Posted by
Doug Lynch on Thu, May 16, 2013 @ 04:57 AM
As warm air rises, cool air from the crawl space is sucked into the living areas of your home. Called the “stack effect”, it’s the same way a chimney works. This, combined with other factors, provides a significant amount of the air you breathe actually came from your crawl space.
The A-1 Basement Solutions Crawl Space Sealing System is installed to effectively seal your crawl space. Once your crawl space is sealed your home will begin to reap the benefits associated with a healthy crawl space.
The A-1 Basement Solutions Crawl Space is 90 mil Thick
The A-1 Basement Solutions Crawl Space Sealing System has a 90mil Liner that is the state of the art crawl space liner. This super-thick liner was designed to stop the infiltration of moisture and soil gases.
One side of the liner is aluminized to reflect heat into crawl spaces and basements, so it helps to reduce energy costs. The other side is a heavy duty vinyl that gives the liner strength and durability. Each layer is separated by a polyethylene foam to aid with insulation. When all the components are laminated together, it forms the thickest crawlspace liner available today.
- Zero Perm to seal mold causing moisture out of crawl spaces
- 90 mil thick for maximum durability
- Aluminumized to reflect heat back into the crawl space or basement and diffuse soil gases like radon
- Made with heavy duty materials to withstand walking and storage
- One of the most versitile crawl space liners available today
- The antimicrobial materials will not rot or support mold growth
With the elimination of harmful soil gases such as Radon and the removal of toxic mold other airborne allergens, the Indoor Air Quality in the home will be greatly improved.
A healthy crawl space should be a standard, not a luxury. The quality of the environment in the crawl space is of major concern because the crawl space environment affects the health of all the residents of the home. As a homeowner it is important to understand the health risks associated with the crawl space.
Top Three Reasons to Seal the Crawl Space
- To help lower your energy costs by improving insulation
- To create a healthier living environment by sealing out harmful gases such as 'Radon' and toxic mold
- To provide a more safe and cleaner area for storage
Should I get my Crawl Space Inspected?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free crawl space health inspections to New Jersey homeowners.
Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service, guaranteed work, and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Knowledge is power. Learn everything you need to know about your basement or crawl space: Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Fri, May 10, 2013 @ 06:49 AM
Black mold is an asexually reproducing fungus that is known to grow rapidly on water soaked building materials like drywall. Wet basements with little or no ventilation provide perfect growing conditions for black mold Also Known As “Toxic Black Mold” Black mold is a black and slimy looking stain on a wall that is probably damp. However when dry it can appear more greyish and powdery in appearance.
When dealing with black mold, what you can see is only the tip of the iceberg. 10% of Black Mold you can see… 90% of Black Mold is microscopic. Most of the suspended airborne particles are too small to see; yet small enough to be respired (breathed into the lungs) which causes damage to your home, sickness and disease in people and pets. These invisible particles are a serious health risk concern.
What does mold smell like?
If something smells funny or bad there is a reason for it. Trust your senses, the nose knows all. That musty basement smell is a giveaway that something is wrong. If you think you have a mold problem…you probably do. Mold spores and bacteria cultures that form on wet surfaces can expose serious health problems to you and your family. The elderly, those with allergies and those with weak immune systems are vulnerable to a variety of illnesses due to mold spores and bacteria caused by a damp basement.
Common places to find mold in the home
- The attic. The attic gets moisture from nail pops on the roof and roof leaks. The attic can also retain moisture if not properly ventilated. Because mold in the attic can spread quickly it is important for you to check the attic on a regular basis.
- The bathroom. The bathroom has moisture in it from the sink, toilet, tub and shower. You should have an exhaust fan in the bathroom that vents directly to the outside not into the attic. If you don’t have an exhaust fan you should open the window when engaging in activities that produce moisture.
- The basement. The basement can get moisture through the foundation in the form of actual water leaking or water vapor. In the Summertime humidity from the warm air is also a concern because the cool basement floor and walls attract moisture.
Can I use Bleach to kill toxic black mold?
Our Moms taught us that the answer to mold problems has always been bleach. “Spray it on, cover your eyes, hold your breath and run away from the toxic fumes.” Mold and mildew have already compromised our Indoor Air Quality. Bleach, or more specifically chlorine bleach, is a respiratory irritant. Introducing bleach into an indoor environment that is already polluted from a mold infestation is not a good idea.
When you use bleach to kill mold, although the mold would disappear, it was only days or weeks before it was back again. The biggest reason you don’t want to use is after it kills the existing mold it creates new mold. How does the bleach do that? Because it is diluted with water and water is one necessary component for creating mold growth.
