Dev

 by Dev

Repair bowed basement walls

Repair bowed basement walls

If you are wondering how to repair bowed basement walls you are likely considering one or two of the following options for your  foundation fix: wall anchors or carbon fiber foundation reinforcement.

repair bowed basement walls

The older technique of installing a wall anchor involves a large bolt that goes through your foundation mounted to a plate inside and a fixed point outside in the soil.  This works like a giant clamp holding the bowed basement walls to the dirt outside.  You will not be able to finish your basement with this type of foundation repair because it will need routine maintenance to keep the bolts / wall anchors tight due to expanding and contracting soils.  Another downside is the clamps only hold the areas where the plates are installed in the wall, an area about 1 x 2 feet ever six feet apart.  This technique if used to try to straighten the walls will create a wavy effect due to the fact the point being moved is just behind the wall anchor plate.

The most current technology in foundation repair is the carbon fiber meshed with kevlar strap system.  With this system the engineered straps are embedded into the face of the foundation with an epoxy from the floor to the top of the foundation wall.  Once cured, these straps do not stretch or tear and they create a web effect on the  bowed basement walls to lock them in place permanently.

The best way to straighten bowed basement walls is full excavation to remove all pressure from the wall.  The wall will then need to be stabilized since it has fractures (thus the bowed basement walls) to ensure the walls to not simply return to their bowed state or worse.  Using the carbon fiber and Kevlar mesh straps in this scenario is best case since they allow for no movement.

For more information or guidance in how to repair bowed basement walls in the Northeast Ohio area such as Akron, Canton, Medina, Kent, Cuyahoga Falls etc… Call Pioneer Basement Solutions at 1-877-321-4889.

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in Basement Wall Cracks / Bowing Basement Walls / Foundation Repair 0 comments
 by Dev

Popular sales gimmick to watch out for from basement waterproofing contractors

Let me start by stating the obvious which is true of all types of businesses not just basement waterproofing contractors.  You cannot run a successful business of any kind without knowing what it takes to deliver the desired result to the customer. Basement waterproofing contractors know almost if not exactly how long it will take to perform the work and solve the basement water leaks.  Any company that does the same thing over and over for a long period knows just about if not exactly what it will take to get the work done.

I often find myself looking at basement water leaks and talking to homeowners who seem very leery of me due to the treatment they have had from other basement waterproofing companies .  There are some pushy sales people out there trained by the basement waterproofing contractors to “close the sale” on the first appointment, pulling out all the stops to get a commitment.  I will touch on the most popular one here so you can be on the look out.

So what is my point, right?  Here it is…the “stand by” or “flex” or “on call” sales tactic is used after trying other “closing techniques” and is usually introduced by “I just thought of something that could save you a lot of money”…but you have to decide right now. The premise is that the basement waterproofing contractor cannot predict how long a project will take to complete.  So this creates “gaps in the schedule” and if you are willing to be on call on a 24 hour notice to fill the gap it really helps our production flow…blah blah blah.  This sounds very convincing coming from a sales pro (who probably told you when he got there he is not a salesman but they are so busy he had to come out of the office or where ever and help cover the appointment) who has practiced it over and over and has a logical explanation of how it works.

It is a gimmick.  You should never be persuaded by a basement waterproofing company to sign right away.  Take time to explore your options of different basement systems from different basement waterproofing contractors and check out their references.

For a no pressure free consultation, call us at 1-877-321-4889 or complete the email request Get-Info

in Basement Waterproofing / Basement Waterproofing Contractor / Basement Waterproofing Systems 0 comments
 by Dev

Basement Waterproofing In Winter?

People often ask if basement waterproofing can be done in the winter and it depends on the basement systems being used.  Exterior basement waterproofing is where the perimeter of the home is excavated to the bottom of the footer most always with an excavation machine.  This type of work is messy and definitely fair weather work; however, exterior basement waterproofing can be performed during winter months as long as the weather is fairly dry.  In fact dry and cold is better than warm and wet.

Other basement systems designed to waterproof basements from the interior are performed year round with very little to no exceptions.  Interior basement waterproofing involves removing a small area of the perimeter of the floor to allow access to the footer from inside the foundation.  Interior footer drains are then installed to collect and direct ground water to a pump system that keeps the foundation dry.

Other basement systems are some sort of combination of interior basement waterproofing and exterior basement waterproofing methods that are usually performed all year round.  In fact winter months can be an ideal time to get your basement waterproof project completed based on availability of basement waterproofing contractors and dry weather conditions.  This will also prepare your foundation to stay dry during wet spring rains.

