Ignoring Foundation Repair

Foundation repair is not something most of us like to think about. We tend to ignore it and hope that fixes itself. Foundation problems can be a stressful, potentially costly endeavor, filled with uncertainty, particularly if not done under the direction of a professional contractor or foundation engineer.

Foundation Repair is needed when your foundation begins to settle or move laterally. This can be caused by building on expansive clay, compressible or improperly compacted fill soils, or improper maintenance around foundations.

Foundation repairs aren't easily performed, so you cannot sit back and hope for the best. You must do your homework to find the best foundation repair contractor for the job. As usual, the lowest price is not always the best way to go. If you choose to make your final decision based on price, be prepared to be disappointed. Quality repairs take specialized equipment and specially trained people to perform the work.

Needed foundation repair work can not be ignored. The traditional answer to foundation repair has been to erect piers to jack up the foundation and raise it off the expansive clay soil. The piers must be installed through the expansive or weak soils to stabilize the structure. Foundation repair can be the most expensive repair that you will make to a property. There are four major categories for this type of piering - steel push piers, helical piers, micro piles and concrete piles. Each of these have their benefits and logical applications.

Steel push piers are hydraulically driven piers that use the weight of the structure to drive steel pier material through the soil until they reach a load bearing stratum for support. Once the pier material is driven, individual hydraulic cylinders are attached to each pier and the structure is either stabilized or lifted using a hydraulic manifold system. Steel push piers are best suited for basements, crawl spaces or other heavy structures.

Helical piers are similar to push piers except they are screwed through the soil and use a steel plate, flight, to support the pile within layers of good soil. These piles must be monitored very closely upon installation to achieve their intended depths. Once an adequate depth is achieved, once again, a hydraulic manifold lifting system is installed to lift or stabilize the structure. These helical piers are ideally suited to light weight structures that only need a small lift or stabilization.

Micro piles are hydraulically driven hollow steel piers that are filled with grout during installation or immediately upon completion. The hollow bar serves not only as structural steel but also as a means inject the grout. These high capacity piers use the same type of manifold lifting system as steel push piers and helical piers. While these piles have very large capacities and can be installed in soils that other piles cannot be installed in, they also require much more equipment for installation which make them more expensive to install. They are best suited for very heavy structures sitting upon poor soils laden with cobbles, boulders and trash.

Concrete piers are piers that use a drilled hole filled with concrete that rely on skin friction for support. They are drilled or dug into the soil, usually beyond the active soils, and then filled with concrete. Once the concrete has hardened, a shimming system is usually employed to support the structure. These piers are not only messy but take much longer to complete.

Foundation repair is critical to address as soon as you suspect a problem. For starters, the sooner you fix a failing foundation, the less damage it will cause. Due to the complexity of foundation repairs the best advice is to hire an engineer followed by a trained foundation repair contractor. These professionals will make sure that your home is fixed correctly and permanently. Do not ignore your foundation problems have them fixed by the pros.

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How to Fix a Leaky Basement

Do you have a wet basement? It can be more than a simple nuisance. It can damage drywall, framing and even furniture. Even the mild case of condensation can buckle hardwood floors on the above level. It is estimated that about 60% of North Americans have wet basements. Leaky basements are caused by condensation, runoff or subsurface seepage. Let's examine the three of them.

Condensation

This is the most basic of wet basement issues. It appears on basement floors and walls as water drops, wet spots or puddles. This problem is caused by warm air meeting the cool foundation walls or the uninsulated water pipes. For mild cases of condensation, often airing out the basement will do the trick. You may also consider investing in a dehumidifier to keep the basement nice and dry.

You can prevent condensation in the basement by keeping the temperature relatively warm in the winter. You should also use foam insulation on your cold-water pipes to prevent condensation. If you have concrete walls, you can also damp-proof them with a waterproof coating.

Runoff

Melted snow and rainwater can cause damage to a basement if it is not routed away from the house. The runoff water travels through the soil, stopping at the foundation base. This water can then seep through the cracks in the wall or the footings.

To avoid this type of problem, make sure that the water runs away from the house. The ground should be sloped at least 1 inch for every 4 feet. You should also ensure that your downspout don't runoff right next to the house. Any pooling or percolating of water near the foundations can have costly implications. Add downspout extensions so the water drains a few feet away from the foundation.

One way to fix this issue is to patch any cracks in the foundations and to seal the basement walls. You should also patch any cracks in the driveway to avoid having water collect below grade. Keeping your gutters clean will prevent any overflow. If you have a particularly soggy area, you should consider installing a dry well which will allow the water to soak into the ground slowly.

