Having water flowing into your basement is a home owners worst fear. In the event you have water coming into your home, try and contain it to a single area. You can use towels, and heavy articles to create a barrier around the flooded area to help contain the flood.
If the leak has caused more serious flooding, try using a wet vacuum to remove the water and do your best to direct the water to your floor drain. Alternatively, if the leak is minimally invasive, try using a fan or dehumidifier directly in vicinity of the area in question until you can speak with one of our experts.
Determining the type of foundation your home has isn't as intimidating as it sounds. There are generally two types of foundations found in modern homes; poured or cinderblock. Both are easy to identify.
Poured foundations have a relatively smooth finish and have fewer "seams" throughout the foundation encasement. (The seams are spaced approximately 2 feet apart.)
Cinderblock foundations present as exactly that - stacked blocks that look similar to "Lego" blocks and are approximately 16"x8" in size.
Please note: If you have a finished basement it will be easier to determine your foundation type from the outside.
Mold is certainly a concerning affair. Specifically, long term exposure to black mold can cause significant damage to our respiratory system, skin and can even cause neurological symptoms.
Black mold poisoning can be very serious for humans and for pets. Know the signs of black mold poisoning and seek medical attention if you are experiencing any symptoms (Fatigue, confusion, skin rashes, persistent sneezing and coughing, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing are the most common symptoms.)
Removing the mold from your home and repairing basement cracks or leaks should be a top priority for any home owner, but don't worry - we're here to help!
Here at Cracked we stand by what we do. This is why we back all of our work with a transferable 20 year warranty - inside and out!
What makes our warranty unique is that it truly adds value to your home. Looking to sell? Our warranty will carry over to the new owners for the length of the warranty. Keep your warranty paperwork with your other household documents and provide it to your real-estate agents and or/legal team during the sale process.
For more specific details regarding our warranty coverage, please see our warranty page.
If your basement is unfinished and you have a poured foundation, you should find it relatively easy to identify where the water is coming from. You will likely see evidence of water staining on the concrete in the area that has the leak. Common locations are vertical cracks found on walls, in corners, around windows, pipes or tie holes.
If your basement is finished, it can be slightly more difficult to determine where the water is coming from. This is because water travels and can spread beyond the location of the leak that needs repairing.
If you have a block foundation it can be very challenging to determine where the water is entering your home. That is because cinder blocks are hollow and when water penetrates one block it can travel to other areas of the home by travelling from block to block.
Book a free virtual estimate or an in home inspection with one of our technicians to get further insight on where the water is coming in and how to stop it from reoccurring.
Cracks in your foundation can exist without consequence for some time. It is important that you monitor the area regularly for signs of water or mold. If the crack is visible from the outside, you can water test the area in question. Take a garden hose and spray the crack for 5-10 minutes to see if water does indeed penetrate your foundation.
If you are planning on finishing an unfinished basement that has visible cracks, it is best to have them injected prior to renovations to help minimize any risk of future damage. Let's face it, reno's are costly - prevention is always key!
Proactive measures to prevent water from entering your home will help mitigate the chance of flooding or leaks. All homeowners should set aside time to inspect the exterior of their home multiple times a year; specifically during the spring and fall. There are a number of common problems that any homeowner can tackle as a small DIY project. Here are the top three preventative tasks you can tackle today!
Eavestroughs and downspouts: The first thing you should inspect is your eavestroughs and downspouts. Ensure that there are no blockages and that spout ends are free from debris and obstacles. Check all connections and seams to ensure there are no breakages or disconnections.
Landscaping: It is often surprising the amount of dead foliage and debris that can collect around your foundation and within your window wells. Drainage around your home, pipe entries and window wells are a key component to maintaining a leak free basement. Regularly remove old leaves, excess soil and other unwanted materials to ensure proper drainage around your foundation.
Grading: The grade (or leveling) around the foundation of your home holds a very specific purpose. Ideally, the grade of the ground around your home should slant away from the foundation. This helps move water away from your home and helps prevent water from pooling. If the ground surrounding your foundation angles inward, level the soil and slant it away from your home. Ideally you are looking to create a 20 degree decline away from your foundation (or more).
There are mainly two types of resin materials used for injecting cracks - polyurethane and epoxy. As with most things in life, both materials have their pro's and con's. However; the benefits of using a polyurethane injection far outweigh that of an epoxy injection which is why the majority of our customer base request polyurethane injections.
Polyurethane is the most used crack injection material on the market and there are a few reasons for that. Polyurethane is a chemically reactive expansion resin which reacts with water. This is why this material works so well - it targets areas with leaks and fills any cracks or crevices that were previously a route for water to enter your basement. Polyurethane is also a relatively flexible material. This is an extremely important feature of this resin. Climates like Canada's vary widely throughout the year and these temperature changes cause shifting in ground, ultimately shifting our homes. Polyurethane is flexible enough to move with these seasonality changes and ensure that repaired cracks do not experience any issues throughout the season changes. In addition to these top two benefits, polyurethane cures and re-cures effectively. Concrete is a stubborn surface to cure any material to on a long term basis. Not only will polyurethane cure to your foundation, but it also binds well to itself; meaning, in the rare event the crack needs to be re-injected, it will do so seamlessly.
Epoxy is a much harder material. Life regularly teaches us to choose the "stronger" option. This does not necessarily apply to crack injecting as flexibility and movement is a key component to maintaining long-term protection. Another common issue with epoxy injections is coverage. Unfortunately, once a crack has developed in your foundation we have limited perspective on how the crack is behaving within the wall itself. This makes it difficult for even a skilled technician to determine if the epoxy resin has reached all of the problem areas. Unlike polyurethane, epoxy does not expand and travels through the crack by means of pressure and gravity. Epoxy injections are better suited for short and straight vertical cracks, tie holes, or pipe penetrations.
Most foundation repairs are started and completed within the same day.
We ask that large furniture such as beds, dressers, entertainment units, laundry machines etc. are removed from the work area prior to work commencing. In order to properly access your foundation we need sufficient work space to do so. This is inclusive of boxes, storage bins and other contents. In the event you are not able to tackle this task alone, we can arrange to have them moved for you at an additional cost.
Equipment such as hot water tanks, furnaces, electrical panels etc. must be disconnected and moved by the appropriate trades personnel. All other furniture in the area will be properly protected from dust and other debris - maintaining your satisfaction is our priority!
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