To learn more about different basement systems and what basement waterproofing system is best for your foundation, call today at 1-877-321-4889.

in Basement Waterproofing / Basement Waterproofing Contractor / Basement Waterproofing Systems / Exterior Basement Waterproofing / Interior Basement Waterproofing 0 comments
 by Dev

Perfect customer service from basement waterproofing contractors in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Pioneer Basement Solutions has earned Perfect Customer Service records for over 35 years straight in Cuyahoga Falls, Akron, Stow, Kent, Medina and surrounding areas of North East Ohio.  Not only a Better Business Bureau rating of A+ but Pioneer Basement Solutions has never had one complaint filed in the history of the company. Check out our review here.

Pioneer Basement Solutions has also been awarded the coveted Super Service Award from Angie’s List many years in a row.

BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating and ZERO complaints

Twelve Time "Super Service Award" Winners from Angie's List

Home Advisor Screened and Approved

Pioneer is a full service basement waterproofing contractor offering all types of basement waterproofing systems from interior basement waterproofing, full exterior basement waterproofing and combination basement waterproofing systems customized to fit each specific scenario.

We will perform a thorough inspection of your foundation to determine what the root cause is to your leaky basement or foundation problems.  Once we have identified your problem we will review all potential basement waterproofing and foundation repair solutions in detail so you can make an informed decision on how you want to fix your basement.

We work all year.  Many people ask if basement waterproofing can be done in the winter and the answer is yes!  Exterior basement waterproofing can be performed all year round and in fact, it is better do do it when it a little colder and more dry than when it is rainy.  Interior basement waterproofing systems can naturally be installed all year.

No sales gimmicks and no sales pressure are at the top of the list of why people choose Pioneer to waterproof their basement.  Pioneer takes a no-nonsense straight forward approach and treats each prospective customer the same as they would friends and family.  Fair pricing with no games such as phony last minute or one time only discounts are what you get from Pioneer, unlike the other basement waterproofing contractors in Cuyahoga Falls, Stow, Kent, Medina and surrounding areas.

Call us today at 330-773-0109 or 1-877-321-4889 for a free estimate.

in Basement Waterproofing / Basement Waterproofing Contractor / Basement Waterproofing Systems / Foundation Repair 0 comments
 by Dev

Basement Waterproofing Contractors Akron Oh Awarded Angie’s List Award

Basement Waterproofing Contractors Pioneer Basement Solutions serving North East Ohio since 1979 awarded the coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award and the BBB’s Gold Star Award several consecutive years in a row for perfect customer service with zero complaints.

BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating and ZERO complaints

Twelve Time "Super Service Award" Winners from Angie's List

Home Advisor Screened and Approved

No basement waterproofing contractors in the Akron, Medina, Kent, Stow, Cuyahoga Falls and surrounding areas can compare to the customer service record of Pioneer Basement Solutions.  Founded in 1979 on principle of integrity, honesty and fair pricing, Pioneer Basement Solutions offers a no sales pitch, no sales pressure straight forward approach and never recommends more than what is required to fix a leaky basement or foundation repair needs.

Locally owned and operated, Pioneer is licensed insured and bonded.  All work is performed by Pioneer Basement Solutions’ employees, all work is insured and all customers are protected against the potential nightmares of dealing with basement waterproofing contractors that subcontract the work or use temporary labor.

Having problems with your basement such as water leaking in, mold, basement wall cracks or bowing basement walls?  We take a straight forward approach to inspect your basement foundation problems to identify causes and then review with you the solution options.

We are a full service basement waterproofing company offering all types of basement waterproofing including full exterior excavation and basement waterproofing membrane system, interior basement waterproofing systems and unlimited combinations in between.

We offer all types of foundation repair including foundation replacement, stabilization, and piering.

One sized solutions do not fit all basement waterproofing or foundation repair needs.  Be cautions of basement waterproofing companies who go through a fancy presentation and end up with a patented “one of a kind” basement waterproofing solution.

Fill out our online contact form or call 1-877-321-4889 for a free no obligation review of your basement waterproofing and foundation repair needs.

in Basement Waterproofing / basement waterproofing companies / Basement Waterproofing Contractor / Basement Waterproofing Systems / Foundation Repair 0 comments
 by Dev

Mold in the Basement -Musty Basement Smell

Often times people tell me that they have some mold in the basement or a musty basement smell and so they want to get their basement waterproofed. Most people believe that basement mold is due to a leaky basement but many times it is not. There are many factors that can contribute to mold in the basement and that nasty musty basement smell.

High humidity is natural in basement spaces. Basements are the lowest point in the home and humidity in the air is heavy. This heavy humidity will naturally settle into the basement space and it lays at the bottom like a fog with no where to go. With no ventilation the humidity creates an ideal environment for the mold to grow on things that are fibrous in nature. Boxes, painted walls, wood and other stored items especially those stored on the floor will be great food for the mold and mildew to grow developing that unwanted odor.