Subsurface seepage

If you have runoff symptoms all the time, you may be dealing with high groundwater. You should check with your city to find out if there are underground springs or if the water table is high. In this case, you may have to call in a professional. The solution may be to install a sump pump. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may also have to install drains either inside the footings of the foundation or outside at the base of the footings.

As with most problems, prevention is often the best cure. To avoid a leaky basement, make sure that you use a dehumidifier and that your water pipes are covered. Regularly clean your gutters and install extensions to move the runoff water away from the house.

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Basement Waterproofing - 3 Unique Options For a Dry Basement

If your home has a basement you should be sure that you know about basement waterproofing. Basements are extremely susceptible to flooding, especially when the moisture and rain fall levels are high (like when the snow melts or in areas of the country where torrential downpours are common). Basement flooding can also be caused by water problems inside the house like leaking pipes. With your basement under the constant threat of water damage, you should be very interested in basement waterproofing methods.

The first step to waterproofing a basement after a leak occurs is to find out the exact source of the leak. External and internal basement waterproofing methods are effective and seem similar but they aren't completely the same. Leaks that stem from structural integrity problems will have different solutions than leaks from household pipes or other internal sources.

There are three basic kinds of basement waterproofing. Interior sealants, interior water drainage and external waterproofing. You should look into each method of basement waterproofing to learn how best to ensure that your home isn't at risk of severe water damage.

Interior Sealants aren't technically basement waterproofing materials, but they can help you make do while you are working on other waterproofing methods. Usually an interior sealant is used to keep the atmospheric humidity levels in your basement down. The sealant can keep moisture from getting absorbed into the walls and floors of the basement. It can keep the moisture from spilling into other areas of the house as well.

Interior Water Drainage. Like interior sealants, interior water drainage isn't technically a method of basement waterproofing, but it is usually used to help deal with basement water levels so most people have come to think of it as waterproofing. Usually interior drainage systems drain away most interior water by moving the water through the footers of the foundation and then out from underneath the basement floor. If you have a sump pump you can usually do this all by yourself. Just make sure that the drainage system will still be operational if the power goes off or if the sump pump fails temporarily.

Exterior Basement Waterproofing is the best method for basement waterproofing. This is the only basement waterproofing method to be recognized by the International Building Code as efficient enough to keep water from doing any intense structural damage to a building or home. Exterior waterproofing makes use of polymers or membranes that are used to waterproof the basement walls. These polymers can last thousands of years so they are seen as the best option for waterproofing.

It is important to make sure that your basement is waterproof because your basement forms the foundation to the rest of your home or building. It is the best place for mold and mildew to start their growth process. Mold and mildew can do expensive damage to your home and it is difficult to remove most mold and mildew spores. Basement waterproofing is the best method to keep your home warm, safe and dry.

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Solutions to Fix a Leaky Basement From the Outside to the Inside Water Management System

If a water problem is not fixed at the first sign an outside system may be needed to fix the problem. This involves digging up the outside of your house and sometimes rebuilding the entire foundation wall.

Waterproofing stops the water from coming in the house all together. The only way to do this is to dig down from the outside of your house and expose the basement wall and then waterproof the outside wall preventing any water from penetrating. Water management is an inside system that most home owners get installed. It's a system that allows water to come into your house through a PVC pipe system which channels that water to a sump pump which pumps the water away from your house. Having an inside system installed is best way to fix your leaky basement and the most cost effective way as well.

Now the next step is having an waterproofing expert come out and examine your basement and explain to you why his or her system will not clog and will solve your basement problem. You can find an expert online or through the yellow pages. Its best to go with an older company that has been around longer and knows what they are doing and also has a track record of happy customers.

Letting a water problem go can lead to more damage and thus more money being spent to fix that damage. It is best to find a Maryland Waterproofing Company that can fix the problem and has the experience to fix your problem once and for all. A licensed waterproofing company is the best way to fix your leaky basement and solve your water problem once and for all.

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Add a Final Touch With a Concrete Swimming Pool

You have had your house for many years and you have done everything you possibly can to it. You have gotten all of your home windows changed, you've repaved your driveway, you have redesigned the basement yet, regardless of how many improvements you have made, your house doesn't feel like home. Rather than giving up and house hunting, it is time to consider the wide world of inground pools.

The very first idea that creeps into your mind when you think about inground pools might be that your yard will have a pretty intense incline. Although that may at first look like a real problem, think again. All inground pools are put into the ground with a concrete foundation, one as strong as the house you reside in. Not only do we construct a swimming pool with this concrete foundation, we can even build retaining walls designed especially for your yard.