What happens when you spray some chlorinated bleach on the wall is that the bleach kills the mold and the water that has diluted the bleach soaks into the wall. So the bleach has killed the mold but now you have a wet wall, just like the one that caused the mold growth in the first place. A few days to a few weeks later the mold returns.
Should I have my home tested for mold?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free basement health inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Knowledge is power. Learn everything you need to know about your basement:Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Tue, May 07, 2013 @ 09:17 AM
Think of clean air in the basement being contaminated by mold. The mold spores are added to the clean air. The added mold spores are condensed in the basement air because that’s where the mold is and the air is mostly stagnant. The moldy air must be diluted if not removed altogether. Therefore the movement of air out of the basement brings in new air to lessen the concentrations of mold spores and improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). This is known as ventilation. Ventilation is necessary to maintaining good IAQ.
How does E-Z Breathe Work?
The E-Z Breathe System is a maintenance free unit that helps protect your home and family from excess moisture, molds, toxins, allergies and poor air quality resulting in a cleaner, healthier living environment. It provides powerful ventilation, supporting both the EPA and the American Lung Associations' recommendations to use a ventilation system to reduce indoor air pollution.
The E-Z Breathe unit itself is a quiet, unobtrusive apparatus that fits easily into any room in the house. With no heavy buckets to empty or costly filters to replace the EZ-Breathe is maintenance free. With its energy efficient design, it requires very little power and just $2.00 to $3.00 a month of electricity.
One E-Z Breathe Ventilation unit provides moisture control and improved air quality year round for your entire house. E-Z Breathe reduces indoor air pollution, expels odors, eliminates moisture and removes damp, cold and contaminated air from your home. By exchanging this stale air for fresh air, the atmosphere within the home becomes healthier.
E-Z Breathe: The Cheaper Dehumidifier
- E-Z Breathe draws the moist, polluted air out of the house.
- E-Z Breathe replenishes with fresh, dry air 6-10 times per day.
- E-Z Breathe is quiet, safe, and environmentally friendly.
- E-Z Breathe is maintenance free. No filters. No buckets to empty.
- E-Z Breathe is cost effective. Uses the same energy as a 40 watt bulb.
E-Z Breathe superior ventilation technology replaces dehumidifiers.
A common dehumidifier which does not exchange the air or ventilate the basement is costly to operate. The E-Z Breathe Ventilation System will provide a healthier, drier and more comfortable home at a fraction of the cost. E-Z Breathe takes the humid, moist air and expels it out of the house. The air is then replaced it with clean, dry air. This is accomplished by a quiet but powerful fan which uses the same electricity as a 40 watt light bulb. E-Z Breathe is controlled by a Humidistat which you set to the level of humidity you desire.
Unlike the dehumidifier, a ventilation system runs year round.
When it comes to removing humidity and water vapor you need a ventilation system that works year round. The E-Z Breathe Ventilation System is a better than a dehumidifier because it works 12 months a year and not just in the warmest months. This whole house ventilation system is a device that expels the dampest, most humid & contaminated air from your basement to the outside.
A whole home ventilation system such as the E·Z Breathe ventilation system can take care of all ventilation issues including air purification and odor removal. Because the ventilation system removes harmful contaminants that cause odors and replenishes the home with fresh odor-free air, you should notice a big difference immediately.
Should I have my home tested for mold?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free basement health inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Knowledge is power. Learn everything you need to know about your basement:Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Sat, May 04, 2013 @ 09:17 AM
A sump is a low space that collects any often-undesirable liquids such as water. A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in water collecting sump pit, commonly found in the basement of homes. The water may enter via French drains of a basement waterproofing system or be independent. The sump pit is where many homeowners look to drain unwanted liquids so the sump pump can pump them away.
How does the sump pump remove the water from the house?
There is usually one pipe coming up and out of the sump pit. That pipe is called the discharge pipe. A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in the water collecting sump pit, commonly found in the basement of homes. The sump pump will take whatever water is right there and pump it out. The sump pump typically uses a 1½” PVC pipe discharge the water from the basement. You should see this pipe going through the foundation wall to the outside of the house.
In older homes sump pumps may be connected to the sanitary sewer system. Today this practice may be against the town’s the municipal code because it can overwhelm the municipal sewage treatment system. Many homeowners have inherited their sump pump configurations and do not realize that the pump discharges to the sanitary sewer. If the discharge is fed to a sink in the basement it's probably going into the sewer. Homeowners must disconnect and reroute sump pump discharge away from sanitary sewers. Fines may be imposed for noncompliance.
