Rich talks about the most common call he's receiving right now, some of the DIY fixes he finds when he goes out on a job, and what he does to permanently solve the problem.

The Crackman gets a lot of calls this time of year from homeowners who report a sump pump that keeps shutting down on them. Why does a sump pump do that? In this episode we discuss the top 6 failure points of a sump pump and what to do about it.

The Crackman gets a lot of calls this time of year from homeowners who report a sump pump that keeps shutting down on them. Why does a sump pump do that? In this episode we discuss the top 6 failure points of a sump pump and what to do about it.

This episode contains practical tips homeowners should heed as the snow piles up around the house. The Crackman covers basement water prevention tips for both the interior and exterior of the home.

With all the bad weather you tend to see a lot of de-icing products in use all over the place, which is good from a safety perspective but are the slowly killing your concrete?

In this episode we discuss why and how concrete ages. Then, Rich provides the main 4 steps to repairing damaged concrete.

This episode gets started with a definition of cold weather from Concrete's perspective. Then, Rich explains why Concrete needs to be Protected against Freezing and methods that are used to do it. 3. Okay, so I'm guessing that concrete construction doesn't just stop in the winter. What do concrete professionals do to help the pouring and curing of cement in cold weather?

This is a very interesting case study about a customer in Cape Cod who had a leaking pipe penetration in their basement causing a sever flooding problem. The Crackman describes the problem the customer was having after several failed DIY attempts. He was smart enough to call the Crackman so Rich talks about how he solved the problem.

In this episode, Rich talks about how concrete production has improved over time. He covers everything from cement plants, to transportation, and techniques that have improved its strength. It's a great history lesson.

For most homeowners, the hazards of freezing pipes are widely known and prepping exposed pipes is something that should've been done a month or 2 ago. We actually discussed that in Episode 21 of the Crackman podcast. But for this episode, the Crackman talks about how sub-zero temperatures affect your foundation.

In this Episode, Rich talks about a recent case study where he solved a serious basement water problem in a $4 million house in Newton MA. He had to stop water from pouring past a personal record 14 different pipes. It's a fascinating story.

Boxelder bugs, commonly known as â??stink bugsâ??, can become a nuisance to homeowners throughout the New England area during late Fall and even into the winter months. When the cold weather hits, boxelder females search for a warm and dry place, and they somehow find a way into your home! In this episode, Rich, talks about how Stink Bugs enter the Home and what you can do to prevent it.

The goal of a sump pump is to lower the water table that is underneath your basement floor. A properly installed sump pump with adequate gravel under your basement floor can solve most water problems through cracks in the floor or from floor/wall seams. In this episode, we discuss the various types of sump pumps and which one is likely best for your needs.

Cracks in concrete are a common occurrence, especially in New England with the harsh winters and numerous freeze-thaw cycles. A crack in your concrete floor is like have a window open in your house; it may let certain unwanted things in, such as: water, radon, water vapors, insects, and rodents. In this episode, we discuss the various types of cracks you can get and what to do about them.

According to the weather forecasters, a typhoon out in the sea of Japan is going bring Arctic temperatures to the Eastern half of the US in the next few days. That could make for a really busy week for you, the Crackman, but homeowners can save themselves a lot of agony if they follow some simple preventative tips for waterproofing their Home that we cover in this episode.

This episode takes us back to a time when buildings were constructed with coal as the main heating source. In this episode we discuss what a coal chute is and how you go about waterproofing them.

The Crackman recently went out on a job where the customer had never had leaks in her stone foundation and suddenly she was finding water in her basement. Certainly not an unprecedented event but the cause of this leak had a shroud of mystery surrounding it. Rich discusses the symptoms, the bizarre cause, and the fix action.

So, you would think that if you can put a man on the moon, surely you can build a house that doesn't leak where the floor and wall seams come together. In this episode, we discuss how it actually happens and what you can do to stop those pesky leaks.

Okay so you've heard of dally, galley, rally, and even a girl named Sally. But what in the world is a "lally?" Well here's a history lesson. It was in the late 1800s, and a guy named John Lally was upset and bewildered by buildings collapsing as a result of fires or inadequate support. So, he was in search of a solution. Then lo and behold...in 1898, in the town of Waltham, Massachusetts, a steel beam support column was invented by none other than John Lally, hence the name lally columns. In this episode we talk about what kinds of Lally columns are out there, their problems with leaks, and how to solve water issue related to lally's.

There was an article in last Sunday's MetroWest Daily News, written by Zachary Comeau, titled 'Towns struggle to track missing water'. The article highlighted 13 MetroWest towns throughout Massachusetts (Ashland, Medway, Hopkinton, Bellingham, Framingham, Holliston, Milford, Sudbury, Franklin, Hopedale, Natick, Southborough, & Northborough) and their trouble with water that is unaccounted for. According to the Department of Environmental Protection's water conservation standards, 10% is the maximum threshold of unaccounted water for any one community. Out of the 13 towns, Ashland was the worst of the group with 28% of unaccounted water, while Northborough was the lightest offender with only 5% of its water unaccounted for. The other towns who were above the 10% threshold were Milford (14%), Holliston (15%), Framingham (19%), Bellingham (20%), and Medway (22%). In this podcast, Rich talks about how infrastructure issues lead to unaccounted water and how it can affect you, the homeowner.

For many different reasons, water can pool beneath a basement floor. But just like in the martial arts where you have a variety of combat practices, people fighting basement water swear that their technique kicks butt over all the rest. In this episode, we pit the two juggernauts of basement waterproofing techniques--sump pumps and french drains -- in a head-to-head battle to see which solution is the champion.

Chimney leaks can either exist above grade...at the roof...or below grade. In this episode the Crackman discusses ways water can enter the house via the chimney and what to do about it.

Believe it or not, basements can still accumulate moisture, even when it hasn't rained for weeks! In this episode, we discuss how that can happen and what to do about it.

In this episode we learn what a cold joint is in a basement foundation, how to identify it, and what should be done about it.

In this episode, the Crackman discusses Leaking Tie Rods, Snap Ties, and Pinholes in Basement Foundation Walls and how to repair and maintain them.

Garage floor cracks are just as prevalent as foundation and basement floor cracks. The episode discusses how garage floor cracks are formed and what you can and should do about them.

This episode discusses the types of pipes you typically see going through a foundation, how to detect leaky pipe penetrations, and what to do about leaks when you find them.

There are 3 absolute certainties in life: death, taxes and cracks forming in concrete. So, when it comes to foundations, homeowners should expect them to crack. This episode explains why they crack and what to do about them.

This episode discusses what a Fieldstone Foundation is and how you can keep it strong, healthy, and dry.

So you think you have a really good home insurance policy. Well, if you haven't looked at the fine print lately, check again. It probably does not cover basement flooding as well as you think. This episode reveals how to protect yourself from this tremendous risk.

So you have a leaky foundation crack. All you need to do is go to a hardware store and buy one of those do-it-yourself products and bang! You fixed it, right? Probably not. This podcast talks about the most common DIY products and how they are a temporary fix at best.

What should a homeowner do if they go downstairs and their basement is actively leaking? Tune in to this extremely informative podcast to find out.

In this episode, The Crackman reveals 6 key ways to protect your home and basement from the onslaught of winter snow melt.

The Northeast has been pounded by snow over the last several weeks. There are snowbanks taller than a Volkswagon around many homes and now the rain is coming. How do you know when the water in your basement is coming from the bulkhead? This episode explains how.

Our first episode is quite timely as the Northeast is about to be pounded by a winter Nor-easter. Learn how to prevent water in your basement.