Recent Posts
Crawl Space Encapsulation
The science behind crawl space moisture control solutions
The objective is to include the crawl space area as a part of the internal envelope of the building.
Dirt and Vented Crawl Spaces: A Housing Epidemic
Crawl spaces, as the name suggests, are low-height foundations within which one cannot stand up. Built as an alternative to conventional basements and concrete slab type foundations, crawl spaces are normally used to allow easy and convenient access to pipes and air ducts and often to house utilities and combustion appliances as well. Unsuitable as living space, they might sometimes be used for storage once encapsulated.
However, because of the way they are built, crawl spaces are extremely prone to moisture and moisture-related problems, and their low height and overall conditions make them hard to inspect and maintain. The results of this lack of proper maintenance can be disastrous, especially for homes with dirt crawl spaces.
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Recovering from a Basement Flood
One day, you go down in the basement after a heavy rain and find it under water. Your possessions soaking or drifting in the pool it now became.You look at the picture with a mix of disbelief and dismay. It might take a minute before you become overwhelmed by worry, contemplating cleanup costs, losses, damages, the hard work ahead, the mess.
Will the furnace still work? How about the water heater?
You decide you need to do something, but you don’t know what or where to start. You need to call for help but doesn’t know who to call.
This article will give you a step-by-step guide to recovering from basement flood and taking all the necessary steps to prevent that from happening again.
10 Ways to Save Money by Hiring the Right Waterproofing Contractor.
Waterproofing your basement, even if you are not going to finish it, is one of the best things you can do for your home and your family. It will improve your family’s health, your home’s indoor quality and it will save you a lot of money in utilities. A dry basement is more energy efficient, easier to cool and heat.
However, because the waterproofing industry, as any other industry, is also plagued by a few dishonest or incompetent contractors, if the waterproofing job goes wrong, you can loose a lot of money along with your patience. In order to avoid being caught in a bad waterproofing deal, we offer 10 tips on how to make sure you are getting the right contractor for the job.
When shopping for waterproofing services consider the following:
Can You Afford a Vented Crawl Space?
If you have a home sitting on a crawl space foundation, you probably heard from many sources that crawl spaces need vents to allow the air to circulate and dry the ground moisture.Mudjacking: What is it, and When is it Useful?
Information on Using This Structural Support Technique Properly
Mud jacking is an easy, inexpensive technique that is perfect for fixing some settlement issues with your concrete. However, it’s a process that’s often misapplied in the foundation repair industry. Learn about when it’s useful- and when it’s definitely NOT useful in this brief article.
read moreFinished Basement Flooring: Then and Now
Like all things these days, basement flooring has made some huge advancements from the past. What is being understood more and more often today, especially by basement waterproofing contractors, is that these floorings simply do not work. Consider these points:
- Concrete is porous and absorbs moisture. Because of this, water vapor and a mineral powder called efflorescence continuously passes upwards through the floor and into the basement.
- Concrete is cold– made so by the earth around it.
- Most basements will eventually flood from the plumbing, basement windows, water heater, washing machines, or through the foundation.
If you have a basement finishing project in mind and want to install these products, think again. Basements remodeled with traditional materials, such as carpeting, linoleum, tile, and wood, are being ruined and ripped out every day. And this is a big investment– you’re not going to want to pay to do this again.
read moreFlood Prevention: Troubleshooting Your Sump Pump.
Tips to detect and prevent sump pump failures.
Sump pumps are the homeowner’s first line of defense against basement flood. This article lists some simple steps that will help you make sure that your sump pump is able to handle the job when you need it most.
We all understand that sump pumps are, after all, mechanical devices, and therefore prone to occasional breakdowns.That is quite unfortunate, especially when you think that this very device is your first line of defense against basement flooding.
Nevertheless, there are a few factors that will make a sump pump more likely to fail.
By paying attention to them, and taking the necessary steps to avoid problems, your pump will run longer and more effectively, protecting your basement and property from the costly damages and hassle of basement flooding.