Moisture Problem in the Basement: A Silent Killer of your Home

The best way to approach any construction related problem is to find a long-lasting solution to it. Similarly, with moisture problem in any part of the house, especially the basement, the best approach is to remove or control the source of moisture. 

A homeowner does not use the basement as much as any other part of the home. Usually, there are recurring problems of damage in the basement due to moisture. Excessive moisture can destroy the walls. It can cause the growth of microbes such as molds and mildew and lead to health problems. In short, it will kill the look of the basement and destroy the foundation of your home as well. 

Moisture problem in the basement can be solved through a planned way. The first step is to understand the cause of moisture. You need to analyze where the water is coming from, and what mechanisms permit it to enter the basement. Once you know the cause, only then you will be able to solve the problem efficiently. 

Causes of Moisture in the Basement and their Solutions

1. Improper Grading

During grading of the construction site, if the slope is inclined towards the walls of your home, then water will definitely get directed towards the basement. As a result, the soil used during the construction process will get loose and settle around your home. 

Solution: Fill the slope with a lot of dry sand so that it directs water away from the foundation walls. Once the soil takes the place of water, the basement can remain protected from moisture. 

2. Structural Defects

Cracks in the concrete blocks can lead to accumulation of moisture. Also, if floor joints are not properly connected to the foundation wall, it can lead to movement of the wall and allow water to enter the basement. 

Solution: You must take utmost care while building the foundation and footings. Also ensure proper connection between the foundation wall and structure above it. If the foundation of your home is damaged, you must contact a foundation repair contractor and obtain his expert help. 

3. Defective Drainage

Missing or defective gutters and downspouts from the roof redirect water directly to the foundation walls. Also, if a downspout has no extender, then a huge amount of rainwater will be deposited at a single location near the base of the foundation. 

Solution: Downspouts should be fitted correctly at required places where roof water gets collected. Take care of leakage from downspouts using correct waterproof sealers. Extensions, if any, should discharge water at least a few feet away from the walls of your home. If possible, build concrete slopes around the foundation walls to avoid water collection. 

4. Poor Construction of Window Wells 

An improperly constructed window well can be the source of moisture problem in the basement. It will direct water towards the foundation, rather than away from it. It might also lead to a situation of severe flooding. 

Solution: If you want to build a window well, make sure that it is covered properly so that it doesn’t allow water to come inside the basement. You must check the cracks in the window well and seal them regularly. 

Waterproofing Solution to end the Moisture Problem in the Basement

 

It is a good decision to manage a moisture problem with waterproofing solutions. You can select interior waterproofing solutions or choose exterior waterproofing solutions to keep moisture away from the basement. If the moisture problem is not severe, you can opt for interior waterproofing solutions as they are less expensive.

If you do not address the moisture problem in the basement, it can prove to be a silent killer for your home. So, follow a systematic approach of identifying the causes and find relevant solutions to them. It will lead you to a moisture-free home. 

A waterproofing contractor can ensure long-last solution to the moisture problem in the basement. If you want to get rid of damp floor and leaky walls, get in touch with Pour Concrete. The general contractor will provide effective waterproofing solutions as well as take care of foundation repair in GTA.

Building a Strong Foundation: A 4 Step Guide

When building a strong foundation, stability is everything. More than just holding a house above the soil, it provides the following benefits: 

>>It supports the building,

>>It resists movement of soil underneath the building,

>>It provides insulation against cold,

>>It prevents damage of any sort occurring due to water or moisture. 

In short, if the foundation is weak, there is going to be a lot of scope for trouble. 

Here is a 4 step guide that you must keep in mind while building a strong foundation: 

1. Soil Inspection

Checking the condition of the soil is the foremost step before beginning any work on it. When it comes to building a strong foundation, the soil type and its condition become very important. If the soil inspection is ignored, it can lead to instability in the future. Your structural engineer or your architect may be a trustworthy person to approach for inspecting the soil. 

2. Excavating and Grading Process

Remove all the small stones, rocks, pebbles, twigs, roots, etc. from the soil as such waste materials may hamper the process of building the foundation. Removal of waste material is necessary because it may also interfere in maintaining a particular level of slope while grading the soil. Make sure to dig the soil up to the required depth only. For accurate results, an excavation contractor may come to your rescue.

