Archive for the ‘waterproofing-basement’ Category

Improve Home Value

Posted August 31st, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

How much a renovation can improve your home value depends on the rennovation and it depends on the area you live in.

In Ohio, especially around the Akron and Canton area, you see many older homes that are very nice but have bowed basement walls, wet basement mold or a leak in basement that makes it wet, humid and unattractive.

It is especially unattractive if you are planning to sell it.  The market is not extremely strong now and you do not want to have a wet basement that could result in a large number of people not even considering your home a viable purchase.

Some things, like a newer kitchen, are nice.  However an older kitchen is not a problem.  But in the case of a leaky basement, a home buyer often does not want to even consider buying a home where they are purchasing a problem.  Would you want a new home that immediately had headaches to deal with?  Of course not.

So while you have may home updates to choose from, you should always start with those things that will stop people from buying your home like getting  foundation reinforcement or waterproofing basement walls to make the house appeal to more people when it comes time to sell it.

Ideas for Your Basement Remodeling Project

Posted August 27th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

Before you begin it is important to make sure that your basement is properly protected. First you need to check to see if you have bowed basement walls. This may be a sign of serious structural damage to your foundation. Another problem area is moisture. You will want to check for basement water leaks. Do you have moldy odors, peeling paint, damp spots or strange white spots on the walls, cracks where water may leak in, rust developing on appliances like the furnace, or dry rot black fungus? These are all signs of basement water leaks that need to be addressed.

Once you have made sure that you don’t have problems with bowed basement walls or water leaks, you can get on with your project. It is time to look into some basement finishing ideas. There are as many ideas and suggestions for this project as there are designers or individuals with a flair for decorating. One thing that all design ideas will need, however, is a proper heating and cooling system. One fine heating solution is to use heated floors. Your contractor can explain how this works. Once the heating system is in place it is time to decide how you’re going to finish your new space. You may want to extend your living area by turning your basement into a cozy family room complete with fireplace and plenty of seating. Or perhaps you would prefer turning it into a recreation area with game tables, and room for parties and dancing. In that case, you may want a small kitchenette, and a good stereo system or room for a band stand to make your recreation area fit for all sorts of entertaining. The possibilities are endless.

Once you have looked into all the basement finishing ideas and decided on what you want your new space to become, you need to chose a design style. You will want to allow the style from your main living quarters to flow freely through your new space so that it becomes an extension rather than a leap into another dimension.

Ideas for Your Basement Remodeling Project

Posted August 27th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

Before you begin it is important to make sure that your basement is properly protected. First you need to check to see if you have bowed basement walls. This may be a sign of serious structural damage to your foundation. Another problem area is moisture. You will want to check for basement water leaks. Do you have moldy odors, peeling paint, damp spots or strange white spots on the walls, cracks where water may leak in, rust developing on appliances like the furnace, or dry rot black fungus? These are all signs of basement water leaks that need to be addressed.

Once you have made sure that you don’t have problems with bowed basement walls or water leaks, you can get on with your project. It is time to look into some basement finishing ideas. There are as many ideas and suggestions for this project as there are designers or individuals with a flair for decorating. One thing that all design ideas will need, however, is a proper heating and cooling system. One fine heating solution is to use heated floors. Your contractor can explain how this works. Once the heating system is in place it is time to decide how you’re going to finish your new space. You may want to extend your living area by turning your basement into a cozy family room complete with fireplace and plenty of seating. Or perhaps you would prefer turning it into a recreation area with game tables, and room for parties and dancing. In that case, you may want a small kitchenette, and a good stereo system or room for a band stand to make your recreation area fit for all sorts of entertaining. The possibilities are endless.

Once you have looked into all the basement finishing ideas and decided on what you want your new space to become, you need to chose a design style. You will want to allow the style from your main living quarters to flow freely through your new space so that it becomes an extension rather than a leap into another dimension.

Basement Foundation Damage and Causes

Posted August 24th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

A house cannot survive without a solid foundation. Have you noticed that you bowed basement walls? This often means that you need to look at foundation reinforcement. Sometimes you will be able to do the repairs yourself. We recommend you purchase a homeowners foundation repair manual before you do.

