Category Archives: Foundation

Foundation, water barrier, water proofing

French Drains Water Damage Prevention

Utility Lines are frequently laid in sand that provides a direct path for water to reach the foundation.

Swales and french drains . The means of transporting water away from the house besides sheet flow ( when the surface is effective running water ) are the swale and French Drain. A swail is a small valley formed by two sloped soil surfaces . Swales must me pitched ,or they become ponds. A swale should be located away from the building, and it is often used to divert sheet flow coming from uphill.

A french is a trench filled with rock or gravel that a collect water and transports laterally. I prepare the bottom of thtrench so thats smooth and carefully pitched toward the outlet. Mix dry cement with the soil in the bottom of the trench make it less permeable, and fill the trench with whatever clean gravel is locally available . I hesitate to used road stone , a blend of gravel and stone dust, because water passes through it slowly . If the gravel is to be exposed. I try to cap it with an attractive rounded stoned . If the drain is to covered m I provide graduated layers of smaller stone toward the surface , then perhaps, filter before the sod covering .

I sometimes use 4 inch smooth wall perforated plastic pipe in a french drain , particularly if I expect it to carry a big volume of water , say runoff from the futures. There are fittings that connect downspouts directly into this pipe . If you do this, install cleanest at least every 50 feet ad keep in gutters clean . Otherwise the can pipe can become clogged with leaves . I don’t use corrugated pipe for drainage because it is more easily and is more difficult to clean.

Concrete patios , stoops , driveways , and side walks abutting the foundation present problems . It is important to design them so that the gravel beneath the drains outward ,a perfect use for a French drain. You way dined that the driveway is one of most convenient site for a French drain. Driveways usually pitch away from the house , and a French drain can be integrated with the driveway so that it will not call attention to itself.

Where should the water go?

To my knowledge , municipalities mo longer provide storm sewer service for a new residential run of . In my area , they do mot receive the output from sump pumps. They receive and treat storm water to keep streets open, and that’s about it . If the isn’t enough elevation difference between the house and a point on the lot where a pitched drain can come to daylight , then another solution is needed . Theoretically , if the pipe never pitches back, you don’t
need more than the diameter of the pipe in elevation difference difference . Practically , more is better and 1’4 inch pipe .

Because have the pitch below grade, run off can go to dry wells. Drainage structures must buried somewhere on site .

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 .

Foundation, stucco, water barrier, water proofing

Stucco R value important mildew prevention

Prized for its weather resistance , durability , and timeless beauty , stucco has longbow one of the most popular exterior wall finishes . As a building material , stucco is essentially and exterior plastered of Portland cement, sand , and water . Other ingredients may include lime , masonry cement , and various special additives for enhancing properties like crack resistance , workability and strength . With a few exceptions , stucco is applied much as it has been for centuries a wet mix is troweled onto the wall in successive layers , with the final coat proving the finished color andy decorative surface texture desired .

The two traditional stucco systems are the three coat system for standard wood framed wall and the two coat system used for masonry walls , like brick poured concrete , and concrete block. And today , there’s a third process the one and coat system which allows you to finish standard framed walls with a single layer of stucco , saving you money and considerable time and labor over traditional three coat applications. Each of these systems is described in detail not the next page.

The following pages show you an overview of the materials and basic techniques for finished a wall with stucco . While cladding an entire house or addition is a job professionals masons, smaller projects and repair work can be much more doable for the less experienced . Fortunately , all the stucco materials you can be sure of getting the right blend of ingredients for each application . During your planning, consult with the local building department , fire ratings for walls , control joints, and other critical factors.

Stucco is one of the most durable and low maintenance wall finishes available but it requires getting watch stage of the stucco itself. For this reason , Dyers may want to limit their stucco work to small structures or to repair work only.

Three coat stucco is the traditional application for stud framed walls covered with plywood , oriented strand board OSB, rigid foam insulation sheathing . It starts with two layers of grade D building paper for a moisture barrier. the wall is then covered with self furring expanded metal lath fastened to the framing with galvanized nails .

The first layer of stucco , called the scratch coat , is pressed into the lath , then smoothed to a flat layer about 3/8 inch thick . While still wet , the stucco is scratched with a raking tool to create keys or tooth for the next layer to adhere to .

The brown coat is the layer , Its about 3/8 and brings the wall surface to with 1/4 inch of the finished thickness. Imperfections here can easily telegraph through the thin final coat, so the surface must be smooth and flat. To provide tooth for the final layer ,the brown coat is finished with wood float for a slightly roughed texture.

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

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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.