Blogs by Basement Systems Dealers

The Business Connection - Camdenton Area Chamber of Commerce June, 2011 Newsletter by Foundation Recovery Systems

Foundation Recovery Systems is Missouriâ��s leading foundation repair and waterproofing contractor of residential and commercial structures. Jeff W. Martin, President and Owner of Foundation Recovery Systems, has worked in the foundation repair industry since 1988. He has worked in every aspect of the business and is considered an expert in his trade. Jeff and is father, Glenn, founded Foundation Recovery Systems in 1992. Since then, with the help of dedicated employees and satisfied customers, FRS has grown to serve most of Missouri, including the Kansas City area, and portions of Iowa, and Illinois.

Bowing or cracked walls, sticking doors and windows, sagging floors, leaky basement, wet or damp crawlspaceâ�¦ these are all signs of serious foundation problems that can cause your home to lose value. If you are experiencing any of these problems at your home, Foundation Recovery Systems have a solution for you.

Signs of settlement include cracks in the drywall or brick veneer, bowing walls, and sticking doors and windows. The soils and extreme weather conditions that occur in our area provide the perfect combination to cause structural problems in a home or building, no matter what the age of the structure. We use the best quality products in the industry to provide owners with the most effective, cost-efficient solutions, customized for each homeâ��s needs. Whether it is the use of Wall Anchors, Push or Helical Piers, Slab Piers, Power Braces or SmartJack Systems we are confident in the our products and provide homeowners with a transferrable warranty.

A wet or damp basement or crawlspace can quickly produce mold, mildew and will attract insects. This could not only cause your home to lose itsâ�� value, but could also lead to health issues. Our Waterproofing Systems are designed to provide you with options that will not only fit your budget, but solve your wet basement and crawlspace problems. If you are experiencing cracked or sinking concrete, such as a garage floor, driveway, patio, curb, sidewalk, or porch, these can often be lifted by our mudjacking process. This process of filling the void under the concrete is much less expensive than replacement and can be done on residential or commercial properties. FREE evaluation and estimates are provided by our expert team of System Design Specialists. They will provide you with personalized solutions to fit your foundation needs.

Read the entire June 2011 issue of the The Business Connection.

How Sagging Floors Get Repaired in Pueblo, CO by Peak Basement Systems

Most new homes along the Front Range are built with full basements. This wasn't always the case--in the 1950s, it was common to construct homes in southern Colorado with crawlspaces instead. Why? With a higher water table and warmer weather in the southern areas, it made sense. There have been several options developed over time to deal with sagging crawlspace floors. Naturally, some are old technology-style solutions and some more permenant, adjustable ones.

Concrete Columns

Concrete footings are poured throughout your crawlspace. After the concrete footings cure, concrete blocks are stacked on top of the footings, sometimes with mortar placed between the blocks. After the mortar cures, shims are placed between the uppermost concrete block and the girder for the subfloor.

Why was this used?

It was a common construction practice in the late 1940s to early 1950s and some people choose to have the failing column replaced with a replica. Other times, it's to make sure that everything matches visually. Unfortunately, this solution is really time consuming due to all the waiting for the concrete and mortar to cure. It can be quite expensive for time and labor as well. It's also not adjustable, which means that as the new column begins to settle like the old one did, additional shims must be added. These shims add weight and cause the column to shift more. In time, the column must be replaced again and the cycle starts over.

Additional Shimming of Existing Supports

A temporary jack is used to lift the girder for the subfloor to make room for pieces of timber, iron, or concrete to be added between the existing column and the girder. The temporary jacks are then removed.

Why was this used?

Frankly, it's cheap and easy! The additional shims are low cost and generally of poor quality. The time and labor can be offset by using a car jack and doing it yourself. Needless to say, this particular fix isn't going to pass a home inspection. It rarely works out to stop the squeaking and rubbery feeling of the floor because the shims are made of wood and basically expand and contract with the humidity in the crawlspace. Another concern is that the more shims that are added to the column, the more unstable the column becomes. It increases safety concerns and raises red flags to potential buyers.

Light-duty Jack Post

A concrete block is laid on top of the crawlspace soil and an adjustable telepost is tightened into the girder.

Why is this used?