Typical retaining wall design layouts are done so that the soil is held back and is firmly secure with no risk of tumbling over the yard during a heavy thunderstorm. Today's retaining walls are designed in many pleasing fashions and can make any yard look better for having them. By having a specialized team such as our team come and survey your yard, we will be able to tell you what alternatives would be best for your yard and let you choose which one you think is best - we'll always give you an honest opinion.

Selecting the design of your retaining walls is not the only great decision you'll get to make when thinking about inground pools. When you choose to build a swimming pool, you'll also get to decide what sort of inground pools appeal to you. If you're going to put the money into putting in a swimming pool which would make you happy for the remainder of your life and make your house look perfect, the best option is to get a concrete swimming pool. These pools are meant to last a lifetime and could be built in any number of striking layouts. A concrete swimming pool does not have the same type of maintenance problems that any of the other pools have. It doesn't have a liner which must be changed and unlike fiber glass pools, it isn't made from a mold. If pool made from a mold breaks it is not easily repaired, you'll have to replace the pool molding while concrete can always be easily repaired.

You would be creating a perfect home paradise for you and your family by deciding to install an inground pool in your property. Adding a concrete swimming pool is the best thing you could do to complete your home and give it the final touch it needs.

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Gardening Tips For Landscaping A Slope Or A Hill

Not every gardener is lucky enough to have flat property on which to garden. If you do have a slope or a hill, it is often very difficult, confusing and challenging trying to figure out how to landscape. There are many ideas and tips on gardening on a hill, which helps you deal with the special challenges and problems you are likely to encounter. If the garden slope is extremely steep, stay away from planting grass or gardens that need any kind of maintenance, as it can be hazardous trying to cut or look after them.

A couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to plant trees and shrubs. Their root system will slow water runoff, especially during heavy rainstorms, and anchor the soil. Tall perennial grasses also work well on hills and require no maintenance. If you like the natural look, sow wildflower seed over the area, which will look beautiful and keep the topsoil from eroding or washing away. Wildflower seeds are readily available in bulk at large garden centers and nurseries. For every square foot you need approximately fifty seeds. If you have a small area to seed, buy a small can, but for large areas, wildflower seeds are available in bulk. Make sure that whatever you plant requires no regular maintenance if it is a steep hill.

In Pennsylvania I saw a beautifully landscaped hill planted with different colors of azaleas. The site in the spring and early summer was breathtaking. This was on a steep hill so it not only helped with erosion but was gorgeous too.

For shady areas, the tips on gardening on a hill are a little different. Most wildflowers require lots of light so a shady area is not a good choice. Instead, consider shade-loving ferns, perennials and low growing vines. Not only does the leaves slow erosion by catching the rain before it hits the ground but the roots help keep the soil from washing away. Another couple of great tips on gardening on a slope are to create stair steps or terraces. This requires some work, as you need to do a lot of digging. You may need to construct a retaining wall, depending on how steep the slope is. A level area to plant helps with erosion problems and makes it far easier to work in your garden.

For anyone that has a few garden challenges, such as land that slopes, they are always happy to find tips on gardening on a slope. If you are lucky enough to have weathered or interesting looking rocks on your hill, then it is the perfect area to create a rock garden. It would be good to plant some low growing vines and perennials in your rock garden to add texture and interest to your rock garden.

Definitely come up with a plan before you attempt your hill garden. Ask your garden center for some advice about your garden; they will be of great assistance. As with all gardens it is most important that you take time to enjoy your gardens whether they are on a hill or in beds.

Happy Gardening!

Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved.

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Metal Carports - Basic Features That Make it the Best

Metal carport is actually a very affordable and intelligent way to safeguard and prevent all the outdoor equipments if they are not to be kept inside a fixed room. It also gives the good storage capacity and the space for the same. These are becoming more and more popular due to its lower cost i.e. cheaper price and the good designs and its overall structure.

These metal carports have many of the different features like:

1. It gives us proper ventilation through its two sided walls.
2. It also occupies less of the space which is available.
3. It can be extended to the larger extent and it is also easily and readily opened and closed as per the requirements.
4. It can also be assembled properly without much of the efforts taken.
5. It can be easily asserted, and with quite less amount it can be maintained perfectly.
6. It is stronger but lighter and more durable than the other types of the carports. It can withstand denting and chipping at any moment and is more stable than that of any other category.
7. These are also susceptible to the termite conditions.
8. It is more preservative to all the potential problems.
9. It is eco friendly too and it is because of its frame construction.
10. It gives the creative atmospheres to the place where it has been put in.

For the really strong vehicles like the trucks, trailers partially enclosed carports are used. Even the custom designs of the carports that are made up by the different companies are made that are suitable to customer i.e. that fulfills the satisfaction of the customers.

It is just simply a shed where one can hold the larger unit to a house and this is too a simple foundation for the new home - the first step to make a home.

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