Category Archives: Basement

Basement, Foundation, plumbing, water barrier, water proofing

Details for drying Foundation

As a research architect at the Building Research Council of the University of Illinois, I am paid to solve some of the more nagging problems that houses have . Frequently , I visit troubled houses, troubled houses, and the most common problem I encounter is poor drainage away from the foundation .This problem became worse as wetlands were developed ; I know what to expect when the name of the developed : I know what to expect when the name of the development is Frog Hollow .

I was once asked yo looked at a house that had settling problems . An addition , built over a crawl space was moving down the relative to the main house. the dirt floor of the crawl space was even with the bottom of the footing. The soil along the of the footing . The soil along the edge along the edge of the footing was in small clumps, unlike the grainy fruity surface of the rest of the floor . I dug away a little more and found drain and found save that reminded me of a prison escape tunnel . In all, 10 ft. of the footing was under minded.

I call my studies of the zone where the house meets the ground building periodontics. Proper preventative care of this area can avoid a variety of problems, some less obvious and a lot more serious than a damp cellar.

For example , a common problem in basements particular those with block walls, is inward buckling . This usually shows up as a horizontal crack one or two blocks below grade , or at window walls , stepping up or down at the corners . A study I did with Illinois State Geological Survey revealed the cause . Clay soils shrink during spells forming a crevice between the soil and the foundation wall. Wind and light rains carry dirt into this crevice . Then, when seasonal rains come, the soils swells back to original dimension, plus the increment of added soil . Over time , the walls watched inward and eventually buckles. You avoid this problem by keeping the soil next to the foundation dry.

Slabs suffer from water problems , too. Garage floors, for example , commonly crack at the outside corners near where gutters drain. This cracking may be due to upward expansion of water directly below the corner. It can also be due to adhesion lifting of the perimeter wall, a situation occurring when saturated soil freezes fast to the foundation wall . The soil nearest the surface is the first freeze , and as the cold water continues , deeper soil freezes. This saturated soil by 8 percent as it freezes, exerting a tremendous force that lifts the soil frozen to the wall above. The wall lifts and cracks the slab .

Moisture damage around the foundations is not limited to masonry problems . In 1947 , Ralph Briton , the government researcher whose work led to current attic ventilation standards , showed that water vapor traveling upward from damp foundations caused moist attic moisture problems . He colluded that if attics are isolated from wet foundations, the standard 1:300 venting ratio could be reduced to 1:3000 .

Basement, plumbing, water proofing

French Drains Proper Drainage Solution Regrade Property

Drainage Solution : How to Regrade

Establish the drainage slope. The yard around your house should slant away from the house at a minimum slope 3/4 inch per ft for at least 10 ft . Till the soil or add new soil around the house perimeter. Drive a wood stake next to the house and another 10 ft out. Tie a level mason’s string between the stakes, and then move the string down at least 2 1/2 inches at the end away from the house , establishing your minimum slope.

Redistribute the soil with a steel garden rake so the grade follows the slope line. Add top soil at the high end if needed. Do not excavate bear the end of the slope accommodate the grade. The goal is to build up the yard to create runoff.

Use a grading rake to smooth out the soil so it slopes at an even rate . Drive additional stakes and tie off slope lines as necessary.

Tamp the soil with a hard tamper or plate compactor . Fill in any dips that occur with fresh dirt . Lay sod or plant grass or cover immediately.

Drainage solution : How to install a dry well

A dry well is a simple way to channel excess water out low lying or water laden areas , such as the ground beneath a gutter downspout . Dry well system typically consists of a buried drain tile running from a catch basin positioned at the problem spot to a collection container some distance away .

A dry well system is easy to install and surprisingly inexpensive . In the project shown here, a perforated plastic drain tile carries water from a plastic trash ca that has been punctured , then filled with stone rubble. The run off water percolates into the soil as it makes its way along the drain pipe and through the dry well.

The how to steps of this project include digging the trench with a shovel . If the catch basin is a long distance from the from the problem area, you may want to rent a trencher to dig the trench quickly. Call local utility companies to mark the location of underground mechanics before you start to dig .