Some of the major problems you will encounter when your homes foundation starts to fail and is in need of minor or major repairs are:

• Leaky Basement Walls
• Bowed basement walls
• Cracked basement walls
• Mildew on the walls or floor

The most common cause from foundation or structural damage is water. You can often save thousands of dollars by waterproofing your basement.

The top 3 reasons water is able to damage the foundation and get into the home are:

1. Drain Tile. Often homes are built without using a drain tile system which takes in the water and redirects it away from the home. Putting this in, through a professional, can be very costly after the fact.

2. Soil Slop. Often the soil is not built up high enough around the foundation of the home. After time, this soil erodes and then causes a negative slow toward the home. This is something that can be inspected by you and repaired. It should be covered in the Homeowners Repair Manual.

3. Foundation Settling. When a home is built, it may shift and move some as the foundation settles in the earth. This can often cause cracks in the foundation.

It is important that you inspect your homes foundation yearly.

On the outside look to see that there is still a positive grade away from the home and cracks in the foundation.

On the inside check for water damage, mold and mildew

If you spot either of these, don’t panic. But it does mean that you need to start looking at doing some foundation reinforcement or repair.

Advantages of Investing in Basement Waterproofing

Posted August 13th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

Hiring a professional basement waterproofing company for basement waterproofing is an investment in home upkeep that will pay for itself in a short amount of time by providing numerous important advantages.

Basement waterproofing is a procedure that eliminates water leak in basement that can lead to the dangerous formation of wet basement mold. Any leak in basement walls, ceiling or flooring that allows moisture to accumulate in the basement can lead to the growth of dangerous mold. Basement waterproofing eliminates the potential for mold growth that can adversely affect the health of every resident of the home who breathes in mold contaminated air from a basement that has not been properly waterproofed.

Another important advantage of basement waterproofing is that it allows for storage of important items and documents in the basement without having to worry that they might be ruined by unexpected water damage or constant exposure to moisture and wet basement mold. Basement waterproofing ensures that anything stored in the basement will be able to be retrieved at a later date in just as good condition as when it was stored. Basement waterproofing also ensures that heating and air conditioning systems located in the basement won’t get corroded by dampness or damaged by water.

Basement waterproofing also protects the value of your home because it prevents water and moisture from seeping into the foundation or concrete of the home which can severely decrease the home’s structural integrity. A wet basement is like a ticking time bomb that goes unnoticed until the home is inspected when the homeowner is ready to sell, only to discover extensive damage resulting in costly repairs.

Another good advantage of basement waterproofing is that it can help expand your home’s living space by creating a room that can be safely transformed into a recreational and entertainment center that can be enjoyed year-round.

Contacting a reliable basement waterproofing company for a professional evaluation and estimate is the first step to the piece of mind that basement waterproofing can provide to homeowners.

Basement Reinforcement an Important and Vital Consideration.

Posted August 2nd, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

Home ownership comes with it’s ups and downs. The pride we feel and the peace of mind that comes with home ownership is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication to this dream. However, on the flip side or the downside are the unexpected flies in the ointment, those pesky “don”t see ems” that pop up when you least expect them or can least afford them.

One of those common unpleasant and costly expenditures can be leaking or bowed basement walls. Whether due to flooding, poor drainage or poor construction the cost of repairs can be a huge drain on financial resources turning the dream into a nightmare. One way to insure a happy ending is to provide foundation reinforcement for your home.

Today’s home building technology provides and enormous range of tools and products to extend the life of your home through preventative maintenance. Many products now produced are also on the cutting-edge of the green revolution. Knowing what preventative tools and products to purchase for your home will most likely deal with climate and type of home construction. For those with basements knowing what tools are out there and finding qualified contractors to do the maintenance is the first step.

Nature can be unpredictable, and can present real problems for the unprepared homeowner causing bowed basement walls and structural cracks in the masonry. Over time these issues if left unattended will most assuredly lead to much worse and more extensive problems in the future.

Life is full of unexpected events, basement leaks and structural issues can be your worst nightmare that is unless you were pro-active and provided for future problematic areas like basement leaks, cracks and bowed basement walls with proper foundation reinforcement.

Making sure that your home remains your castle for years to come without draining your savings can keep the dream alive and make the golden years truly golden.