Other pipes that may be coming out of or going into your sump pit.
- HVAC Furnace condensation is sometimes brought to the sump pit by a 3/4" PVC coming directly from the HVAC unit. This is different than the 3/8” plastic tube from a condensate pump.
- Radon. Radon is a gas that enters your building from the soil beneath and around your house that is connected to the sump pump in your basement. Using a 4” PVC pipe, a radon system collects radon from the soil below a house via the sump and pumps it out.
- Dehumidifier Drip. Many dehumidifiers come with a hose fitting that allows you to hook a drip hose directly from the dehumidifier bucket directly into the sump pit so there is no need to empty it.
- Backup pump discharge. Whether you use a 7 Day Battery Backup sump pump or a water powered emergency sump pump, the water needs to be removed from the house. Like the regular sump pump, the backup pump should have a 11/2” PVC discharge pipe.
- Washing machine overflow. A washer tray under the washing machine on an upper floor can be delivered to the sump pit. If the washing machine leaks, the water will be safely drained away. Washer trays are available at home centers.
Discharging anything into the sump pit could present problems.
· Any liquid you introduce into the sump adds moisture to the below slab area.
· Requires more electricity to cycle on and off.
· The sump pump discharge should only have clean water with nothing added since it ultimately goes into the storm water drains or back into the earth.
· If you have any questions, have a basement waterproofing specialist look at your sump pit.
Should I get my Sump Pump Inspected?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free basement health inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Learn everything you need to know about your basement: Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Thu, May 02, 2013 @ 09:17 AM
Some common signs of mold in a home include the discoloration of surfaces Trust your senses. If something smells funny or bad there is a reason for it. The nose knows. If you think you have a mold problem…you probably do.
Mold can cause surfaces to change color to white, green, or black. It is important to pay attention to these warning signs since molds produce allergens. Mold spores and bacteria cultures that form on wet surfaces can expose serious health problems to you and your family.
With mold, what you can see is only the tip of the iceberg. Most of the suspended airborne particles are too small to see; yet small enough to be respired (breathed into the lungs) which causes sickness and disease in people and pets. 10% of Mold you see… 90% of Mold is microscopic. These invisible particles are a serious health risk concern.
Common places to find mold in the home
- The attic. The attic gets moisture from nail pops on the roof and roof leaks. The attic can also retain moisture if not properly ventilated. Because mold in the attic can spread quickly it is important for you to check the attic on a regular basis.
- The bathroom. The bathroom has moisture in it from the sink, toilet, tub and shower. You should have an exhaust fan in the bathroom that vents directly to the outside not into the attic. If you don’t have an exhaust fan you should open the window when engaging in activities that produce moisture.
- The basement. The basement can get moisture through the foundation in the form of actual water leaking or water vapor. In the Summer humidity from the warm air is also a concern because the cool basement floor and walls attract moisture.
D-I-Y Mold Testing
Mold Stick Testing is the method used by our very own Doug Lynch of A-1 Basement Solutions as seen on The Today Show (May 4, 2012)
The test is a simple but effective one. It’s done with a mold test stick – it’s a plastic tube that encases a cotton swab. At the top is a plastic vial in a bulb shape. The user bends the bulb to crack the seal, and then a chemical wets the cotton swab, turning it green. The user rubs the swab on the suspected mold. If the swab stays green, it’s not mold. If it turns gray, it’s dormant mold. If it turns purple, it’s active mold.
If you are outside of New Jersey, you can get the Mold Sticks to test for yourself. Visit our Amazon store to buy the Mold Sticks to test your own home
D-I-Y Mold Remediation
You do need to:
A.) Find and fix the source of the mold causing moisture.
B.) Kill the Mold.
Once you have shut off the mold's water supply we can go ahead and remediate/kill it. There is a very simple process I call "The Three S's'.
1st "S" SPRAY the mold to kill it. Use a mold spray from the store. There are many different brands, Lysol, Tilex, Moldex, Concrobium, etc. They all work pretty much the same. Don’t use bleach because it is toxic for humans as well as mold.
2nd "S" SCRUB the mold. Once the spray dries up a bit, you want to get a scrubbing sponge and some water mixed with a disinfecting household cleaning liquid soap and scrub it away. It is already dead, you just want to remove any sight of it. Let it dry thoroughly before proceeding to the third "S".
