foundation repair

Foundation Repair for Summer Foundation Damage

Posted by Jerome Fokas on

Foundation Repair

The summer is one of the busiest seasons when it comes to foundation repair. Not only is the weather perfect for outdoor work, but the summer heat also causes great pressure on home foundations.

During the summer, there is less precipitation and higher ambient temperatures. The rapidly changing weather conditions place a great deal of pressure on the foundation. The spring time rains result in extremely wet conditions. Wetter conditions result in the expansion of soil, which in turn exerts increased pressure on the foundation. When the summer comes around, the high temperatures result in the evaporation of moisture from the soil. The soil becomes dry and contracts rapidly. This results in less support for the foundation from the surrounding soil. The foundation may bulge out as a result.

The fall comes around with cooler temperatures and wetter conditions. This results in the expansion of the soil, which in turn exerts pressure against the foundation. This may cause the foundation to bulge inward.

Although foundations are designed to withstand the stresses that come with seasonal changes, the effects of the changing pressure build up over years. The damage is gradual and the foundation can lose its structural integrity over time. It is therefore important to have your foundation inspected periodically.

Summer foundation damage warning signs

It is best to contact a foundation repair specialist in the early stages of foundation damage. This ensures that the damage can be dealt with more easily. It is also less expensive and involving to deal with damage in the early stages. Look out for the following signs of summer foundation damage.

  1. Your doors and windows don’t close as smoothly as they used to. Doors and windows could be getting stuck or locks may not be fitting as they ought to.
  2. Your roof is sagging
  3. Your walls are leaning
  4. Your chimney is tilted
  5. The concrete or bricks used to make the foundation walls are flaky or crumbling
  6. You have faulty toilets, leaking pipes or other plumbing problems
  7. There are gaps at the points where the wall meets the ceiling or floor.
  8. Your house is producing groaning noises

Get in touch with a professional contractor to ensure that your foundation is inspected periodically. This ensures that any damage is spotted early. A professional contractor will recommend the best option for foundation repair based on your particular circumstances and requirements.

French Drain

Interior and Exterior French Drain Solutions

Posted by Jerome Fokas on

French Drain

If you’re having a problem with basement moisture, you may need to install a French drain. This can be a great asset to your home. It offers various advantages including:

  1. It is an effective long term solution for moisture problems

If you want to keep water from flooding your basement, then a French drain is a great solution. This feature will direct water away from the foundation and keep it from causing a flood or other moisture problems. You won’t have to deal with a wet or messy basement ever again.

  1. It is easy to install

This solution for basement moisture is easy to install and requires no maintenance. With the help of an experienced contractor, you can have it installed within a few hours and begin to enjoy the benefits of a dry basement.

  1. It is a green solution

These drains rely on gravity for their function. If you’re looking for an economical and green way to direct water away from your basement, then this is the best solution. You can go a step further by requesting your contractor to use eco-friendly materials for the construction of your drain.

The only difficultly you’ll experience with this solution is deciding on whether you want to have an exterior or interior drain tile.

Interior Drains

An interior drain tile will not prevent water from finding its way into the basement. However, it will collect and guide water into a well where a sump pump can pump it out of the basement. Installing the drain tile involves cutting a channel in the floor along the perimeter of your basement. The soil below the floor is excavated and the drain tile installed. A well and sump pump are also installed in the basement.

Exterior Drains

Exterior drains help prevent water from penetrating the basement walls. The installation involves the excavation of the ground around the basement and installing the drain along the footings and foundation walls. There is no sump pump required in a system where water is guided away from the basement walls and into the storm drain. An exterior sump pump may be installed if the water is not guided to the storm drain.

Talk to your basement contractor and determine which method of waterproofing is best for your basement. Consider the pros and cons of each solution before making your final decision.