Basement Leaks in Ohio

Posted July 30th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

One of the largest investments made by any individual residing in the world today is their home and the belongings inside of it; therefore, it makes perfectly good sense to take care of it. One particular area of your home that deserves considerable attention is your basement and protecting it from basement water leaks. Hiring an Ohio basement waterproofing company to perform these duties would be the most advantageous way of increasing the resale value of any home.

Regardless of the size of any home, it’s important to ensure that any basement waterproofing contractor you hire is the right person for the job. The reason for this is because any small mishaps could cause a large catastrophe. In fact, the waterproofing process is just as important as ensuring that your electrical connections are properly placed in your home. What makes it even more important to hire the right person for the job is the prevention of certain hazardous and unsafe conditions like water seepage or circuit shortages with the water system.

Other than providing protection for your most prized investment, waterproofing contractors also perform exterior drainage jobs like excavations. These are often not necessary but sometimes they are.

Excavations are special digging requirements used to reach the footer drain tiles serving as the primary components for basement waterproofing systems. If this sounds like a difficult task for a homeowners, that’s because it is. With that in mind, it becomes quite necessary to do as much research as possible on an Ohio basement waterproofing company or contractor before giving away hard earned money.
Furthermore, if you find a basement waterproofing contractor somewhere in the state of Ohio that charges a lot higher that others, it doesn’t necessarily means they are better than the cheaper ones. There are a number of skilled waterproofing companies in Ohio that can be found on the Internet.

How can you tell if a foundation water leak could be corrected by redirecting surface water?

Posted July 16th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

How can you tell if a foundation water leak could be corrected by redirecting surface water?

Question:

We have had water seep into our basement a couple of times during hard rains. We have a partial walkout basement, with only about 3-4 feet actually below grade on the sides with the water issue. We have the downspouts directing the water a considerable distance from the house, so that isn’t the issue. During the hard rains, water tends to pool up in a few spots close to the house. We could do some landscaping or pour concrete on the surface, to redirect all surface water several feet away from the foundation. But is there any way to know if that will be sufficient? I’m worried we will go to all that work, and still find that we need to come back later and do some underground foundation waterproofing. How can we know?

Public Answer

Certainly you can try to fix the water flow but the easiest thing to do is going to have a certified waterproofing professional come out and take a look.  The inspection should be free and a credible waterproofing professional will give you accurate information on what needs to change to dry out the basement. A leak in basement could be cause by several factors and could need a variety of things.

Public Answer

Eliminate the pooling water and you’ll be headed in the right direction.
Public Answer

fix the drainage now next year waterproof the foundation.

Source: Yahoo! Answers

Home Waterproofing Akron

Posted July 16th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

Summer is a great time to do your home waterproofing.  Basement water leaks are easier to spot.

Basement waterproofing Akron Ohio is important any time of year but when you could get a summer downpour it is especially important.

You might be thinking it is a good time to do basement remodeling Ohio as well because basements are nice and cool in the summer and it is a great time to finish your basement and get your family to spend more time down there.

Another issue with many Akron homes is bowed basement walls.  If you have a leaky basement and bowed basement walls you really want to have an Ohio basement waterproofing company come out and inspect it.  Find out if they offer foundation reinforcement like Pioneer Basement Solutions does.  This will give you a more knowledgable basement waterproofing and foundation repair expert to advise you.

Remember the sooner you treat the problem the more likely you will head off a more serious basement waterproofing problem in the future.

 

Ohio Basement Remodeling

Posted July 10th, 2010 by basement and filed in waterproofing-basement

Remodeling your basement in the Summer is a great idea because it can be a cool place for your family to spend time without the need of the air conditioner set high.

The basement finishing cost does not need to be high.  You can get some basement finishing ideas and fix things up yourself if you want, but you first have to be sure you do not run the risk of a leak in basement.

The basement finishing cost goes up a great deal if you do the work and then have it ruined by a sudden basement leak.  So before you begin have a good basement waterproofing contractor come out and take a look.

Some Ohio basement waterproofing companies like Pioneer will not only look at basement waterproofing issues but also the homeowners foundation repair needs.  While it is often not needed, it is important to do if you have bowed basement walls or need foundation reinforcement. 

You do not want to invest in a finished basement without assuring that your basement is in good shape.  The cost to finish a basement twice is double the price.