3rd "S" SEAL it. Next you want to get a can of Spray sealer like Kilz or Zinnser and spray the wall that you just scrubbed. What you are doing now is encapsulating the mold. You are sealing it inside the drywall. Now all that is there is a nice, clean, white, sealed paintable surface.
Should I have my home tested for mold?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free basement health inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Knowledge is power. Learn everything you need to know about your basement:Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Tue, Apr 30, 2013 @ 09:17 AM
The sump pump in your home is powered by electricity. This pump will be working during normal rainy conditions when you have electrical power supplied to the house. A water powered back-up sump pump will protect your basement in the case of a power outage. This unique product is powered by your municipal water supply and requires no electricity to operate.
Water powered sump pumps are configured to turn on automatically, only in the event of a primary sump pump failure. The best backup option to your primary electric sump pump is a water powered sump pump which is used as an emergency pump when the regular sump pump fails..
How does a Water Powered Sump Pump work?
A water powered sump pump employs the Venturi effect. The Venturi effect happens when city water under pressure is converted into a high-velocity jet at the throat of an ejector nozzle (a nozzle is made by pinching a tube in the middle, making a carefully balanced hourglass-shape) which creates a low pressure at that point. The low pressure creates a vacuum that draws sump water into the nozzle where it mixes with the city water which together are discharged from the sump. The water powered pump removes two gallons of water from the bucket for every one gallon of water supplied.
A water powered sump pump functions by taking the existing water from the city or town supply. The city water flows through a constricted area, and is forced through an ejector. At that constriction water speed increases causing a pressure reduction. This pressure reduction literally sucks water from the sump crock. Sump water then combines with the flowing city water and exits your basement via a discharge line.
The Water Powered Sump Pump uses a 1 to 2 Ratio
The water powered sump pump uses 1 gallon of city water to pump 2 gallons out of the pit, and then all 3 are discharged from the house. Using the ratio of 1 to 2, at 1,000 GPH the system will use 5,000 gallons of water to prevent 10,000 gallons from flooding your basement. If your water costs 2 cents a gallon, (5,000 x .02=$100) it would cost approximately $100 in water use to keep your basement dry. That is a small price to pay to prevent flooding until the electricity is restored. The water powered sump pump is designed for emergency use only. Prolonged use of the water powered sump pump will result in increased municipal water consumption.
How much Water Pressure (PSI) is required
At A-1 Basement Solutions, we install the Liberty SumpJet SJ10 as our water powered sump pump. The SJ10 pumping performance varies with inlet water source pressure and pumping head. The manufacturer requires a minimum pressure of 30 PSI. Because water pressure in any municipality will vary depending on use, A-1 Basement Solutions requires a minimum of 60 PSI to install the water powered sump pump. With 60 PSI water pressure and an 8 foot vertical lift the SJ10 will pump 17 GPM which is equivalent to 1,020 Gallon Per Hour (GPH).
BECAUSE IT IS DEPENDENT UPON WATER PRESSURE TO OPERATE YOU MUST BE CERTAIN OF YOUR MUNICIPAL WATER UTILITY'S ABILTY TO MAINTAIN CONSTANT WATER PRESSURE DURING A POWER OUTAGE.
As long as there is adequate Municipal Water Pressure the Water Powered Sump Pump will continue to operate. That means day after day, week after week if necessary, until the electricity is restored.
Should I get my Basement Inspected?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free basement health inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Learn everything you need to know about your basement: Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Sat, Apr 27, 2013 @ 09:17 AM
The water table varies greatly from region to region and depends on what your house is built on. Are you built on bedrock or sand? If you were built on wetlands or close to bodies of water you may have an underground stream running through your property.
What is a High Water Table?
The ground thaws while snow melts and spring rains come. At the same time the thaw is happening all the plant life is dormant and not drinking water. The water accumulates under and around your home. This is called a high water table or perched water.
The thing to understand here is that the high water table is part of the earth and cannot be graded away. Think of the water being flat like a table top. Because it rains over a wide area water table typically covers a wide area.
When the water table rises, it does not just rise at your house, because it did not rain on your house only. The rain usually falls over a wide area of many square miles so all this water goes into the earth at the same time. Water tables can become elevated when they receive more water than they drain off. This can be from unusually high amounts of rain, or excess water from higher elevations.
High water tables are often above the level of basement floors or crawlspaces. This almost always causes flooding in these areas.
