Friday, August 16, 2013
A rebound in the housing market has made homeowners more willing to take part in renovations that will boost the home values in a rising market. Rather than build home additions, many are opting to remodel the basement in order to add living space. However, there is a very important question you need to consider before you begin this huge and expensive endeavor.
Is your basement dry? What that really means is have you ever...
Friday, August 09, 2013
Your crawl space is a dark and often damp area formed by your foundation blocks and it contributes significantly to the health, safety and value of your home.
Keeping the crawl space dry is the key to avoiding damaging wood rot, mold growth and termites. First and foremost, look for foundation cracks and pipe penetration leaks. Crawl space and basement crack repair is the first step in keeping your basement dry.
What's the solution...
Friday, August 02, 2013
The real estate market is rebounding in Massachusetts. But that does not mean that you can cut corners or neglect issues because of lack of home inventory. Too often as realtors, you see home inspections used as bargaining pieces. Basement cracks are an issue that need to be addressed before you list your home. Realtors, if you are about to list a home with basement cracks and water problems, think twice. Help your client make...
Friday, July 26, 2013
There are many causes of foundation cracks in buildings, anything, from natural causes like the recent tremors to using wrong or inadequate building materials.
Some foundation cracks are more serious than others, but most all should be repaired.
Foundation cracks may appear in the walls bricks/block mortar plaster, beam-wall joints, columns –wall joints, slabs, beams, columns, foundations and in many other places. As foundation and basement wall cracks appear, you should consult a crack repair...
Friday, July 19, 2013
It is easy to believe that there is no such thing as a dry basement. There are too many wet basement horror stories like mold damage, destroyed sheet rock, ruined carpets and furniture, losses of stored items, and more.
Damp or leaky basements can result from settling of a foundation or can often mean you have improper drainage that can lead to foundation settlement and cracked concrete slabs and walls requiring costly repairs.
Five steps...
Friday, July 12, 2013
If you have been thinking of selling your home in Massachusetts now might be the time to take advantage of these rising home sale prices. But buyers are still being picky, because now more than ever buyers understand the necessity of a “good” investment. Too many times, the home inspection has been the deal breaker, or at least used as a bartering tool. Don’t put a damaged home with basement cracks on the market ‘as...
Saturday, June 29, 2013
As your friends and neighbors, all of us at A1 Foundation Crack Repair do what we can to advise and help you keep a solid and healthy foundation. When you do need foundation crack repair services, we hope you look to your friends with over 30 years of crack repair experience and with a proven record for looking out for you.
As summer wears on, those of you who never (or under) water your yard...
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Most cracks in foundations comes from soil settlement and stress on the foundation walls. Concrete is a very sturdy building material. It lasts a very long time, but after it gets hard it can and often will crack.
Concrete foundation cracks will be either vertical or horizontal. Typically, small vertical cracks are not structural and most horizontal foundation cracks are.
The most common cause of horizontal cracks in a foundation is from soil pressure....
Friday, June 21, 2013
It has been wet, and now it is getting hot. In the Boston Area, that means humid basements in our homes. Basement dehumidifiers lower the humidity in the air. Moisture levels are higher during the warmer weather, add to it a month of rain, and odds are there are a lot of humid basements right now. But humid weather can cause more than just humid basements. Humidity in your basement can actually result in puddling...
Friday, June 14, 2013
It seems like we have had only rain the whole month of June in Boston. When basements get wet, mold grows, belongings get damaged and homeowners get frustrated. Cracks in concrete floors or foundation walls, even if they are small, can be big problems.
Basements made from poured concrete are the safest from water infiltration. However, even poured concrete can crack from the curing process and from the settling that happens over time.
Regular inspection...