Set a length of perforated drain tile on the gravel running the full length of the trench. If the trench starts at a downspouts , position a grated catch basin directly beneath the downspout and attach the end of the drain tile to the outlet port .

Dig a trench ( 10 inches , 14 inches deep) from the area where the water collects to the catch basin location , sloping the trench 2 inch per 8 foot . Line the trench with landscape fabric add 1 inch layer of gravel on top of the fabric .

Install the dry well by digging a hole that’s big enough to hold a plastic trash can . Drill 1 inch holes through the sides and bottom of the can every 4 inches to 6 inches . Also cut an access hole at the top of the can for the drain tile . Set the can in the hole and insert the free end of the tile . Backfill dirt over the tile and trench and plant grass or cover with sod.

Basement, plumbing, stucco, water proofing

Basements : Wet Walls Water Proofing Water Damage

Basement moisture can destroy your efforts to create functional living space . Over time , even small amounts of moisture can rot framing, turn wallboard to mush, and promote the growth of mold and mildew. Before proceeding with your basement project , you must deal with any moisture issues . The good news is that moisture problems can be resolved , often very easily .

Basement moisture appears in two forms :
condensation and seepage . Condensation comes form air borne water vapor that turns to water when it contacts cold surfaces. Vapor sources include humid outdoor air, poorly ventilated appliances , damp walls , and water released from the concrete . Seepage is water that enters the basements by infiltrating cracks in the foundation or by leeching through masonry , which is naturally porous . Often caused by ineffective exterior drainage, seepage comes from rain or ground water that collects around the foundation from a rising water table.

If you have a wet basement , you will see evidence of moisture problems . Typical signs include peeling paint, white residue on masonry ( called efflorescence ) which is big determination of red flag for basement water damage needs drying, and water proofing, mildew stains , sweaty windows and pipes , rusted appliance feet , rotted wood near th floor, buckled floor tile and strong mildew odor.

To reduce condensation , run high capacity dehumidifier in the basement . Insulate cold water pipes to prevent condensate drippage, and make sure you dryer and other appliances have vents running to the outside . Extending central air conditioning service to the basement can help reduce vapor during warm , humid months .

Crawl spaces can also promote condensation , as warm moist enters through vents and meets cooler interior air. Crawlspace ventilation is a source of ongoing debate, and there’s no universal method that applies to all climates . It’s best to ask the local building department for advice on this matter.

Solutions for prevent seepage range from the simple do0 it your self projects to expensive, professional jobs requiring excavation and foundation work. Since it’s often difficult to determine the source of seeping water, it makes sense to try some common cures before calling in professional help. If the simple measures outlined here don’t correct your moistures problems , you must consider more extensive action. Serious Water problems are typically handled by installing footing drains or sump pump systems. Footing drains are installed around the foundation’s perimeter , near the footing and they drain out to a distant area of the yard. These usually work in conjunction with waterproofing coatings on the exterior side of the foundations walls. Sump systems use an interior under slab drain pipe to collect water is ejected outside by an electric sump pump .

Installing a new drainage system is expensive and must be done properly . Adding a sump pump system involves breaking up the concrete floor along the basement’s perimeter , digging a trench , and laying a perforated drain pipe in a bed of gravel. After the sump pit is installed , the floor is patched with new concrete . Installing a footing drain is far more more complicated . This involves digging out the foundation , installing gravel and drainpipe and water proofing the foundation walls . A footing is considered a last resort measure . next blog will show preventions of water going away from house and drains properly placed .

Attics, Basement, decks, drywall, Foundation, HVAc, Kitchens and Bathrooms New, pavers, plumbing, Remodeling Kitchens and Bathrooms, roof, roof contractors, stucco, stuuco

Home Remodeling

Home Renovations

Tackling a large scale home remodeling project can be a daunting task. Although remodeling is often very rewarding , it is often very rewarding , it is usual a long , expensive process with many details to keep in mind , and having to coordinate the plans of several different contractors can be confusing and tiresome . Hiring a total home remodeling company can help alleviate some of the stress because all communications and planning is done with one company .

