Little Known Foundation Repair Challenges Associated with Leakages Bergen County, NJ

A leaky foundation is a threat to not only the building structure, but also the property inside. When a home is built, its foundation walls are clean and easily accessible. However, with time the structure may experience problems such as cracking, gaps, and holes. Water begins to take its toll on your home, and if nothing is done to stop it, soon you start counting losses. Leakages in a building are a matter of emergency and should be handled as soon as possible. A foundation repair, if conducted at the right time using effective restoration procedures, can save a homeowner from water damage.

Water seepage shouldn’t be confused with moisture infiltration

There is a difference between water entering the interior of a building and moisture infiltrating a foundation. Some repair procedures are meant to restore problems related with moisture infiltration and not water seepage.

For example, a waterproofing technique helps tackle issues of liquid water entering a basement through cracks, gaps, and holes, but moisture can infiltrate porous cement through pores. The right treatment for moisture infiltration, or migration, is through damp proofing and not waterproofing. These two procedures can offer different remedies in protecting a home. Damp proofing is meant to keep moisture away and may not address the problem of liquid water.

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cracks 150x150 Little Known Foundation Repair Challenges Associated with Leakages Bergen County, NJ

Foundation repair techniques

A number of techniques are applied when repairing foundations. Depending on the nature of the problem, a contractor may decide to use one or more repair techniques. Foundations tend to experience cracking. It is normal for foundations to crack because cement shrinks as it cures.

Shrinkage induces stress on concrete, and that way, cracks form to relieve the stress. This is okay because foundations are designed to handle cracks.

However, if there are external forces such as settlement of the ground acting on foundation walls, it makes cracks widen and grow deeper. Common areas where cracks occur are corners of windows or in the middle of an elongated wall.

Most cracks are vertical and can be corrected using urethane foam technique. In the event that cracks run horizontally, or the wall structure has deflected, cracks may be perceived as structural. In this case, the ergo, epoxy technique is deemed appropriate.

Concisely, before any foundation repair is undertaken, the cause of the problem should be identified. Foundation cracks develop because of shifting ground, improper compaction, too much moisture, and too little moisture. Other cracks may be caused by tree roots growing in close proximity to a building.

foundation repair in new jersey

Foundation Repair in New Jersey: 4 Key Misconceptions

Foundation Repair in New Jersey

Fixing a broken foundation is a hard concept to understand as it is. Then the world adds myths and misconceptions about foundation repair in New Jersey. Here are a four misconceptions debunked.

Misconception #1: You don’t need foundation repair because concrete cracks.

It is true that concrete cracks. It is not a matter of if but when. The concrete sidewalk or your concrete patio is not as important. However, when it comes to your concrete foundation, when it cracks it needs to be fixed. Cracks in your foundation ultimately weaken the structure and need to be fixed. Even nonstructural cracks can cause problems with water infiltration, mold growth, and pests.

Misconception #2: Small cracks are no big deal.

Even small hairline cracks can cause problems with your foundation. The most common problem with hairline cracks is water. Water doesn’t need a large opening to enter your home. Those small cracks can be letting in water and causing an array of issues including mold and mildew, or letting in bugs, rodents, or soil gases like radon. If you look at it that way, small cracks are a big deal.

Small cracks also can be a sign of future problems. If ignored, small cracks can become big cracks and lead to even bigger foundation issues. Foundation cracks may seems as if they are staying the same but over the years the nonstructural cracks can become structural cracks if the soil outside the foundation changes.

Misconception #3: Foundation Repair doesn’t really fix the problem.

This misconception is referring to a common scenario. A foundation repair contractor will come to assess the basement situation. There will be a problem zone on one side of the foundation. Even though the problem area is only on one side of the foundation, the foundation repair contractor suggests an entire foundation solution. The homeowner will choose to only do one side of the foundation where the problem currently exists. The foundation repair contractor can only do what the homeowner authorizes him to do. They try to educate the homeowner as much as possible about the potential of a return visit to fix the rest of the foundation in the future. The homeowner sometimes misses the big picture and thinks that the work that was done didn’t really fix the problem. But the truth is he chose to only fix one portion of the problem.

If a homeowner hires a reputable and knowledgeable foundation repair contractor and follows his advice to provide the proper solution to repair the foundation, it will work. Contractors guarantee their work. And if you do partial work on the foundation, only the area where the work was done will be on warranty.