A light-duty jack post can be purchased at a local hardware store and installed by pretty much everyone. It's a do-it-yourselfer's ultimate weekend project and generally turns out well when properly installed. There can be problems utilizing this solution when the teleposts are hard to adjust because then they don't fit snuggly and stablize the floor. These teleposts also don't adjust infinitely, so if the soils underneath settle, you can run out of adjustment thread to stablize the floor.

Heavy-duty Jack Post

Heavy-duty Jack posts are installed systems where a proper pad and support are installed and an adjustable telepost is plumbed and tightened into place. Generally, these systems can handle between 50,000 and 60,000 pounds, so it can bear the loads of a modern home construction.

Why is this used?

It's generally considered to be the best solution to lift walls and floors back to their original position. The pad and support system allows for load to be transferred properly and prevent future settling as much as possible. The jacks are adjustable and can easily compensate for seasonal fluctuations in older girder elasticity.

Now Hiring! by Badger Basement Systems

Badger Basement Systems, Inc. is building a promotional team which will staff our booths at home/trade shows and other events such as county fairs throughout Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Individuals on this team will qualify prospects, generate sales leads and represent our company. Some show take down may be required at the end of your shift. Schedules are flexible, and the home/trade shows and fairs generally fall on the weekends. No selling is involved. Promoters are paid a base hourly rate and then $ per valid sales lead gathered. Immediate part-time positions are available throughout the 2011/2012 show season.

Candidates must be energetic, outgoing, nice, have excellent communication skills and make a great first impression. Must have transportation available and be 18 years of age or older.

Interested candidates should submit a letter of intent, resume and references to jfuller@badgerbasementsystems.com - please include Promoter Position in the subject line.

Tar Heel Basement Systems Attends the 16th Annual HCHBA Golf Tournament by Tar Heel Basement Systems

High Country Home Builders Association (HCHBA) is holding their 16th annual golf tournament on August 17th, 2011. As Tar Heel Basement Systems loves getting involved, they will be attending this fun event! This is a great way for us to get involved with the local community and meet people from other local companies in North Carolina.

Partial proceeds from the tournament will be to benefit Habitat for Humanity. This is another wonderful way for Tar Heel to support a great cause.

Being a part of the High Country Home Builders Association is an excellent way for Tar Heel Basement Systems to really grow as a business and learn from others as well. The HCHBA works to "Educate its members and the public, promote professionalism and ethical behavior within the building industry and the county, and provide a large variety of member services for all of their Builder and Associate members."

Tar Heel Basement Systems specializes in basement waterproofing, crawl space repair, mold mitigation, and radon gas mitigation. If you are interested in learning more about radon testing in Lenoir, NC or the surrounding area, contact Tar Heel today! They have a team of highly trained professionals dedicated to their customers and providing them with a dry, healthy home.

What’s the fix for Moisture in your Crawl Space? by Aqueous Basement Systems

Do you cringe at the sight of your wet, dirty crawl space? No worries! Aqueous Basement Systems has the solutions for you. Whether it is CleanSpace Crawl Space Encapsulation Systems or a simple dehumidifier that will do the trick, they are the basement and crawlspace experts that can solve any problem big or small.

When your basement or crawl space is damp and wet, this not only is the perfect place for mold to develop, but may also turn into a health hazard for the whole family. Other problems like insects and small animals also may find their home in your basement or crawlspace if it is damp and wet. Along with that, rot and decay may cause damage to the structure of your home â�� and who wants to deal with that?!

Installing the CleanSpace Crawl Space Encapsulation System in your basement or crawlspace keeps it dry for years to come. With their qualified team of professionals, Aqueous Basement Systems can install their top of the line patented products in your home today.

Contact Aqueous Basement Systems for more information about basement waterproofing in Puyallup, WA and the surrounding area. We are dedicated to serving our customers and providing them with healthy home environments and a larger living and storage space for the whole family to use.

Are Crawl space Foundations the Cause or Solution to Foundation Problems? by Baird Foundation

Most builders love crawl space foundations, and they have good reasons for choosing this type of foundation over other options. A crawl space foundation requires much less excavation work than a full-height basement foundation, so thereâ��s less disruption and impact on the building site. This is a major advantage when homeowners decide to have an addition built on an existing house.

Today, most basement foundations are built using poured concrete. But the shorter walls of a crawl space foundation can be built quickly from concrete blocks. Again, this is usually less disruptive to the building site than having a large concrete mixer drive over the lawn.