The level of the water table varies greatly due to amount of rainfall, time of the year and type of soil that surface water drains through. The water table is generally higher in areas with high density soil related to clay content. The denser the soil is, the slower the movement of the water (percolation) of the water through the soil occurs. The rate at which the high water table descends is related to the percolation rate, which is related to soil density.
What is a French Drain?
The earliest forms of French drains were simple ditches, pitched from a high area to a lower one and filled with gravel. These were described and popularized by Henry French (1813-1885) a lawyer and Assistant US Treasury Secretary from Concord, Massachusetts in his book Farm Drainage.
A French drain has perforated hollow pipes along the bottom to quickly vent water that comes from a rising water table. French drains are common drainage systems, primarily used to prevent ground and surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations.
The system is designed prevent water from flooding your basement. It is installed inside the basement, below the floor, around the perimeter. This French Drain controls the water, delivers it to the sump pump(s), and discharges it out of the house. This system comes with a life-of–house transferable guarantee that your basement floor will not have any water on it.
How a French Drain can lower the water table under the basement floor.
1. The drainage pipe of the French Drain is place alongside the footings at approximately 6-8” below the basement floor level. The water under the basement floor gets pumped away at that level before it comes up to the floor level. 2. A French drain is much unlikely to clog than an exterior perimeter drain partially due to the fact that it is not sitting underneath several feet of soil.
Should I get my Basement Inspected?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free basement health inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Learn everything you need to know about your basement: Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Thu, Apr 25, 2013 @ 09:26 AM
The carbon fiber/Kevlar Gridstrap system that we use is very thin and adheres right to the wall. Having just the thickness of a dime, the carbon fiber Kevlar system is designed to be smooth so that when it is painted over it blends right into the wall. So yes, the repair is visible, but not obvious. After the wall is painted the repair should not stand out at all.
Why use Carbon Fiber for foundation crack repair?
A few decades ago if your foundation had a cracked or bowed wall from soil pressure, you only had two choices to stabilize the wall; masonry pilasters or steel I-beams. In 2013 carbon fiber for foundation repair and stabilization is now vey common. Carbon fiber adds strength to cracked concrete walls because it is stronger than steel and not corrosive. Carbon fiber is adhered to the wall with no unsightly obstructions.
Carbon fiber gives you a permanent concrete foundation repair solution for your cracked and/or bowed foundation wall without the sacrifice of living space. It is a low cost reinforcement solution that repairs your wall, adds strength, stops the inward movement and redistributes the weight on your basement walls. The cracks are permanently repaired and stabilized to restore stability of the structure.
Carbon fiber is just what it sounds like, a fiber made up of carbon. Carbon fiber has been in use since 1980. In the 20th Century it was so expensive that carbon fiber use was limited to bridge repairs, the aerospace industry and the military. Now that carbon fiber is being used in many different ways, production has gone up and prices have gone down. Because of carbon fibers strength and durability it is now widely used in the building industry for reinforcing structures,
Carbon fibers have been found to be exceptionally strong. When the strands are woven they are stronger than many other materials like steel.
Not all Carbon Fiber applications are the same.
To say carbon fiber is carbon fiber would be just like saying plastic is plastic. The plastic that the milk jug is made from is very different than the plastic bag you carry it home in. There are different applications for plastic and carbon fiber as well.
Some companies use sheets of fabric like carbon fiber that are 2’x 5’ and bond this sheet over a crack. Others use carbon fiber blended with polymer which is also a flexible product. Some of these carbon fiber products are simply glued to the wall and can peel off.
A-1 Basement Solutions uses a time-tested and proven method of foundation and crack repair that restores the integrity and stability of the foundation. We use carbon-fiber kevlar sheet straps in combination with specifically designed epoxy. This foundation crack repair can be performed effectively and efficiently with minimal obtrusion or obstruction.
Why use Carbon Fiber/Kevlar Gridstraps for foundation stabilization
· Lay flat to the wall
· Not obtrusive
· No attachments
· Provides a clean prepared bonding surface
· Able to conform to bowed walls
· Can be painted to provide a smooth clean look
Should I get my Foundation Inspected?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free foundation inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Knowledge is power. Learn everything you need to know about your basement: Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Tue, Apr 23, 2013 @ 09:36 AM
Low pressure injection is a form of crack repair that is used for non-structural cracks. Because non-structural cracks are not threatening the integrity of the foundation, the concerns are mainly to protect against water seepage and soil gas intrusion. For cracks up to ¼” wide, low pressure injection is an excellent way to address these concerns.