Misconception #4: Foundation Repair is too expensive.

While many homeowners think they can’t afford foundation repair work, the truth is they can’t afford not to. If your home needs foundation repair work, and you choose to ignore it, it will get worse before it gets better. If you fix the problems when they are small, it will cost much less. If you wait until the problem is massive and dyer and your home on the verge of collapse, then it will be expensive.

If you ever want to sell your house, you will have a hard time selling with foundation repair issues. You will have to fix them before you sell.

Honestly, the best practice is to inspect your basement and keep it in good health throughout the lifetime of your house. The basement environment impacts the environment of the rest of the house. The foundation is the most important part of the house. If it is not sound, the whole structure of the house is in danger.

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buying a home in new jersey

Structural Problems to Look For When Buying a Home in New Jersey

Buying a Home in New Jersey

When you are house shopping, it is easy to forget to about the foundation. However, making sure the foundation is in good shape and structurally sound may be one of the most important steps when buying a home in New Jersey.

Inspect the foundation

First look at the foundation, and watch for any cracks inside or out. Small vertical cracks may be nonstructural but could potentially cause water infiltration. You can watch for mold or water stains to show the crack does leak. These nonstructural cracks should be fixed prior to moving in just to save you from dealing with major water issues come winter.

The horizontal cracks in a foundation wall are signs of structural damage. Also stair step cracks in block wall foundations or bulging or bowed walls are also signs of structural foundation problems.

Watch for signs upstairs

You can also watch for signs of settlement issues upstairs. If the doors and windows stick or if there are cracks in the sheetrock upstairs in the walls or the ceiling, you may have a foundation problem. Cracks can also be in the trim around the windows and doors. That is a sign the foundation is moving.

Look into the history of the site

Even newer houses can run into potential structural problems if the house was built on unstable ground. Do your research to see what the property was used for in the past. Past gravel pits, old landfills and dumps can be the cause of major foundation problems. Most developers will know not to build over past pits, but sometimes they don’t. There have been issues where developers will bury large tree stumps or garbage on the building site creating massive problems when those decompose. It will create holes in the ground and create an unstable ground.

Watch for water issues and signs of water build-up

Water issues in the basement should never be left alone. Always fix the leaks and other water issues in the basement because not only does it cause mold, mildew, and poor indoor air quality inside the home, but it also is the culprit of foundation damage. Leaving a basement leak or a leaky crack in the foundation will eventually start to deteriorate the foundation wall making it weak and fragile. Water damage to the foundation wall can result in spalling where the concrete starts to break off the foundation wall. Water infiltrating the basement is also a sign there is water build up on the outside wall. If there is water building up in the soil outside, then it is creating hydrostatic pressure, a common cause of structural damage in foundation walls. Basement waterproofing and proper outside drainage systems will relieve hydrostatic pressure and potential structural problems.

You can negotiate in the contract to have the seller solve these foundation issues before you buy the house. It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy the house because most of these issues can be fixed. With a professional foundation repair contractor and/or basement waterproofer, you won’t have to worry. Just make sure it gets in the final agreement to either have them fix the issue or drop the price of the house so you can fix the issue after you buy it. It is a good idea to elicit the help of a foundation repair contractor if you suspect foundation issues. They will be able to provide an inspection and quote to help you negotiate and understand what you are really getting into. This information will help you make your decision.

If you’d like a FREE Estimate for foundation repair when buying a home in New Jersey, then please contact us!

house jacking

Select Basement Now Performs House Jacking!

House Jacking

We’ve recently made a new addition to our already extensive line of top quality professional services, house jacking. By adding this capability, we are providing yet another service we can offer our valued customers. By offering as many top quality services as we can, we believe we can better serve our customers.

When should you consider house jacking?

So what is house jacking and when should you use it? Well, sometimes depending on the condition of the soil around your home, your foundation can begin to sink into the ground. You’ll notice this sort of thing when dry wall or plaster walls begin to crack upstairs, windows and sliding doors become difficult to open and close, or you literally notice the floors in your home sinking in or becoming unlevel. The major shifting in your home’s foundation is a very serious structural issue, and can introduce water and moisture, harmful mold, and unwelcome critters into your home.

Since there’s really no way to change the composition of the soil around your home, most homeowners have to resort to jacking the house. House jacking is a difficult procedure that requires a professional touch, so it’s best not to attempt this on your own. Contact us for more information!

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