Speed is another advantage with a crawl space foundation. Excavation can be done quickly, there are no forms to erect, and there isnâ��t much backfilling work to be done once the crawl space walls are built.

For builders and homeowners alike, the major advantage of a crawl space foundation is probably its low cost. Less excavation, lower material expenses, faster construction time, and the economy of a dirt floor inside the crawl space walls; all these factors make the crawl space a very economical way to â��get out of the ground,â�� as builders say.

A crawl space wonâ��t be â��out of sight & out of mindâ�� for long

Considering the details mentioned above, itâ��s not inaccurate to call a crawl space a â��quick-and-dirtyâ�� solution, especially when compared to a full basement foundation. The money saved by choosing a crawl space foundation can be spent in other areas where homeowners want â��wowâ�� value â��like hardwood floors and high-end cabinetry. Once the building is completed, the dark, damp, dirt-floored crawl space is out of sight and out of mind.

Hereâ��s the problem. As time passes, a vented, dirt-floored crawl space is certain to come back to haunt unsuspecting homeowners, causing problems ranging from mold and rot to poor energy performance, settling floors and health issues. The dark, damp interior of a crawl space creates a perfect environment for mold to grow on wood and on the paper backing of fiberglass batts installed between floor joists. Mold spreads via airborne spores, so itâ��s easy for spore-laden air to enter the living space above through holes made for plumbing pipes, electrical wires and ductwork. When this happens, family members are likely to suffer from allergy attacks and respiratory ailments.

Crawl space moisture diminishes the R-value of fiberglass insulation and can even cause batts to fall out of place as they become wet. Sheet metal ductwork in the crawl space can rust, and ductwork that isnâ��t insulated or sealed will waste energy and possibly allow crawl space air to be drawn into the ductwork system and distributed in the living space.

Structural problems can develop if joists succumb to rot. Crawl spaces can also have problems with the beam or girder that extends down the center of the foundation to provide mid-span support for floor joists. Wood posts and concrete blocks installed to support this beam sometimes shift or settle, causing the floor (or sections of it) to dip down in the middle.

Foundation repair specialists have what it takes to solve crawl space problems

Despite all of the potential problems mentioned above, a crawl space can be a solid, safe and energy-efficient foundation if proper improvements are made by a contractor who specializes in foundation repair.

The moisture problems that plague a vented, dirt-floored crawl space can be eliminated by a process known as â��crawl space encapsulation.â��

The dirt floor is sealed with a continuous moisture barrier, and waterproof rigid foam insulation is installed against foundation walls to provide superior insulation value while also serving as an air barrier. Installing gasketed airtight covers over vent openings eliminates the adverse effects of pests and outside air while still providing crawl space access.

Foundation repair experts can also replace inadequate support posts with adjustable steel posts that extend from secure precast concrete footings. This structural upgrade makes it possible to straighten and stiffen sagging floors.

Contact Baird Construction Co., LLC for a free estimate for foundation repair in San Antonio and surrounding areas.

How Many Foundations Can One House Have? by DryZone LLC

When we talk about the structural elements in a typical house, itâ��s interesting to note that the house â��foundationâ�� is usually referred to in singular form. A closer look at how houses are built, and how theyâ��re remodeled over time, reveals the fact that a typical house has more than one foundation. Unfortunately, multiple foundations can increase the likelihood of foundation problems.

Slabs, basements, crawl spaces and moreâ�¦

The fact is, most houses have several foundations. In many northern states, a typical house will have a basement foundation beneath the main part of the house, and a slab foundation beneath the garage. But what if the house has a poured-concrete patio? Thatâ��s a slab foundation too. And in my house, our new kitchen is located on a slab foundation that was originally created to make a screened porch.

Letâ��s say that a growing family in a house with a basement foundation decides that they need some extra space. The contractor they hire to build their addition is likely to recommend a crawl space foundation for the new space rather than a full basement.

Compared to building a basement foundation, a crawl space foundation can be built more quickly, more affordably and with less damage and disruption to the property. This explains why many older homes that have been expanded and/or remodeled have basement as well as crawl space and slab foundations.

More foundations can mean a greater chance of foundation problems

Ideally, every foundation would be built by the same contractor, ensuring uniformity, quality control and provide a basic familiarity with local soil conditions and building code requirements. But an older house that has been remodeled or added onto probably has foundations that were built by numerous contractors.