If you have water held in your basement walls this may contribute to the mold growth as well. This would not usually happen with unpainted walls however. Mold needs something fibrous to grow into, and that is usually the paint on the walls. Mold due to water in basement walls is obviously more serious than mold due to high humidity levels.

Installing a ventilation system to eliminate the conditions allowing the mold to grow in the basement like a Humidex unit may be all you need. These units will create an air exchange of the basement air up to six times per hour by drawing healthy air from upstairs and expelling stale air from the basement to the outside of the home.

More serious conditions may be solved with either interior basement waterproofing or exterior basement waterproofing. You should have a professional basement waterproofing contractor evaluate your foundation and recommend the basement solutions that fit your specific needs.

If you would like to get additional information or for a no pressure consultation call 1-877-321-4889

in Basement Waterproofing / basement waterproofing companies / Basement Waterproofing Contractor / Basement Waterproofing Systems / Musty Basement 0 comments
 by Dev

Which Basement Systems are right for YOU?

I know that when shopping for a basement waterproofing system it may be difficult to know what type of options make sense because there are so many different opinions on what basement systems will work. Prospective customers often tell me that they get different solutions from contractors and they ask why don’t all waterproofing contractors see the problem the same way and recommend the same foundation waterproofing solution.

The answer lies in the fact that most basement waterproofing contractors focus on and only offer one solution, either offering exterior basement waterproofing or interior basement waterproofing and naturally they will only recommend what they sell. They often have convincing arguments for their solution which is what makes it so difficult to choose a foundation waterproofing solution.

To know what foundation waterproofing solution makes sense you should first identify the type of problem. Do you have wet basement walls that are wet up high to mid wall? Do you have wet basement walls only at the very bottom where the floor meets the wall? Do you not really have wet walls much or at all but have water in the basement on the floor?

With the first scenario wet basement walls will most likely mean the original seal of the foundation is bad and needs restored…if accessible (that is key). This means you have surface water issues that need to be looked at and solved with exterior basement waterproofing or other solutions such as new gutters and downspout lines.

With the other scenarios there may be simple ground water build up under the foundation which is best solve with interior basement waterproofing solutions. You may even have a combination of issues and need a combination solution.

The point is you should look for basement waterproofing contractors who are truly full service offering all types of foundation waterproofing solutions.

Also, make sure you do your homework. Look at their record with the BBB and Angie’s list as well, and ask them for references to call, some newer and some older. Years in business is not always an indication of quality of service.

BBB Accredited Business with an A+ rating and ZERO complaints

Twelve Time "Super Service Award" Winners from Angie's List

Home Advisor Screened and Approved

For a free estimate or simply to gather more info on Pioneer, fill out the contact form

Get-Info

in Basement Systems / Basement Waterproofing Systems 0 comments
 by Dev

How do you know when you need foundation replacement?

I looked at two foundations today where the homeowners had concern that it was time to replace a basement wall or two. The question is how do I know if it can be stabilized or if it is time to replace the foundation / basement wall… what dictates foundation replacement?

There are several types of foundation cracks and different concerns with each. You can have bowing basement walls as a result of a horizontal crack…walls that belly in towards the middle.  These bowing basement walls are more prone to open up and come in as a result of the hinge type of nature of the basement wall crack.  The expanding and contracting soil outside develops pressure against the basement wall that pushes in towards the basement or relaxes it back through dry conditions.

There are cracks that are what we call a vertical tear, cracks that go in a stair stem pattern, or simply straight down towards the floor through the basement wall.  These are settling cracks that occur due the footer below having a crack in it and actually sinking down.  This activity causes the wall crack or separation at the mortar joints in a stair step fashion.

And there can be cracks where a row of block has slid off of the row below it (shear movement). This is typical if the second row up since the floor holds the bottom row in place.

You typically need a rebuild of foundation / foundation replacement when the bottom two rows have separated from each other, or when the bottom row seems to kick or tilt inwards towards the floor.

bottom row of block buckled

bottom row of block buckled

If the bottom row appears to be kicked in or bowing, it can be an indication that there is no footer.  This is more common with clay based basement wall foundations.  In this scenario dirt has washed away from below, mortar has rotted from between the blocks and the basement wall has bowed in as a result.

Again, there are several scenarios and factors so please give us a call for a free consultation with a foundation expert to help inform and guide you towards the best possible solution for your basement foundation problems.

in Basement Wall Cracks / Bowing Basement Walls / Foundation Repair 0 comments