TWO TYPES OF NON STRUCTURAL EPOXY CRACK REPAIRS
Nonstructural settlement cracks can be defined as having a small width typically 1/16” to 1/8” and not extending past the foundation into the structure. In masonry foundations such as CMU, cinder block or brick, settlement cracks typically run vertically or diagonally.
1. Surface crack repair. The area is cleaned out and a topical application is applied to the surface. Two part hardened epoxy is used to fill the void to the surface of the concrete.
2. Injection crack repair. Using two-part low-viscosity crack injection epoxy is designed to repair cracks in concrete. Low pressure injection is suitable for repair of cracks ranging from up to 1/4” that are dry, damp or wet.
Two types of low pressure injection crack repairs are epoxy and urethane
Both epoxy and urethane can be used to stop water and help to minimize soil gas intrusion.
· Urethane foam is expansive and fills the void inside the wall and past the wall. Because Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) are hollow, expansive urethane foam repair could become very expensive.
The urethane foam that is used by A-1 Basement Solutions is hydroactive, meaning that it reacts to water. The crack is first filled with water so that when the urethane is introduced it reacts to the water and expands to fill the crack. The urethane goes all the way through the crack to the dirt and fills the space.
· Epoxy has bonding characteristics that are well suited for crack repair. A two part epoxy system consists of resin and hardener. When two part hardened epoxy is applied to a crack in the concrete, it fuses the concrete together making a repair that is harder than the original concrete.
A two part hardened epoxy is injected under low pressure into the concrete crack in the wall from inside the basement. This epoxy is introduced directly into the crack or through small ports glued over the crack.
Should I get my Foundation Inspected?
A-1 Basement Solutions provides free foundation inspections to New Jersey homeowners. Contact A-1 Basement Solutions at 908-322-1313, or info@A-1Basements.com for a free in-home inspection and detailed quote.
A-1 gives full service guaranteed work and competitive pricing every day.
We do everything for you. By taking care of all the details, A-1 Basement Solutions makes the job worry free. Our motto is No Problems…Just Solutions.
Knowledge is power. Learn everything you need to know about your basement: Subscribe to our blog and get our FREE E-BOOK “Basements 101”
Was this information useful? We would like to know. We welcome your thoughts and comments.
Posted by
Doug Lynch on Sat, Apr 20, 2013 @ 09:17 AM
The answer is yes but it is more involved than that. Let me explain about the sump. A sump is a low space that collects any liquids such as water. Most times we dig a pit in the floor to create a sump. We would then put in a liner or sleeve and then install the pump in the sump. So by digging the hole in the basement, the sump is the lowest point in the basement because it is sub-floor.
A sump pump is a pump used to remove water that has accumulated in water collecting sump pit, commonly found in the basement of homes. In a boat this low place to collect the liquids is called the bilge, and the pump used is a bilge pump. You get the idea; it’s a pump that stays in the sump so it’s called a sump pump.
Each sump pit should have two pumps.
What we are talking about is having a plan “B” in place, having a primary pump and a backup pump.
1. The Primary Pump is powered by electricity and is low in operational cost because electricity is inexpensive. The primary pump has the most pumping capacity over a prolonged time because the AC electric motor is also the most efficient. Your sump pump will quit; it’s just a matter of when. The sump pump usually dies with full electrical power in the house. (If the pump died during a power outage how would you know?)
2. The Secondary or Backup Pump is powered by something other than AC electricity so when the power goes out, you can still evacuate your sump pit and prevent flooding from occurring. The backup pump is your contingency plan for when there is no electricity. If your primary electrically powered sump pump fails you want to have a secondary pump in place to be able to evacuate the sump pit with or without electricity. The A-1 Basement Solutions 7 Day Battery Backup Sump Pump System will pump 35 Gallons Per Minute (GPM) when fully charged and average 20 GPM over the 7 Days.
Sump pump used with a French Drain
The sump pump should be one part of a complete waterproofing system. A sump pump alone is not effective to lower the water table under the house and prevent water infiltration. Having a sump pump without a delivery system (such as a complete waterproofing system) can be likened to having a heart without arteries and veins; it's just not going to work right.
Sump pump used without a French drain
The sump pump will take whatever water is right there and pump it out. The sump pump is usually placed in the lowest part of the basement so when the water comes in, it will flow across the floor to the sump pit, so the sump pump can then pump it out. The sump pump provides an automatic way to get the water out of the basement as opposed to using a Shop-Vac and having to dump it out manually. If you get water and you don’t want to vacuum it up then get a sump pump and put it the lowest spot of the basement.
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