Keep an eye to detail of you want help move the process such pins is a good online ideas and cheap way out than an interior decorator , helps smooth process preparing for the remodel and save time .

Getting real budget
Before hiring a company , decide what kind of remodeling you want to have done and calculate whether or not you will have the funds readily available ( estimate locked in a proposal ) pay for it. Don’t become too attached to an idea prior to determining how much it will cost to implement ; it will be much harder to stay on budget if you refuse to compromise on design details. As long as you have a good general idea of what you would like done and how much you are willing to spend, many contractors will help you create a design that fails within your budget constraints .

Cleaning Preparation
Remodling can be an extensive ordeal , lasting from several days to several months, and properly preparations will save time. Many contractors will be able to move some larger items for you, but homeowners are typically responsible for cleaning out small things can get in the way or be damaged . Many room remodels include new cabinets or storage space, so remove everything from your your current cabinets before any work begins. If everything has been thoroughly cleaned and moved out of the way , the contractor will be able to get straight tow work .

Temporary Adjustments
With major renovations taking place in your home , it may not be ideal to spend a lot of time around the house.

Planning meals . If you are planning to remain in your home while your kitchen is being remodeled , you will have to find alternate place to eat and prepare food . For this reason , you may want to consider scheduling the remodel during a time when the weather is nice enough to eat outside if you own a grill and have an outdoor seating area . It can be also be helpful to set up a small , temporary food station in an unaffected room of the house with things like a coffee maker , some nonperishables, a mini refrigerators , and a toaster or min microwave . Also be sure to have plenty of paper plates and disposable cups and utensils on hand if you will not have access to a dishwasher .

Dealing with safety issues and pets and kids is safety contractors who are osha and IICRC certified is seal of protection of your kids and property .

Basement, Foundation, plumbing

This company is a major IICRC business firm and
construction and Basement systems foundation and water proofing repairs specialist. Established 1980 Top Job has manage the company worked major insurance companies and help get the money back without adjusters and insurance agents trying under bid or low ball the property damage assessment.

Uniforms are easily recognized what tech does water damage , mold damage , etc . Drug testing screen testing don’t use subtractors.

Testimonial

“Top Job Water Proofing came out dug a new sump pump plumbed the water go to pith off the house.
They did water proofing and worked on the foundation repair until it was fixed. ”

” They were easy to communicate with, and their work was excellent . They did foundation repair , and I would do work with them again for contractor
purposes in near future.

Causes of foundation problems issues
Foundation problems are most often caused by unstable soil or erosion. If one area under the house settles faster than another, stresses in the foundation and structure lead to cracks in the foundations, cracks in the internal walls, and sinking , buckling m or leaning foundations walls.

Fixing the problems

Underpinning . Installing underpins beneath the foundation to support the home’s weight is a common solution to foundation settlement problems. Access holes are dug around the house to expose the footing.
These holes are then used to set up a mold and pour a solid concrete block with reinforcement bars, or rebar, under the footing of the foundation.

Steel Piers
Installing steel piers under the foundation to support the structure’s weight is another typical solution . Common types of piers are helical piers and push or resistance piers. Helical piers are shaped like giants screws; the use of a hydraulic system , they are gradually screwed into the earth below the house until they reach either bedrock or load bearing soil . Special tools shift the weight of the house off the fill dirt and onto the piers. No force is applied to the house during installation . Push or resistance piers are also driven into the earth under the house until the they hit bedrock or load bearing soil . Plates are installed on top of the piers , and the home’s weight is shifted onto them .

Basement Wall
The pressure of the earth on the outside of a wall can cause problems with retaining walls and basement walls . A leaning , bowed , or cracked basement wall cannot effectively support the house above it.

Major structural commercial damage
Steel I Beams can be installed vertically against a severely bowed interior wall. They are either bolted to the floor slab or set into the exposed footing below the floor . The tops of the beams are then bolted to braces in the ceiling joists . Concrete or dry packing is installed above and below the point where the wall touches the beam.