Homeowners may have even decided to do some of the work themselves, completing a poured-concrete slab for a patio without a builderâ��s help, for example. With multiple builders adding foundations at different times, thereâ��s a greater chance that problems may develop â��slabs that crack because of inadequate reinforcement or missing control joints, crawl space walls that settle because of soft soils with poor load-bearing qualities, and so on.

Even with sound foundation construction practices are followed, there can be problems that develop over time. For example, consider the situation that occurs when a dirt-floored crawl space foundation is added onto an existing basement foundation. The basement may have been clean and dry before the addition, but that status will change as moisture from the new crawl space migrates into the basement area. Completing the crawl space without sealing out the moisture will introduce high humidity into both foundations, along with the strong likelihood that mold and insect damage will follow.

When an addition is built, a new roof typically joins an older one. Gutter and drainage issues must be addressed to avoid excessive storm runoff that can cause foundation problems due to hydrostatic pressure and erosion around a foundation.

Foundation repair specialists have the expertise to permanently fix foundation problems

For homeowners, the bottom line with any foundation problem is that itâ��s essential to call in a foundation repair specialist, rather than a general contractor. Especially in an older house that has been remodeled and expanded over the years, foundation problems can be difficult to diagnose. The good news is that foundation repair specialists have tools and materials to correct most problems quickly and affordably. Rarely is it necessary to demolish and replace a damaged foundation. Instead, an experienced foundation repair contractor can often install piers or wall anchors to stabilize a compromised foundation and restore settled slabs or bowed walls to their original positions. By correctly identifying and correcting the conditions that caused the foundation problem, these experts can make permanent repairs so that problems wonâ��t recur in the future.

Contact the experts at Foundation Supportworksâ�¢ by DryZone today for a free estimate for foundation repair in Wilmington and all surrounding locations.

Mount Valley Foundation Team Volunteers at Local School by Mount Valley

As an part of our ongoing effort to improve our community, Mount Valley Foundation Services recently volunteered a crew of workers to improve the playground environment at St. John Neumann Catholic School in Columbia, SC. The crew spread sand, filled in holes, and removed weeds in the playground.

Wall Anchor Tightening During Colorado Heat Waves by Peak Structural, INC.

What keeps Wall Anchors from pulling through the wall?

I recently received a phone call from a very concerned new owner of a home that Peak had installed wall anchors on. Last year, the previous homeowners had noticed that their basement was was bowing in about 3/4" on each side and up to 1 1/8" in the center. They opted to have five wall anchors installed in the property and tightened over time to pull the wall back straight.

The new homeowner received her instructions and was tightening the wall on Friday when she became concerned. What would happen if she tightened the wall anchors every season? Wouldn't the Wall Anchors eventually pull through the wall?

When the new homeowner called, we were able to put her mind at ease. Wall anchors can be tightened periodically throughout dry seasons to slowly pull wall back to a straight position. Peak installed Geo-Lock Wall Anchors that are tightened to a specific amount of torque that is easily measured and correlates to a force that is easily handled by the strength of the wall and the passive resistance of the soil on the outside of the wall (or backfill soils). Between the torque and the force of the walls, the engineered wall anchors are calculated to allow for seasonal tightening. This occurs because the soils dry out slightly and place less resistance force on the wall from behind. The decrease in resistance allows the anchors to be tightened. The tightening procedure brings the overall torque back to the installed torque and the system remains stable. In essence, the wall anchor tightening procedure is actually better for the wall than leaving the system alone would be!

Pipeline Bursts Near Eppley Airport FSI by Thrasher Responds by Thrasher Commercial Foundations

After weeks of devastation brought on by Missouri River flooding, homeowners and businesses are still being affected by the high water table. Just this morning, Foundation Supportworks by Thrasher responded to an urgent request to stabilize a building near Eppley Airport. The pressure from the high water table snapped an underground pipeline which then flooded parts of the building and caused a large amount of ground erosion.

Foundation Supportworks by Thrasher crews were able to mobilize and work quickly. With water being continuously pumped out, two Model 350 Helical Piers were installed underneath the foundation's footing to depths of 30ft and the pipeline repair work began.

Kudos to the crew (Brent, Bento and Erne) for your hard work and great attitudes!

You can help with the Missouri River Flood Efforts! Thrasher will donate $1 to the American Red Cross for everyone who tweets or Facebook shares a post on our website. To learn more click here.