3. Building the foundation

To begin building new foundation, install the footings. Keep in mind that you would either be pouring concrete into wood forms or directly into the trenches to create footings. It depends on the type of foundation you want and the type of soil.

Concrete needs reinforcement for added strength and crack resistance. It is worth the small additional cost to install rebars (steel reinforcing bars). Once the concrete is poured, make sure to check that there is no air gap as it will lead to developing further cracks in the foundation. Seal the footings with a high quality sealer. 

Remember that the concrete base should be cured of any loopholes before proceeding further. Pay attention to minute details such as the correct mixture of concrete, amount of water in it, depth of the layer to be poured, etc. Take the help of a quality-minded concrete contractor for building the foundation successfully. 

4. Finishing touch

Last but not the least, make use of concrete finishing tools such as hand float, trowel, edger and hand groover to smoothen the top layer of the foundation. Apply another layer of sealer to get rid of the remaining moisture. You can opt for acrylic-based sealers because they work well as a curing compound as well as a sealer. 

Building a strong foundation is a job that requires utmost care. Consult an experienced concrete contractor to help you customized the foundation according to the soil characteristics as well as your requirements. It is useful to obtain expert help because it will ensure a strong foundation for years to come.

Excavation Contractor: The Quintessential Part of any Construction Process

If you start strong, you finish strong. 

The proverb is fit for the construction industry. If you want a strong building, you need a strong foundation that can support the weight of the building. And for that, you need to get rid of unnecessary materials such as grit, rocks, etc.

For a strong foundation, excavation process is necessary. It is done by a specialist called excavation contractor. He moves soil (or dirt), rocks, and other materials so that the elevation is correct for the building. He also ensures that the earth is solid enough to support the weight of the building. 

What is the Work of an Excavation Contractor? 

1. Site preparation

It is the first and the foremost step before beginning any excavation work. It involves stripping/clearing the land of undergrowth, twigs, trees, stumps, and shrubs. The contractor removes the soil in order to achieve the required depth for the new foundation. He ensures that the soil is firm through compaction with equipment. It is usually done by performing compaction tests. 

2. Grading

Having a perfectly level base for the foundation of the building is obviously important. The contractor performs the grading process to level soil or material for base for construction of buildings, roadways, parking lot base, driveway base, etc. The reasons for undertaking the process of grading are: 

>>To control soil erosion;

>>To remove excess water and moisture from the soil;

>>To create a more suitable site for building home, condominium, warehouse, etc. 

Excavation contractor also handles heavy equipment such as large front-end loaders, bulldozers, backhoes, compactors, trenchers and skid steers. 

Benefits of hiring an Excavation Contractor

1. Saving time

He has the proper equipment required to do the job right. Even if you think you know how to operate excavation vehicles, the job will take more time than you have judged, in case you have not operated them before. An excavator contractor will arrive, do the job with complete ease and accuracy, clean up, and leave in no time. 

2.Expertise

An excavation contractor will know what to do with underground materials such as water, gas as well as electrical lines. He will help you with getting in touch with the authorities. It will ensure that the waste materials are taken care of before the project begins. Even for smaller projects, he will take utmost care to finish off the work accurately. 

3. Money matters

An excavation contractor can provide you with a detailed schedule and cost breakdown for the project. It would include any additional costs that you might not have considered. It will also eliminate unexpected expenditures that often come along a DIY project. It is a good idea to get a few quotes from different contractors before making your decision. It is advisable to compare each estimate. Ask the contractors about their pricing, especially if you notice drastic imbalance in costs from one contractor to the other.

When you hire an excavation contractor, you must always consider his expertise. Be sure to evaluate his skills on different aspects of the excavation work. A good excavation contractor will not only have command over his job but will also be able to guide you on other aspects related to construction work. 

An excavation contractor ensures that you start off the construction work on the right foot. If you want to build a sturdy concrete structure, contact Pour Concrete. The general contractor is experienced in building new foundation as well repairing foundation with epoxy injections.