Basem*nt Waterproofing
The basem*nt is an important part of the home whether you’re using it as a storage area or if you have a finished space down there. Because of this, it is important that the area is free of standing water and excess humidity and flooding are controlled. Because water is able to get into a basem*nt through a number of different places, there needs to be a number of repair possibilities that we can utilize to prevent damage to the area. The main places that we find water leaking is through cracks in the walls, which are usually in concrete or at mortar joints between blocks, at the cove joint, which is where the walls and floor connect, and finally at windows that may be at or even below the soil.
No matter where you’re having the problem we have solutions that can collect, divert, and eject the water from the basem*nt. If you have leaky basem*nt cracks, the first step is implementing awall crack repairto control the crack growth and leaking. If the water is coming in at the cove joint or even basem*nt windows, installing acustom drainage systemwill help remove the water from the basem*nt. In some problematic cases, typically with stone, brick, or block foundations on older homes, we can install one of ourentire wall solutionthat is comprised of a floor to ceiling heavy duty liner that will collect and divert water. If you’ve already got a waterproofing system installed but it is unable to keep up with demand, we can install a new,more powerful sump pumpto help the system keep up with the demand. We aren’t just installing systems, we can also upgrade thedrainage in the yardto help keep water from sitting next to the home and seeping in.
Structural Foundation Repair
The foundation of your home is quite possibly one of the most important areas of the home. It not only supports the building itself but it also is the basem*nt walls. If you have any foundation problems, usually, they will show themselves in the form of stair stepping cracks in your outside brickwork, horizontal cracks that run the length of the foundation or across the basem*nt walls. Sometimes, you will see that your doors will stick when you open or close them or there may be cracks at the corners of them. You may also see a problem where your basem*nt walls are buckling into the basem*nt. While these issues may not seem serious at first, each of them are indicators of a sinking or settling foundation and it is important to have an expert evaluate the foundation for specific problems to determine what type of a repair needs to be in place.
Thankfully, the most common foundation problems are caused by similar things and our experts are very good at spotting these issues. We can offer a repair solution intended for your particular problem to permanently repair and stabilize the foundation. If the problem is a sloping foundation, we can install a series offoundation piersto level the foundation. We will install either push piers or helical piers, depending on where and how bad the sinking is. Both types of piers are very strong and can help stabilize your foundation. If you’ve gotbowing basem*nt walls, depending on how much the wall is buckling, there are a few possible options. We can install a number of wall anchors, these are 2 large steel plates and these are connected by a long, steel rod, or tall braces that are installed vertically against the cracks to push them back in line and prevent further bowing, we also can apply carbon fiber staples to strengthen weak areas and prevent the wall from bowing. These products can repair the bowing wall and stop it from coming out of alignment again.
Crawl Space Solutions
In Joliet, there are many homes that are built with crawl space areas and not basem*nts. For many years, these were created with open vents which was intended to increase fresh air flow through the area and keep it dry. Unfortunately, this is rarely what happens. Having open vents allows water to get in when it rains or snows and the vents hinder airflow which causes the humidity levels to stay high which can facilitate the growth of mildew. Studies have shown that up to half of the air in your home enters through the crawl space so ensuring this area is protected from the elements and controlling excess humidity can increase the overall air quality in your home.
We have been encapsulating crawl spaces since we opened our doors and we know the best way to seal them off and control the humidity. This is done using a method calledencapsulationwhich is the installation of a series of vapor barriers, sometimes accompanied by insulation products, which are sturdy plastic and vinyl sheeting as well as vent covers and a sturdy door that can seal the area completely and stop any excess moisture from entering. Closing the area will also stop rodents and animals from settling in the crawl space which will help keep any equipment there safe and allow you to use it for storage. After your crawl space is closed off, we can install an air filter and dehumidifier toimprove the indoor air quality. It will reduce the excess humidity to a proper level as well as remove pollutants from the air.
