Businesses with concrete steps, concrete foundations, a concrete entrance or with any other substantial part of your building made from concrete, consider concrete preservation. Many commercial buildings are made with concrete; it is durable and long lasting. However, overtime, concrete does deteriorate. In New England concrete structures are susceptible to the elements which can speed up concrete spalling or decaying process. Water penetrates the porous concrete and then freezes which causes it, along with the...

The American Lung Association, American Medical Association, and the EPA recommend maintaining relative humidity level in the 30% - 50% range.  In the summer in Massachusetts, the weather is more humid. Basements and crawl spaces tend to be more humid relative to the rest of the home because they are almost entirely subterranean, or below ground. Studies have shown that as much as 50% of the air in your home comes from your basement or...

Generally, as far as building materials go, concrete is very safe and secure. However, over time concrete develop cracks and fissures, especially here in Massachusetts with the dramatic changes in weather. Parking garages are always built with concrete and steel. Parking structures are generally very safe, secure and sturdy. However, if you are a parking garage management company and you are noticing cracks in the cement floors, walls, or any other part of the structure,...

Concrete is an excellent building material. Reinforced concrete is used to build pipes and tanks. The superior engineering properties of reinforced concrete has had engineers using it to build waste water and treatment tanks. Unfortunately, the reinforcing steel in the concrete has  affected the durability of concrete. The reinforcing steel corrodes and can cause concrete to crack and spall. This reduces the structural integrity of the concrete, and can also accelerate the rate of deterioration...

You might think that we only do concrete crack repair for homes but we do commercial work too. And one of the most common projects we take on for businesses is cracked cement loading docks. If your loading dock is cracked, you may not believe that you have a problem, unfortunately you are wrong. Cracks in concrete can cause you serious damage in the long run. Here in New England, as the weather changes and...

With spring rains, warmer weather and summer right around the corner, mold is a concern for all homeowners, especially in the basement. The humidity levels rise this time of year and mold, moisture and musty odors can become a problem. When your home has high levels of humidity in the basement, you can develop mold. In the spring and summer, dehumidifiers come in handy as rain leads to damp, moldy basements. For a large basement,...

Many towns in Massachusetts are built on old sandy river beds or rocky ledges. Despite the fact that we are in a drought, we have had quite a bit of recent rain. The large amount of rain is almost as bad for the soil as the drought. Soil expands when it freezes and gets wet and contracts when it defrosts and dries. This creates cracks in the soil that can create problems for the homes...

We are in a drought, and “they” keep saying we need the rain. Well, there was quite a bit of rain last night and if you awoke to a wet or damp basement, you have some problems. Even if you have never had water in your basement before, you will most likely get it again. Water finds the path of least resistance, and when that much rain falls for so long, unfortunately in many cases...

With air tight doors and windows, along with the construction of tighter homes sometimes there is not enough or proper airflow in a home creating condensation, mold, musty smells and moisture issues. If your home has central AC, it is good practice to install additional vents that lead into your basement to help with minor moisture problems. The air needs room to move, so if your basement is cluttered, an exhaust fan is good. However,...

If you are a have bought a new home, call A-1 Foundation Crack Repair for a foundation inspection.  You don’t want to find water in your basement and then realize that it could have been prevented.  If you see cracks in the basement floor or walls of a home you are buying or selling, call a crack repair specialist.  IF there are cracks in your cement floor or foundation walls, we can determine the underlying...